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Original poster

Do you rent a house (not a flat)? Can we talk?

35 replies

DexyMidnight · 23/09/2018 07:54

Hello

DH and I will be renting out our 3/4 bed (4th is a box room) victorian semi-detached house in zone 4 London towards the end of this year for work relocation reasons. The house has quite a large, fairly mature garden (this is relevant!)

We have some experience of being landlords, but have only ever rented out a very new 2 bed 2 bath purpose built flat, which is managed by a touch wood good and diligent management company.

We both rented for years ourselves, but only ever flats, so neither of us have experience of who is responsible for what when renting out a house with a garden, and I wondered if I could canvass MN opinion as to what is normal.

Does your lease require you to do very basic gardening, e.g. mow the lawn, clear leaves, keep on top of weeds? If so, did you have to bring/buy your own lawnmower and rake and fork? (To be clear, I am not expecting green fingered tenants who lovingly water and prune the plants etc etc, we would just like to avoid an overgrown jungle)

Finally, could you let me know if, as a tenant, you would prefer to be given an allowance to put towards your own white goods, a reduction on the rent (for bringing your own white goods) or whether you would want these to be in situ? We are happy to buy new white goods but my husband reckons a tenant may wish to choose their own (e.g. washer/dryer or just washer).

Any advice / opinions welcome!

TIA

OP posts:
sofato5miles · 23/09/2018 07:56

Can you suggest and pay for a gardener, it's what we did when we had relocate for 5 years.

Original poster
DexyMidnight · 23/09/2018 08:00

Yes Sofato, that's something we've thought about. How often did you have the gardener come? If it's just to keep on top of things I assume it can be moderately infrequent?

We have side access so gardener could access via side gate (assuming tenant was happy with the proposed arrangement, of course)

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VincentVanGoughandhisear · 23/09/2018 08:01

Any house we have rented we have been responsible for our own gardening, provided our own tools etc. It has been in the contract to keep gardens presentable. A large and mature garden would put me off though and if you want it kept a certain way then yes a gardener may be the ideal solution.

Wrt white goods, we've always had our own and preferred it that way as we get to choose what we get. I can see how having them provided would appeal too though.

theboxofdelights · 23/09/2018 08:02

I added the cost of my gardener onto the rent, big garden, I knew it would be looked after that way.

I have always rented out with white goods included.

Blowitout · 23/09/2018 08:03

When we last rented a house we were expected to leave the garden in the same condition as it was when we moved in. In reality it was in much better condition because we enjoy gardening. Any large expenses were paid by the landlord e.g. large tree pruning, and a lawnmower was provided along with basic gardening tools. As far as white goods are concerned I wouldn’t be bothered about choosing them. I would buy decent energy efficient brands.

sofato5miles · 23/09/2018 08:04

We paid a gardener for two hours a week. He was very flexible so averaged the hours out dependent on what was needed.

theboxofdelights · 23/09/2018 08:04

To answer your frequency question twice a month grass cutting in season plus once a month gardening for half a day. Gardener would let me know if anything else needed doing or didn’t need doing.

I just averaged the cost out over the year and increased the rent amount to cover it.

parklives · 23/09/2018 08:05

Definitely get a gardener and add it into the rent.
I am in the same situation, and tenants generally don't keep gardens things the way you want them.
An overgrown garden just cut back at the end of the tenancy would ruin a mature garden.

Original poster
DexyMidnight · 23/09/2018 08:06

Thanks Vincent, that's helpful. When i was renting I never had to provide white goods, and never had the option to, so it's good to hear that's not unusual (my DH is Dutch so for him tenants would always supply).

I hear what you're saying about the garden being offputting. It's not a complicated garden in the sense that, if one were happy to have no hanging baskets, potted plants dotted around and bare flowerbeds, then lawnmowing, clearing leaves in autumn and attacking the weeds say 4 times a year would do it. But food for thought.

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Magmatic80 · 23/09/2018 08:06

I would prefer option of either white goods in situ, or a small reduction in rent to bring own. Would not expect to be given the choice of model though! Ime in situ are basic cheap ones as need to be easily/cheaply replaced presumably.

Yes to having gardener to do basic upkeep that requires equipment (mowing lawn and cutting hedge). I would expect to pay extra on rent for this, but I think you’d be lucky to find tenants who’d keep on top of it in London. We had it written into contract that needed to do basic upkeep, but would’ve preferred help.

hooliodancer · 23/09/2018 08:07

I am about to do exactly the same as you and rent out my house.

I will pay for a gardener. However, I would imagine they would want to mow the lawn more often, so I will leave a mower behind.

I am leaving a washing machine and fridge. I will replace them if they break.

Slightly terrifyingly, I am leaving my very expensive range cooker. I am planning to write into the agreement instructions on how to look after it!

We rent out another house (and have for years) where we provide white goods but no gardener. Tenants there have always done the (small) garden themselves.

