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Original poster

high maintenance tenants?

70 replies

loosenknot · 09/01/2019 09:34

I'm a new landlord. I've had a few offers at full price on my (new) 3-bed flat, but they've all fallen through (bad luck). I've got an offer from a couple with three kids under six (wear and tear...). They put in well under the asking price, and have now come up with something approaching reasonable (all previous offers were at full price). It would be worth it to have someone move in fast, so I could compromise on price. However, they also want a shorter tenancy agreement, and they have already asked for a few changes (totalling around 2000 pounds) despite the property being advertised as is and being in excellent condition (I've said no to this, which they've accepted). I'm a bit nervous about this: Anyone got tips on spotting high maintenance tenants? Or is this all to be expected? Are they more bother than it's worth?

OP posts:
Fairylea · 09/01/2019 12:18

Ah I see. Sorry Grin I didn’t read the op properly.

Mrsfrumble · 09/01/2019 12:26

Sheesh! So many typos! That would be So not cheeky and dealt with.

It’s no different to making a lower offer when buying a house. Seller / owner can just refuse if it’s not acceptable to them.

cameliagreenfingers · 09/01/2019 12:34

it's all within the boundaries of reasonable. I've just got to make a decision!

mumsastudent · 09/01/2019 12:40

no no no no am land lord what if they ruin your new carpet? I would wait & I would think twice about having tenant with that number of young children anyway because of w & tear

Neverunderfed · 09/01/2019 12:41

Doesn't sound massively unreasonable tbh. In a three bedroom you will get families. Say no to the door, offer a runner in the hall. 18 month break clause is a long time.

HollyBollyBooBoo · 09/01/2019 12:51

I've never heard of offering on a rental price!

I'd trust your gut instinct and pass. You'll be constantly worried they're going to do something wrong.

thereallifesaffy · 09/01/2019 12:56

Are you in London? That's the only place I've heard of tenants making offers. DS and gf did on their flat. They weren't the highest offer, but the landlord liked them best so took them on. The relationship is working well so far

Mrsfrumble · 09/01/2019 13:00

I was about to post that maybe making offers was just a London thing. DH and I have moved around quite a lot in all the years we’ve lived together here, and as I said, we’ve always made slightly lower offers and always had them accepted.

Needmoresleep · 09/01/2019 13:03

Tenants are definitely getting more demanding, and everyone negotiates.

I let in Central London and am consider giving up as I cannot deal with expectations that any small problem is dealt with instantly (latest tenant has gone off on one because it took 24 hours to get someone out to tackle a small crack in the mastic around some bathroom shelves - her justication was that she had let me off lightly as she had not asked for a complete redecoration and new furniture) and the impossibility of conjuring up workmen to the required timetable.

The last tenant, a very rich student from overseas, was prone to swear at me using the f-word and reminding me how much she was paying. Rental returns in London are not great so it was not even true. I assume London is far ruder than elsewhere, but it is awful being treated as a flunky.

My general rule is to do work if it will generally improve the property. And to keep the property in good condition. So I am about to replace a sash window as it is stiff after the outside was painted. (And the last tenant closed it when the paint was drying.) But not if the work wont add to the property.

Being a landlord can be hard work. Demanding tenants make it a lot harder.

Kamma89 · 09/01/2019 13:17

Totally normal to haggle on rental price in most big cities. Even during "peak" times. As this thread shows landlords can be very picky. Expecting to rent only to pet free, child free, high earning "professionals". Which is hilarious as this demographic tend to be the ones locked our of the housing market due to high prices, pushed up in part by landlord's...So expect a little resentment, increased demands & expectations.

SushiMonster · 09/01/2019 13:25

I've never heard of offering on a rental price!

I hadn't until I moved to London but it is the done thing here for some reason.

Mrsfrumble · 09/01/2019 13:34

I think the whole dynamic of the rental market is different in London. There are so many more properties on offer, and lots of wealthier people who are renting by choice, so that tenants can be afford to be a bit pickier and more demanding (not to the extent that Needmoresleep mentions though; that’s just plain rude!)

I think agents and landlords are keen to shift properties as quickly as possible too. Many can’t afford to have flats sitting empty, and having places that have been lingering in Rightmove for months, having been reduced several times, are automatically going to seem less attractive to potential tenants.

