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Original poster

I want to be a good landlord - but do I really need to do this?

43 replies

BlameItOnTheBogey · 14/05/2010 16:58

We bought a house last year. It is our family home. But shortly after we bought it we were offered a great opportunity overseas for a few years. So we have decided to rent out our home (that we have yet to live in) whilst we are abroad. We are not looking to make money on the rent and just want to cover our mortgage. It cost a lot of money to get the house ready to rent (e.g. having the required electric tests done etc) so I am feeling quite broke at the moment. The house is absolutely fantastic and in brilliant condition. We put it on the market and got two offers on it in the first day (from the first two people to look around). We offered it either furnished or unfurnished (for a lower price) and accepted an offer from the first couple to view it. Their offer price was based on it being unfurnished.

I have lived in rental properties for many years and know that having a good landlord is key so have been determined that e.g. if the dishwasher breaks, we'll replace it immediately rather than repairing it with a bit of string endlessly as most of my landlords have done. We have a managing agent and I have told them that this is how we want to work. The tenants moved in two weeks ago and I have just received this request from them. They want me to pay to have curtains tailor made for the house because apparently the drop is longer than the standard drop and they don't want to spend this much money when they will have no use for the curtains when they move on (because they will be too long).

I think this is cheeky; they've signed a two year contract based on the property being unfurnished. I really don't want to fork out for them to choose some tailor made curtains which probably won't match any of our stuff when we move back in. And I don't really get their argument that they won't be able to use them when they move on because surely they can just shorten them?

On the one hand, I want to be a good landlord. On the other hand, I think this is their responsibility and I am feeling pretty broke at the moment. Would use our house emergency fund if it was an emergency. But curtains? What do you think please? Will I really piss them off if I say no?

OP posts:
hf128219 · 14/05/2010 17:05

It's a funny one. IMO an unfurnished house should come with curtains! You know it's an essential like an oven/fridge etc.

Get yourself to IKEA - they do not need fancy made to measure ones. Just ones that fit!

AMumInScotland · 14/05/2010 17:06

Curtains are not an emergency. Curtains are not part of an unfurnished house. I think they're taking the piss tbh! The windows are exactly the same size as they were when they looked round - if they had a problem with them, that was the time to say so.

smallishsheep · 14/05/2010 17:06

I think you should get them. When they move out they can stay with the house. All the furnished places (unfurnished too come to think of it) I used to let out at work had curtains.

Original poster
BlameItOnTheBogey · 14/05/2010 17:10

If it was just a case of buying some at Ikea I'd probably do it. But they say that the drop is so long that ready made curtains won't fit, hence the need for expensive tailor made ones. I dunno. I want them to be happy but....

OP posts:
nancydrewrocks · 14/05/2010 17:10

They are taking the piss.

Curtains are not a prerequisite of an unfurnished house.

When I was last looking at rented accomodation due to our home being refurbished I saw two new properties where the LL wouldn't even put up curtain rails!

Missus84 · 14/05/2010 17:12

Ikea curtain are 3 metres long, so they'll definitely fit.

ABatInBunkFive · 14/05/2010 17:13

I bet you can get curtians with the right drop in a shop, just not the ones they want.

They are taking the mick IMO

HousewifeOfOrangeCounty · 14/05/2010 17:14

I am both a landlord and a tenant (moved to other side of country) and in both cases the properties have been rented unfurnished and have curtains/blinds.

I think it is part of an unfurnished house tbh. I wouldn't let your tenant choose, but get something classic and inexpensive. Ask them to measure the drop as I'd be surprised if Ikea can't accommodate.

msrisotto · 14/05/2010 17:14

Well no matter what some people think an unfurnished house shuold come with, they saw what it came with presumably and accepted it on those terms. I would certainly not pay for tailor made curtains (I don't have tailor made curtains fgs). I put curtains in my flat to sell it and they were floor length from Ikea.

msrisotto · 14/05/2010 17:15

should, sorry

DontCallMeBaby · 14/05/2010 17:15

If it was obvious that unfurnished meant 'no curtains', they're being cheeky. Unless the windows are ridiculously huge, they can buy off the peg and either have them taken up, or just suck it up (says she, who has bought blackout linings a foot longer than the actual curtains). Or if they want them to fit perfectly THEY can get the tailormade curtains and have them taken up when they move on - I mean, they're flippin' curtains, made of fabric, not bespoke wardrobes!

