Love our rental but it needs some TLC

[stinkysue]

Or DIY…

We rent a great 1 bed flat, good proportions, great location. Really good rent for its size and location. We pay around £2,000 a month. Something that’s been freshly done up would cost maybe £2,800 a month. We can afford the higher number but we really can’t be arsed to move/flats never come up as good as ours.

We’ve been here 3 years. The kitchen cupboards, walls, ceiling need repainting & the work surfaces need refinishing. The living room needs repainting. To be honest, new carpets would be nice too. Landlord is happy with us being here.

We’re considering asking for a 3 year lease and then paying for perhaps new carpets/ painting it ourselves. We have already painted the bedroom with permission. The tenants before us decorated the flat extensively as they lived here for 25 years!

Has anyone done anything similar?

2k for a 1 bed flat that could rent for 2.8k if in better condition - Im guessing you’re in London!

It’s rare that people would spend money on so much cosmetic updating for a flat they don’t own. My in laws did this years ago but it was a bit of a waste because of course they were only improving someone else’s property. Even if you put in new carpets it would probably still bug you that other things like the work surfaces looked dated.

It’s up to you of course but how watertight would a 3 year lease be? Imagine spending that money then the owner deciding to sell the flat while it looks smarter. I would prefer to move to a refurbished place in 2024 if you are sure you don’t want to buy your own place. Have you considered buying this flat or is that not an option?

Have you suggested LL pays for paint and you do the painting? Ask for new carpets. Your LL can right them off against their tax bill.

I wouldn't spend money on something you don't own. Painting possibly, as that's not a big financial cost, but not carpets. You should ask the landlord if they could do that.

To be honest though I'd save the extra £800 per month you say you could afford and the money you are thinking of spending on paint, carpets etc and do as much as you can to buy a property of your own.

As a landlord if my tenants asked for a 3 year lease and offered to redecorate I'd be delighted.

Realistically you're paying lower rent because the flat it in a less than A1 condition. If you asked the landlord to do the works, you could reasonably expect them to then raise the rent as a result.

Your solution does seem to be the ideal for both parties. You get the home you want whilst you don't get the rent raised. The landlord gets the security of a 3 year lease and not the hassle of arranging works.

Surely the chaise of loving all your stuff around for new carpets etc, you might as well move?!

Unless he has multiple properties and does the three year lease, I'd be carful how much I'd spend.

I'm waiting to see what comes from the next election but I'm possibly going to be selling up. I can't get my house up another energy efficiency band without solar panels or a heat pump and I don't have ten of thousands unless I sell it.

There was a lot changes rumured before from labour that aren't financially viable unless your a business landlord so next year might shake things up on the rental market.