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Original poster

tenant asking for burglar alarm to be installed!

65 replies

Frecklesandspecs · 07/04/2014 22:15

They have been in our house for about 6 months with no problems with security ect but suddenly got a call asking if we would have a burglar alarm installed so they can feel happier about going on holiday!
Is this a valid reason for us to fork our a few hundred quid ?
(have no idea how much it will cost in reality but it can't be cheap)

OP posts:
skinnyflatwhite · 07/04/2014 22:25

Are they having a laugh??

DubBgoodToMe · 07/04/2014 22:31

The cynic in me thinks they'll be going away knowing you won't get one, organising a burglary and then blaming you for no security.

The lesser cynic thinks they're just being extremely cheeky.

If you want it, get it. I can't see how it would benefit you tho Hmm

Original poster
Frecklesandspecs · 07/04/2014 22:34

We can't even afford one for our own house! And they will probably only be there for 6 months more.
It won't benefit us in the slightest, we have insurance ect in place.
Strange.

OP posts:
PigletJohn · 07/04/2014 22:45

Suggest they buy their own self-install wireless Yale alarm from Ironmongerydirect. It runs on batteries and apart from the siren box the parts can be mounted with sticky pads (supplied) to painted woodwork..

They can take it with them when they go.

It is currently about £155 (shows as £132.50 plus vat)

It can be plugged into a phone socket to call three numbers in the event of an alarm.

DubBgoodToMe · 07/04/2014 22:46

Strange indeed. If you live close, offer to drive past or something. I wouldn't have even told my landlord I was going away. But then we didn't hear from him for five years and when I was pregnant I ordered him to fix the heating he said he would 6 years earlier and he evicted is for 10 days before Xmas with a 2 week old baby at time of eviction. Swings and roundabouts...

tvstand · 07/04/2014 22:53

We rent and have paid to have our own fitted. Tell them to do one.

oscarwilde · 07/04/2014 22:58

They would need to sign a 12 month contract for the bills. Plus it's about £2-300 install by the time you buy all throbs etc. no is a complete sentence Grin

Original poster
Frecklesandspecs · 08/04/2014 07:25

Thanks all. They are also complaining about the gutter making a noise when it's dripping when they are sitting in the lounge. We have had a lot of work done already and not prepared to fro out for things that are not necessary.

OP posts:
DubBgoodToMe · 08/04/2014 07:33

I'd check out the guttering in case it's damaging your house. It's probably just clogged.

Bambi75 · 08/04/2014 08:07

We are tenants and asked our landlords if they would be willing to install a relatively inexpensive wireless burglar alarm and they obliged. However, this was agreed before we moved in. Your tenants took on your property as seen. Other than repair & maintenance you are not obliged to do any extras. Please say no to them. They are being cheeky.

HaveToWearHeels · 08/04/2014 08:52

Ah bless them, they want to "feel happy", tell them to do one ! How many owner occupiers would "feel happier" having an alarm but can't afford one !

HaveToWearHeels · 08/04/2014 08:54

Oh and in my experience alarms in rentals are a bad move. High turn over of tenants, you always get one smart arse that changes the code and doesn't tell you, or they just muck about with it and brake it. The only one we have in a property we have had we uninstalled.

Dizzywhore · 08/04/2014 08:57

Just tell them to fit one themselves.

RiverTam · 08/04/2014 09:03

err - if they gutter is dripping you need to get it fixed, that would be unbelievably annoying to have that noise going on in the background. Sorry, but you have decided to be a landlord, if you're not prepared to look after your property and tenants then perhaps you shouldn't be one. I know that our house would have to be in far better nick if we decided to rent it out than live in it ourselves.

Alarm is up to them.

TinyDiamond · 08/04/2014 09:59

The gutter needs sorting obviously.

Is there any reason for them to feel that the property is particularly unsecure? Are windows and doors ok?

We have had two attempted break ins since Sept (both times interrupted) and our landlords couldn't care less but said we could fit alarm at our own expense if we wanted.

Obviiusly it is not a requirement. If you tell them to contact the local police they might come round to do an assessment of the security so your tenants can be extra vigilant when they go away.

Could you suggest they get a friend to drive past and check entry points every day too?

CoilRegret · 08/04/2014 10:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

specialsubject · 08/04/2014 12:03

no.

fix the gutter.

Preferthedogtothekids · 08/04/2014 16:02

My inlaws bought a house with an alarm fitted and had to rent it out for a year before they could move. The tenants had the electricity changed to a prepay system and then moved out suddenly. When the electricity credit ran out the alarm started screaming, and screaming and screaming! My inlaws live 60 miles away and got some really nasty phone calls overnight from the neighbours until they could get through to sort (which involved protracted negotations with the power company). When they eventually moved in the incident had soured relations with the new neighbours unfortunately.

PigletJohn · 08/04/2014 16:07

modern UK alarms (have to) have a 20-minute siren cut off. It can often be adjusted, but unless you have a DIY alarm (see above) it will need the instruction book, and possibly even an engineer visit.

LadyMaryLikesCake · 08/04/2014 16:13

I'm pretty sure they should be responsible for clearing the guttering. I'd suggest they get to know their neighbours and ask them to keep an eye on the house, or get someone to house sit. An alarm would be a PITA as it wouldn't be down to the tenant to maintain it, and they could change the code and forget to pass the new one on.

DubBgoodToMe · 08/04/2014 17:11

They're not responsible for guttering.

LIZS · 08/04/2014 17:14

I think many window cleaners would clear guttering but this is ll's responsibility to fix . If left it may cause damp and damage to brickwork.

CoilRegret · 08/04/2014 18:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LadyMaryLikesCake · 08/04/2014 19:12

It's been in a few of my contracts that I have to clear the guttering. If they are left to overflow it causes damage to the brickwork, as LIZS says.

DubBgoodToMe · 08/04/2014 19:28

All my contracts have said the exterior of the house is to remain untouched.