tenants want a sofabed- should I provide?

[vannah]

New tenants moving into my small 1 bed flat in a few weeks time, theyve requested a sofabed as theyre from australia and apparently their parents will be coming to stay. I immediately told the agent I wouldnt,as i didnt want to encourage subletting, but upon meeting the tenants Im having second thoughts. They seemed so sincere.
I currently provide a double bed, wardrobe, chest drawers, leather sofa, dining table and chairs. They want an additional sofa and other furniture as the current tenants have 2 sofas in and some of their own lovely furniture and the place looks stunning and v homely.

Im being asked to buy as they will be going back to A in a yr. Both doctors.
Would you provide a sofa bed(ive agreed to buying them another 2 seat sofa, a bookshelf and microwave, but feeling bad about it not being a sofabed)

Im also worrying that it will be an invitation to future tenants to cram in more people into a very tiny flat and cause damage...

any thoughts? thanks

I am a tenant & didn't/don't expect my landlord to buy my furniture.

Surely you are supplying the basic furniture, so if they need anything else, it is up to them?

Sounds like they are being v unreasonable asking for all that!

They can get a beddinge from Ikea for under £300 so if they want a sofa bed, they can buy it surely?

No, I wouldn't provide it in addition to the furniture you've already agreed. Alternatively, I would provde the sofabed instead of the 2 seater sofa.

TBH if they are good tenants and the item could be seen as being attractive to other tenants I'd buy it for them, but not in addition to the 2 seater sofa instead of.

No! You are under no obligation to buy them extra furniture. Are you made of money to be even considering it?

Substitute a cheap futon for the sofa you've agreed?

You can get them for under £200.

It doesn't seem that unreasonable a request to me - most young couples would occasionally want to offer crash space to friends or family, I'd've thought.

I suppose they could equally buy their own, again, they're cheap, but it seems reasonable for them not to want to be lumbered with a bulky item of furniture to dispose of if they're only here for a year.

Wouldn't've thought there'd be much call for subletting in a 1-bed flat - if they were determined to do this, it'd surely be worth their while to source their own sofabed, so I don't think you'd actually prevent it by refusing to provide one.

If it would take you more than a week to find another good tenant, I'd agree.

Good lord - it sounds to me like you're being extremely generous as it is! If you haven't bought the other two-seater sofa yet, I would get them a sofabed instead. Otherwise tell them to buy it themselves. They're only staying for a year, after all - if it were likely to be a longterm let maybe I would think differently.

Also, you can't guarantee that whoever takes the flat in a year will want lots of furniture in it and then you'll have the problem of trying to get rid of it all again. I let out a small flat as well and I do try and accommodate my tenants as much as possible (letting them repaint, put up shelves etc), but I could never afford to buy them more furniture!

thanks for these replies.
Very true that the next tenant might not want the flat crammed with furniture...

I dont want to buy a sofa bed at all, as it may encourage subletting..either with these tenants or with the next.
Have I mentioned they also want a microwave, bookshelf, and some of the bedroom furniture purchased for them that the other tenants are leaving.

Add on top gas cert, energy certificate, and repair to bedroom light - Im going to be broke.

Really annoyed now. They also called just now ~(due to move in 2 weeks time) to request a 4 month break clause instead of 6.
Would not be agreeing to this let if things didnt look slow at the agency, which might mean a month or 2 without any rent.

Sigh...

They are taking the micky, tell them no!! Goodness, I have rented for years and have never requested anything like this, it's cheeky.

To be fair, though, it's not their fault you're legally required to get the gas cert and energy certificate, and repair damages.

Don't think they are being unreasonable asking. If they really wanted to sublet they would buy the sofabed themselves anyway so I don't see how one would equal the other. Presumably you've run all the necessary checks on the tenants (or the agent has) so you know they are reasonably trustworthy. If I was looking at a flat to rent and it had a sofabed, it would encourage me to live there because I'd be able to have guests.

Your call though.

Yes have run all checks, come back fine.
Hmm, I have wondered if providing it might mean they stay longer, - and true if they were going to sublet they could have bought one anyway..

Not sure now.Im so fickle!

Have they already signed on the dotted line?

If so, I wouldn't change the contract and don't buy the sofabed.

If you deliver everytime they make a demand/request they will keep on asking. Some people are just take, take, take.

I'm a landlady and it sounds like they are being quite demanding.

If it was me I would be having doubts about them to be honest and would be putting my foot down asap because they may well keep demanding things throughout the tenancy.

I did provide my most recent tenants with a microwave (Basics from Sainsburys) when they asked for one but refused to put in a shower!!

I would also be telling them they can get a double air-mattress for less than £30 in Millets/Argos if they need more sleeping space for visitors!

Good luck

The tenants can buy a blow-up mattress surely. If parents are too old and doddery for the blow-up mattress, your tenants have it and give the parents their bed. Simples! (Or are the parents planning on staying 6 months?)

Great minds PlanetEarth

buy the sofa bed and tell them 6 month break clause stands or it won't be financially viable.

see what they say

When I rented a place I bought a sofa bed on ebay for 99p and the guy even delivered it!

Does it have to be a new sofa bed?

Quite right. Blow up mattress info to be passed on and putting my foot down!
About to sign tomorrow. And those are the exact words I said when moaning to dh tonight- some people are just take take take.

I don't think asking for things is necessarily being 'demanding'. Do as Custardo says, or agree to some requests and not ones you think are really beyond the pale.

People are more likely to treat your property respectfully if you respond to them reasonably.

Legally it has to be 6 months minimum, to protect both parties. Would only provide sofabed in lieu of sofa and maybe microwave(but this could be a liability unless you rpovdie other small electricals as it would need ot be tested every new tenancy). As long as you have the basics covered then they will have to either top up (with Ikea hanging rails for example or temporary beds/mattresses for guests) or go without.

NO!

You're not a hotel.

You've already bought other furniture future tenants might not want.

If they're doctors they can afford a damn blow up mattress.

Tell them to buy themselves then sell on at the end of their tenancy.

When we rented we didn't dream of asking our landlords for extra furniture.

Tell them about blow up mattresses

I know loads of people who come here from the US for a year, buy extra stuff and then flog it on before leaving or give it to other expats.

But wouldn't dream of asking the landlord to kit it out gratis.

They sound cheeky, tbh, asking for all this extra stuff before they even move in.

I'd pull out, tbh. They sound too much like work.

agree. We lived as expats and there is always a flow of incomers to sell sttandard items on to. Maybe they could kit it out that way and return the favour when they leave.