ButFirstTea · 23/09/2018 08:08

The only house I've rented had a yard rather than a garden and we kept it swept clean (using brush provided). There was a big tree in the back and our landlord paid for someone to trim it back every year.

I would definitely need white goods in place, I wouldn't have been able to afford to rent somewhere if I was expected to provide them!

TheHodgeoftheHedge · 23/09/2018 08:09

Just to comment the other way - I have rented houses for many years now and have never had to provide my own white goods and I would be put off by somewhere that required me to.
Also I have always been responsible for the gardening (and would be at risk of losing my deposit if it was not maintained at a basic level), but if your garden is anything other than mowing the lawn and trimming a few things back plus a smidge of weeding every now and then, you need to arrange a Gardner.

Original poster
DexyMidnight · 23/09/2018 08:10

Hi Magmatic, thanks sorry i was unclear, when i meant let tenant choose i was thinking of proposing an allowance but they can choose which model (unfortunately not prepared to buy Miele everything!)

All of our white goods came with the house and are knackered. They won't last and it will just cause us and our tenant a heap of hassle with callouts and repairs so we will definitely either rip them out completely or replace them with new.

OP posts:
doleritedinosaur · 23/09/2018 08:12

We maintain our own garden & have our own tools, my OH loves it.
The one thing we do struggle with is maintaining the guttering but OH borrows a ladder around this time every year & clears out what he can.

If there’s an outside tap & possible storage shouldn’t be any trouble for them to maintain themselves.

White goods, we bought our own here which I much preferred as in student flats I always spent a day cleaning the washing machine & fridge/freezer wise I wanted a certain type.
Can you find out what the tenants themselves want?

I know someone who rented & bought the white goods off the landlord.

Rarfy · 23/09/2018 08:12

I would suggest a gardener.

We are about to hand in notice on our current rented house with yard and decking. In the process of making sure house is as we left it. We've never touched the yard apart from try and clear the million leaves in it that fall every autumn. Nothing in our contract to suggest we do but i did notice a comment about the decking being treated. We've been here 3 years and the decking is write off now not that i think thats a bad thing but our LL might thing otherwise.

Even pulling weeds when you're not into gardening and it's not your house feels like a major chore.

shallichangemyname · 23/09/2018 08:14

If you want them to garden you have to provide the mower and tools. I rented my lovely old house with a beautiful garden and included the gardener in the rent. I wouldn't leave it to chance and many tenants may be put off by having to do the garden.
I'd give them the choice re bringing own white goods or you providing them (if the former you'd expect a small reduction in the rent). I wouldn't faff around with them choosing the model.

Original poster
DexyMidnight · 23/09/2018 08:16

That's a fair point Rarfy x

OP posts:
Original poster
DexyMidnight · 23/09/2018 08:18

@Shalli - we are happy to leave all the tools and kit in the shed, in fact it would suit us better to do so. We are not precious about any of it so if anything broke or was damaged that's life. Just have no idea what the done thing is in this situation!

OP posts:
theboxofdelights · 23/09/2018 08:18

I would be flexible on white goods then if yours are knackered. If someone brings their own that’s fine, if not I would buy decent basic white goods and put them in the house.

I wouldn’t be giving anyone a choice of what they get though or a reduction in rent.

One of our best tenants had moved from overseas and would have had to buy everything electrical for the UK for two years so having decent stuff in the house was definitely a plus.

Alex3101 · 23/09/2018 08:20

We rent a house and I've neither of us have ever supplied white goods in previous houses flats we've been in. That said if I got a rent reduction to buy replacements for the really old and basic ones we have now I'd do it.
If you want the garden kept as you like it get a gardener. Our garden is only small but is a nightmare, it has obviously never been maintained during previous tenancies. I'd like to rip most of it out, especially the front garden which is awful. The walls are falling down and crumbling, the gate is falling apart and I've patched it as much as I dare. I'm capable and willing to do the work and the garden but I won't as if it looks better the rent will go up.

nancy75 · 23/09/2018 08:24

We rented a house that had a gardener included in the rent & it was great. He came for 2 hours every other week. The garden was always kept looking nice and I could do bits in it if I wanted. (,Leave the garden tools as the tenants might enjoy gardening)

Never had to supply my own white goods & wouldn’t move in to a house of it didn’t have white goods

Original poster
DexyMidnight · 23/09/2018 08:25

Aw Alex I'm sorry to hear that, that sucks.

I am happy to give the tenants a choice as to whether they bring or we supply new but it's a bit of a catch 22 as if i was doing viewings as a tenant i would never "take it on trust" that the knackered white goods would be replaced! I'd be wanting to see good new white goods before i signed up, if you see what i mean!

OP posts:
theboxofdelights · 23/09/2018 08:39

Why don’t you dispose of your white goods then so there are empty spaces? That way it is bring your own or I will buy new ones.

Original poster
DexyMidnight · 23/09/2018 08:44

Box i would but we need a WM and fridge until we move! I do like, but admittedly not need, my DW too!

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