Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Original poster

Tenant wants to put in new bathroom

167 replies

Rzim · 03/01/2022 00:01

At their expense - have said they will let me approve the bathroom set. This sounds too
Good to be true -
She has only been in for 3 months - is this normal

OP posts:
Excitedforthefuture · 03/01/2022 09:18

And all warranties in my name

CloseYourEyesAndSee · 03/01/2022 09:19

[quote Fluffypinkt]@CloseYourEyesAndSee

We’ve been here just over 4 years. Good relationship with LL not planning on moving for a very very long time. I do acknowledge we are lucky with our LL.[/quote]
I had the same - lived in my rental for 11 years and would have stayed there until the landlord died probably but then covid hit, his business folded and he had to sell my house to cover debts. You never know what the future will hold when renting. It's shit.

NashvilleQueen · 03/01/2022 09:21

Agree that you should replace.

To the person who said she chose your place three months ago I think that there's much less option in the rental market and more compromise has to be made. It's not a reason to expect her to use an old and shabby bathroom.

TueWed · 03/01/2022 09:21

@CloseYourEyesAndSee

And why should tenants live with horrible dated old and shabby fixtures just because they are technically functional?
Landlords have a duty to make their properties habitable to a decent standard. Not just 'won't kill you' standard.

Old and shabby doesn't mean falling apart, and dangerous. Old and shabby means dated and probably worn.

The only worrying thing here is OP saying they might want the property back.
I liked the suggestion of OP paying for a new basic set and Tennant upgrading if they want to, also they should be given the option of guaranteed 12 months

Flickflak · 03/01/2022 09:22

This reply has been withdrawn

Message from MNHQ: This post has been withdrawn

NashvilleQueen · 03/01/2022 09:22

Also no wonder you think her offer is too good to be true! As it stands you'll get the rent and a nice shiny bathroom at her expense. Have some decency.

Bigassbeebuzzbuzz · 03/01/2022 09:23

You do know in housing association homes bathrooms are replaced every 15/20 years.
If yours is passed that the YOU need to replace it. Also does the tenant know it's only a very short let if you may want your house back soon?

maddy68 · 03/01/2022 09:23

Why haven't you replaced it?

Pleasebeafleabite · 03/01/2022 09:28

Because some aspects of shabby aren’t automatically noticeable. One rental I lived in, all the taps needed to be replaced as they didn’t close efficiently and the taps in the bathroom sink you couldn’t really get your hands under properly. You couldn’t have a shower (most likely a boiler issue) as it ran boiling hot or freezing cold. The kitchen sink you couldn’t get the kettle under the tap

If you’re unable to have a shower fair enough as that is a malfunctioning amenity

Malpositioned taps are what you signed up for or something that a beautiful new bathroom or kitchen could still have as an issue

mrsm43s · 03/01/2022 09:29

Op doesn't need to change a functional bathroom just because it's "shabby". Presumably the rent charged reflects the condition of the property.

The tenant could have chosen to pay more rent for a smarter house, but instead they opted for a cheaper rent and less modern decor.

Many many people live in their own mortgaged properties with dated decor!

As long as the bathroom functions as it should, then it's fine.

The same people insisting that OP needs to pay to replace a fully working bathroom will be the same ones complaining that rents are too high! This is why there are so few cheaper rentals around. A top spec, recently modernised property moves up to the top of the rental price bracket. We need there to be the lower end properties in too - older, more dated decor, kitchen and bathroom. As long as everything works, some tenants would prefer the option to pay less for a lower spec property.

PinkButtercups · 03/01/2022 09:29

You should replace it.
I wouldn't feel comfortable with a tenant paying for it. Then you say unlikely but you may want the property back in a few months.

I wouldn't trust you as far as I could throw you.

Nanny0gg · 03/01/2022 09:43

@Rzim

The bathroom is very old and shabby. I trust her to get good people in - what concerns me is if we change our minds in a few months and want the property back (which is very unlikely!)
I hate landlords like this. It’s her home and she has to put up its an old and shabby bathroom.

I wish rentals here were treated more like they are on the continent

Excitedforthefuture · 03/01/2022 09:43

When I was a landlord

My benchmark was always…. Would I be happy with if I was living there.

