Dear landladies and landlord, would you rent your house to a couple working as childminders ?

[ALLMYCHILDREN1978]

I hope you can help me, I'm just surveying really. I have been a cm for 4 years, and my dh would like to join me next year. It means we need to move out to a bigger house as to accomodate us. We have also 2 children.

Do you think it will be difficult to find this ? We are living in a area where childcare is in big demand and I have never been without work.

I'll appreciate your thoughts !! Thank you

No I personally wouldn't I'm afraid. And maybe there would be something on most rental leases about not using the premises as a business. However, maybe some landlords wouldn't mind.

Sorry, No.

Yes but I'd be studying the state of the walls and floors more carefully during inspections. (important for getting deposit back)
We have 3 kids and they create all sorts of mystery marks on the paintwork and floors.

No. I want my property used as a home, preferably quietly and unobtrusively as this attracts less damage and less notoriety.

I don't want it used as a business as the risks are higher.

Sorry, I'm sure you are lovely and I'm sure you will find an understanding landlord but I'm just too risk adverse to take this gamble on someone I dont know.

All your opinions are welcome !!!!

It would depend.

I wouldn't mind the additional wear & tear, it's not that much/different on the whole, but if it had new carpets etc I would expect to come to some agreement with you about replacing them at the end of the contract if they got ruined. I would want to discuss with you any additional fittings that you would require (stair gates etc) or alterations you would need to make, but I would probably be fine with those as long as they were done properly and not botched jobs.

The only thing that makes me say 'maybe' is that it would depend on my neighbours. If I had neighbours who didn't have children & I knew would object to the noise I probably wouldn't (especially if they'd become friends or if I was planning on moving back at some stage!!) and likewise if the parking would be a major issue. If it was solely a 'rental property' (rather than my home I was renting out), I'd have no problem at all with it.

No, I don't think I would. You would both be working as self employed and the instability in that would make me nervous. I wouldn't like that the property was being used as a business/any adjustments you would need to make etc.

Landlords may have restrictions in their mortgage that they are to rent for residential use only. Which unfortunately would exclude you.

I'm not really surprised by your answers, it is really helpful thank you. I'm a bit sad obviously but I think we'll try to find something anyway and offer to pay more rent in order to cover the wear and tear or a special close..I don't know. We'll talk to our estate agent and see if they can help us.

If I see it's a no go, well we'll find another solution.

I think you will find somewhere :) Good luck!

A childminder is by definition a home based business though. It's not as if she's setting up a factory in the back room.

I only say because I have a friend who was looking for work for ages, childminding would have been an obvious choice but was not allowed to due to landlord restrictions, resulting in many more months unemployment before she finally tracked down a job that fitted around her own children.

Isn't wear and tear covered by the end of tenancy redecoration/cleaning?

No I wouldn't - I wouldn't have a problem with an office based business, but young children damage carpets and walls in excess of what is normal wear and tear and I very much doubt you as tenant would be willing to fund the complete redecoration that would be needed to return it to a fit state to re-let. I once let to a young couple with a baby, and the soft furnishings were left covered in baby sick, the carpets were ruined and the walls crayoned all over. Never again.

Many landlords are also restricted by their insurance or head lease.

no. not unless you offered a very hefty deposit.

I couldn't - my mortgage has restrictions on it that I can rent for residential purposes only so the letting agents we use would exculde you for that.

No, I wouldn't.

I am pretty sure my mortgage conditions exclude people using the home as a business. And my insurance has similar conditions.

I would also be concerned by the additional wear & tear and also extra traffic around the house.

I have been childminding 4 years in my current place and I'm pleased to say that the wear and tear is not bad. Nothing is damaged. Only the living room is used for childminding and when I use the bedrooms it is only for the children to sleep in. I'm also insured. We'll see, it's a good thing I have asked you !! Thank you so much for your honest opinions, I really appreciate

Yes, I would be more than happy to do so.

In fact I would not consider it much of my business what my tenants did in their home as long as they didn't upset the neighbours or did anything illegal.

There may be insurance issues but I'm sure they could be overcome.

sorry you have had so many negative replies OP, I hope it works out for you.

My mortgage wouldn't let me because you're running a business. I'd be worried about wear and tear too, so far I've only let to single professionals. I'm sorry.

It's interesting that wear & tear keeps getting mentioned as being more of a concern. I would think it would be the opposite and that a CM would be very on top of maintaining the property.

Bongaloo, I can see your point but it's not so much damage as literally wearing out carpets, hinges, loo cisterns etc.

my worry would be the changes that Ofsted might require in doors, plugs, plumbing etc - that could not be done in a rented house

No.
Because it is a residential property, with a residential mortgage, and it would not be possible to run a business from there.

In addition:

The neighbours. I bet they would not like additional cars coming and going morning and tea time, and with noisy kids indoors and outdoors. With three of you minding, lets say 6 children plus your own two?

Plus:

Heavy Wear and tear.