If the unfurnished description was at all ambiguous, then you have the option of the too-long or taken-up off-the-peg curtains, or tailormade curtains of YOUR choice that YOU get to keep.

If they are ridiculously huge windows, Habitat were good for long off-the-peg curtains when I was last in the market for such a thing.

Original poster
BlameItOnTheBogey · 14/05/2010 17:17

Missus84 Fri 14-May-10 17:12:58
Ikea curtain are 3 metres long, so they'll definitely fit.

Really? I didn't know that! Great, well I will suggest this to them and offer to pay that. If they say no then I'll tell them that's my best offer. Does this sound ok?

OP posts:
HousewifeOfOrangeCounty · 14/05/2010 17:18

long drop curtains

here

Missus84 · 14/05/2010 17:19

The Ikea ones are very easy too as they come with some iron on hemming stuff, so you just lop of the required length, fold them up and iron the edge.

pookamoo · 14/05/2010 17:19

I'd second (third?) Ikea.
Although I don't think you have to provide them - they were not in when they viewed, and they are not on the inventory.

NorkyButNice · 14/05/2010 17:20

All Ikea curtains come stupidly long with a strip of iron-on tape to turn them up to the desired length.

If they wanted it unfurnished, and there were no curtains when they looked round, then that's how they should expect it.

Original poster
BlameItOnTheBogey · 14/05/2010 17:23

Thanks so much to everyone for your suggestions and help.

Stupid question alert; can I order from Ikea online or do I actually have to go there? (My idea of hell with no car and toddler and baby in tow.)

OP posts:
purpleturtle · 14/05/2010 17:25

You have to go, I'm afraid.

Or find an Ikea-loving friend and send them.

Missus84 · 14/05/2010 17:25

Some things can be ordered online and some can't - think you'll have to go to the website and check.

ConDemNation · 14/05/2010 17:26

Habitat sadly no longer do curtains I know because i've been asking them to bring them back for a couple of years!

Ikea ones are generally long enough for most windows...not ours, though, which are just over 3 metres.

I found long ones on ebay, the ones here when we moved in were just basically 50 year old bits of torn rag, literally useless and hanging in strips! But it was cheap, and unfurnished at my request (well the other furniture was shite, too!) and i preferred to choose my own, and yes will keep them once I leave. But I intend to stay a long time.

Tbh I can see where your tenants are coming from, and it would be ideal if you did want curtains made - but then if you're moving back in a few years they might get wrecked before then.

I'd get them some basic ones from Ikea, I think. Please not tab top though, I hate those so much and they make a rented place stand out a mile! (ours were dear even on ebay but are vintage velvet and very very good quality - keep out the draughts, which you need in winter with big old windows)

ConDemNation · 14/05/2010 17:27

Ikea do some of their curtains online! only some though - and there's usuually some on ebay, some seller gets stuff from Ikea then ebays it for those who can't get to a store.

ConDemNation · 14/05/2010 17:30

Oh bum, just checked and Ikea have stopped selling any of them - but ebay will have some.

Original poster
BlameItOnTheBogey · 14/05/2010 17:34

I love the wonder of MN. Ok, will check out ebay too. Thanks again!

OP posts:
MrsL123 · 14/05/2010 17:36

There is no way I'd be forking out for made to measure curtains. Nowadays curtains aren't 'fixed' items that stay up for years, they're usually bought to match other decor items like rugs and cushions, therefore I wouldn't expect them to be included if I rented somewhere unfurnished. What's next - should you buy their rugs for them because their next house might not have as much floor space, and then they'd be wasted? What about furniture - the room might be too small for their sofa, will you buy another one? And of course their next house might not have as many bedrooms, and they can't very well buy an extra bed that they might not need in two years - chop chop, get your cheque book out, they've got a friend coming to stay in a few weeks! It could go on forever really, couldn't it?! I would politely decline and point them in direction of Ikea's vast range of 3m long curtains, which can be bought cheaply and hemmed with iron-on tape (which they include). The length can be easily adjusted when they move.

purpleturtle · 14/05/2010 17:41

I usually remove the landlord's curtains (often a bit shabby, never to my taste) and replace them with my own Ikea curtains. Sometimes I even get round to hemming them to the right length. Landlord's curtains get put away till we move out again.

(If I were you, I'd buy something very cheap and very hideous. That'll learn 'em)