So Op if the bathroom is old and shabby but if you did move in - you wouldn’t consider replacing for a few years, then say go ahead to the tenant and replace if you wish (but all warranties in your name)

BUT

If you wouldn’t be happy with the bathroom and would replace if moving in… then YOU pay

AndAnotherNewOne · 03/01/2022 09:47

If they want to replace a serviceable bathroom then let them. If it's just shabby but adequate offer to have it redecorated.

rossclare · 03/01/2022 09:47

As a multiple landlord, there are various ways to
Look at this.

I keep my houses really well and when I update a kitchen/bathroom I totally over spec and this about it abs source cool mirrors etc.

But the rent is set accordingly.

If the OP has a shabby house, then presumably the rent is set to take that in to account.

It’s unreasonable to set the rent low on account of a shabby bathroom, then expect her to replace it and not increase the rent.

Sitchervice · 03/01/2022 09:48

This is why I don't like landlords, they always think about money. If the bathroom needs improvement and you would hate to use it yourself. Do something about it!

Don't let your tenents live in a place you wouldn't live in yourself. It's not fair!

lottiegarbanzo · 03/01/2022 09:49

No. The answer is no.

Do it yourself. Negotiate a rent increase to contribute to costs.

It's your house. Not their house.

You need to keep things simple, retain your rights to give them notice (without the emotional blackmail of 'but we paid for the bathroom') and retain a direct contractual relationship with all tradespeople, in case anything goes wrong. You will have no recourse at all if someone else's tradesperson causes you a problem.

rossclare · 03/01/2022 09:49

@onedayoranother

Is there just the one bathroom? Having just redone two bathrooms myself they took at least three weeks each - so tenant would have to move out. It's really something that should be sorted between tenants (and they shouldn't have rented the place if the bathroom was so bad). Cost will be thousands.
Three weeks? I get my bathrooms turned around in a few days snd totally useable (tenants are happy to put up with disruption due to getting a spanking new bathroom).
SprayedWithDettol · 03/01/2022 09:49

Come on OP. Do it yourself. That is shameful. If you can’t afford to, you have no business being a landlord.

Idontlikeworms · 03/01/2022 09:49

Let her put it in but sign a disclaimer that she us responsible for any repairs to the bathroom going forward. Also that shee agrees to leave it or put it back to the original bathroom if shee leaves. Request copies of invoices from the plumber thats fitting to make sure he us qualified and insured.

Firefliess · 03/01/2022 09:50

Put one in yourself. Ask your tenant her preferences for style and colours and if they're reasonable then go for whether she likes. You could let her paint the walls maybe. Then put the rent up a little when it's up for renewal to reflect the better quality house that it now is and so you gradually recoup the costs.

custardbear · 03/01/2022 09:50

Yes I think you need to replace it yourself, if they pay you sands for a new bathroom then it's going to cause issue latterly. They may even
Move out with the bathroom and you'll have nothing, because it's their stuff - or may touch you for cash and overcharge you for a shabby job. You may even find insurance is difficult

GoodPrincessWenceslas · 03/01/2022 09:51

Presumably the rent reflects the current state of the property, including the bathroom. If OP has to spend a few thousand pounds upgrading the bathroom and accommodating the tenant while it's done, she's going to have to review the rent, which may not be what the tenant wants.

OP, you could go for a fairly basic upgrade whilst giving the tenant the opportunity to have some say in it and/or upgrade it according to what they want. But, for goodness sake, get some legal advice first.

elbea · 03/01/2022 09:51

I suppose it all depends on by shabby you mean dated but perfectly functional or starting to fall apart. I wouldn’t change a dated but functional bathroom suite, it’s wasteful.

Etinoxaurus · 03/01/2022 09:53

@Fluffypinkt

Going against the grain here. I rent my property and have spent best part of 5k on new floorings through out and new fixtures and fittings, decor the lot and have also approached my LL about fitting a new bathroom. Nothing wrong with the one we have but it doesn’t have a bath. Just a big shower room. If we were to move I wouldn’t even contemplate taking anything with me.
Do you know at how short notice the landlord could ask you to leave?