SMF - Just Installed!

accident prone tenants

Started by AngiM, September 23, 2021, 01:15:42 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

AngiM

hi all, just wondered if any of you had had tenants like mine, and maybe I should not renew their tenancy?!  Lovely family, two adults, one child, not British born, so maybe unaccustomed to our ways.  In 14 weeks of renting our super duper refurbished home (5 beds) they have warped one door leaving it open in the rain too often, flooded the kitchen twice by overrunning showers, blocked outside drains by putting food down sink in kitchen, left wet duvets over antique mahogany bannisters, and broken an aluminium window.  Today, I have had to have a hole cut in the ceiling to check where the water is coming from and hairs (from the wife) found to have caused blockage in pipes. So far he has paid as we go, but it is exhausting, and I am worried about the condition of my house in a couple of years.  He asked for 3 years tenancy but my plumber was concerned that the outside drains will block again and cause long term damage.  On the plus side (yes there is a plus!) he is quiet, pays on time, very courteous, though we never see them outside (they live next door).  Is this a concern do you think?

Tom-IPIC

#1
You living next door could be good and bad. Your going to be able to react to issues very quickly and limit damage but you will also see issues before they occur which is always going to worry you. Its like watching your child make a mistake, you can't help them everytime they need to learn from their own mistakes BUT when your child is going to make a mistake in your house and break the shower you would probably step in.

I would not give them a 3 year tenancy, leave your options open. I have seen tenants who not used to living in a cold climate and keep the doors / windows closed most of the year leading to mould issues. They soon climatised and the issue only need repairing once. But sadly some don't, until you give them 6 to 12 months you won't know.

As long as you have a good inventory and make sure that repairs and issues are clearly recorded and in writing then at least you will be able to claim from their deposit

heavykarma

It is not wise to give 3 years to any tenant,no matter how tempting it might be.I would not be able to cope with seeing my property being damaged so often.These are not accidents,they are down to lack of care and common sense. Presumably you have expressed your dismay to them?

Simon Pambin

Is this the house that was previously your home? I can see how living so close and seeing it damaged through apparent carelessness must be distressing. You have to develop a thick skin in this business: rental properties tend to have a harder life than owner-occupied ones, and not everyone lives the same way as you. That said, the problems you describe go beyond reasonable wear and tear. I think you just have to be hard-nosed about it and weigh up the costs (over and above what the tenant is apparently willing to pay for) against the benefit of a bird-in-the-hand tenant who pays the rent in full and on time. If a couple with one child have chosen to rent a well-presented five-bed, they can't be short of a bob or two.

Certainly don't go offering a three-year tenancy: I don't think I'd ever do that, even with good tenants who have already been in the property for years.

Hippogriff

It's not clear what duration of tenancy is active right now.

14 weeks in is just over 3 months... so plenty of time to go even for the minimum. The question is about whether to renew. Well... not for 3 years, obviously (not just for reasons and concerns described here, for so many reasons). Most Landlords would prefer to go onto a rolling tenancy / SPT... the reason most Tenants want a longer fixed term is for security... you can reassure the Tenants here that one of the biggest concerns Tenants often have is that it was the Landlord's old home and, someday, they'll 'need' to move back in (lost their new job, new partner kicked them out for cutting their toenails wrong, just felt homesick)... turfing them out in the process... that risk doesn't exist here - it's an investment for you (my assumption_... so as long as they are good Tenants, who pay the rent on time, then they should have no worries over being on a rolling month-to-month tenancy.

Landlords, on the other hand, should have relatively few reasons for tying down Tenants to longer fixed terms... you might think the security-of-tenure benefit I described goes both ways, equally... I'd suggest it doesn't. Get them on a SPT.

AngiM

Many thanks to you all for your helpful replies.  I think a stern word at my next inspection, and to continue with 3 monthly checks, is needed.  I can ask them to leave at the end of the year, though as you say, weighing up the benefits of a tenant who pays on time, is quiet etc...   He is overworked, his wife is depressed - I shall have to learn to be a little more  hard-nosed!  much appreciated Angi