TheHodgeoftheHedge · 09/01/2019 13:38

Why on earth would you consider making 2K worth of changes for a SHORT term agreement at a discounted rate when you know you can get the full rate, long term agreement easily with no changes?

WaitroseCoffeeCostaCup · 09/01/2019 13:44

All these landlords that wont rent a family home to a family!

Neverunderfed · 09/01/2019 13:51

But she doesn't know that Hodge. The place is empty and previous agreements have fallen through.

RB68 · 09/01/2019 13:59

I would put carpet in - noise reduction with three young kids - so best for neighbours really. If it is to hang a door in a door way i would do it but putting in a brand new door - no

Negotiating on price is normal to a small extend - so 10 to 15% I think its expected unless in high demand area. 18mth contract initially - not normal - mostly its 12 mths then rolling rental so one mths notice from them and 2 from you.

Bombardier25966 · 09/01/2019 14:09

Is this a ground floor flat? If not I'd be putting down carpet in the hall to protect the wooden floor, but most importantly, to minimise noise travelling to the neighbours.

SurfnTerfFantasticmissfoxy · 09/01/2019 14:13

Follow your instincts - asking for reasonable modifications (I don't consider their suggested modifications reasonable TBH, 3 young kids will trash a hall carpet and adding / removing doors is just ridiculous) would be fine, as would offering a reduced rent - but to go for both does scream demanding. Let them go and hold out.

Mrsidgaf · 09/01/2019 14:19

I've never heard of asking for lower rent! Wish I could do this. Also I would never ask a landlord to change anything in the house at their own expense that wasn't important or under their obligation to sort/change (like the boiler etc) any changes I've wanted to do have been with permission and at my own expense

BaronessBomburst · 09/01/2019 14:31

No, no, and yes.
But I wouldn't let to them at this point. They're going to be hard work.
The carpet will cost you money to put in, more money to replace, and does not benefit or improve the property in anyway.
And asking for structural alterations is a joke!

MistressDeeCee · 09/01/2019 14:38

I just wouldn't bother with all this. Your gut instinct is telling you it's wrong, you're stressing before they've even moved in. You don't know them and you owe them nothing, not even deep thought about modifications they asked for or may want in future.

Just wait it out. You'll get someone else. Act in haste repent at leisure, so they say

DaysOfCurlySpencer · 09/01/2019 19:59

Our tenants wanted floors sanded and re-stained and to knock a wall down so that it would be easier to watch the children, among other things.

We needed to rent it quickly and compromised by sanding the floors which actually looked worse afterwards as the colour was darker than the rest of the house. It also turned out that she was minding children without telling us, hence wanting the wall demolished which we didn't do, or allow them to do. Found out about the childminding after they moved out.

They were OK, paid the rent and didn't trash the house, were basically OK, but I wouldn't let to your potential ones OP.

libellule1 · 09/01/2019 20:13

All those saying I wish I could ask for lower rent, you can. We once viewed a house way overpriced for the standard and area and offered about £50 a month less after telling the agents (in a small city, nowhere near London). Took a week for the landlord to accept but by then we'd found somewhere better. The place was still on the market 2 months later so they should have been more open minded.

Its clearly a popular property, I'm sure you'll get another offer in another week or so, but may be good to lower the asking rent slightly.
I agree they sound like they will be demanding tenants, I'd pass. Maybe you could say 2 kid maximum, unless you take on the suggesting of readvertising as a 2 bed to get the professionals.

I wish more landlords would accept pets, I think anything over 2 beds should allow pets as standard, it's so hard for renters to live a comfortable life when there is no hope of buying and hardly anyone accepts pets.

Jon65 · 09/01/2019 23:14

As a ll I will occasionally accept pets, depending on the tenant and the pet, sometimes with a larger deposit. Unfortunately some pets are badly behaved and this can lead to very expensive damage being caused, such as claw marks gouged on doors or flea infestation. And it is up to a ll to whom they let their property, keeping within the statutory law of course.

Alexalee · 10/01/2019 08:14

Red flags everywhere
Better to have it empty for another month than have someone move in who can't afford it and stop paying rent... will cost you far more in the long run
Also never believe what an estate agent tells you about how nice a family is... they don't know them on a personal level, it is either what the family has told them... which could be lies or just purely made up
Go with your gut