UK Landlord Forum / Life

Hello
I have recently let out a studio space to a single female occupant who it appears has had her bf stay round a few times a week at least of what I know. The studio is attached to the side of my home with a separate entrance, bedroom with single bed, bathroom and kitchen. It is let out with all bills included. Is this acceptable for guests to stay the night when we have no idea who he is? Also since all bills are included, I feel it is a bit cheeky to have someone stay most nights included in the price for one person.
I know it should not matter that the girl is Chinese but I have heard bad things about Chinese tenants. She appeared like a simple and respectable professional when I agreed. Also she agreed on the price without fuss whereas most viewers felt it too expensive. Before she moved she asked if visitors are allowed and I said yes but no parties. She didn't mention anything about her bf staying round and I have never seen him just heard them talking. Her boyfriend has a motorbike and he has the audacity of parking it in our driveway although the tenant has not been given permission for parking her car in our drive. I am thinking all sorts, like they are up to something illegal.
Am I being unreasonable? How many nights would be ok for a partner to stay? Should she show me his personal identification?
Advice will be much appreciated

You are being unreasonable. Tenants can have guests stay over, even regularly. What they cannot do is have someone else move in, as their residence. This isn't what is happening here. You were even asked if it was OK (despite there being no requirement to do so), and you said that it was, so you cleared it (even though there was no requirement to do so).

Also, your comments about nationality, which don't even appear to be based on prior personal experience (not that that would validate them), are distasteful.

You are letting out a property, you are not the mother of your Tenant(s). What matters, to you, is that the rent is paid and the property is looked after. Try to be less intrusive if you can.

If you need to enforce rules about parking that's certainly a path to go down, audacity vs. being unaware is more likely at play here, though. If you cared about parking that much then it should already be a clause in your AST. I have parking clauses in my ASTs where it is relevant. If it isn't it your AST now, then get it edited for next time. For now, let your Tenant live her life and enjoy the attention of her boyfriend. As long as there's adequate sound-proofing it should be no bother.

Thanks for the reply. Let me firstly clarify a few things. Firstly when she asked about visitors I didn't think she meant someone staying the night most nights of the week. Surely with all bills included it is unfair that i have to fork out the extra amount for more than the estimated energy usage. Isn't it like a person paying for a single hotel room and then having someone else stay with them for free? Secondly because my family live attached to the studio I feel anxious knowing there is someone in my property whose background or identity I have no idea about. Thirdly I myself am from an Asian background so my comments are not meant to cause offence. I have not had any personal experiences as this is my first let. However it is no secret that many Chinese tenants have been known to participate in illegal activities such as dealing drugs, growing marijuana, making illegal dvds and serious overcrowding of properties. I have had friends and family members who have unfortunately been at the receiving end. I am not one to judge as I initially went on my impression of her character and  employment references. I am sure most of you landlords here have your reservations about some types of tenants and wouldn't let your property to everyone on an equal basis.

Hippogriff is right, move on and chalk it up to a lesson learnt. You should have had a clause in the AST that states how long visitors can stay for, providing that it is not an unreasonable one. I.e. a maximum stay of 2 consecutive nights and no more than 3 nights per week.
Also the comment about ethnicity is distasteful. Anyone can cause the issues you describe, it is not limited to a specific type of nationality or ethnicity. 

Quote from: Sierra76 on November 16, 2016, 09:55:56 AMI am sure most of you landlords here have your reservations about some types of tenants and wouldn't let your property to everyone on an equal basis.

Let me reassure you that I am not one for political correctness at any price - I believe people should be able to take a bit of banter and a general poke - but your comment about Chinese and your assertion above simply are not true. I meet the people who are going to rent my properties - instead of handing that task to an Agent who won't care at all - and I judge them by their personality, their stated intentions, a bit of gut feel and... references. I certainly do not judge people by the colour of their skin or country of origin or sex or height or weight or what-have-you... the reason being that this would be wrong.

I know this is wrong. I don't need to be told that this is wrong.

I have let my properties to Chinese students, lesbians, Irish people, singles, a large family with cat, a medium sized family with dog, a woman with a child, a woman expecting a child, someone in receipt of LHA... this is not because I will just take anyone. This is because these people were able to pay the rent, had good references and gave me a good vibe when I met them. I would not refuse to let to a prospective Tenant because of some attribute they have.

As a Landlord you certainly have the right to choose your Tenants (based on whatever your criteria may be - you just can't go around advertising "no blacks or Chinese" even if you think that in your mind) and that will not change. The fact is - you have that right and you exercised that right with this Tenant already. The perfect opportunity to ask someone about their idea of frequency is when they asked you the question about guests... you were given every opportunity to seek clarity, but you didn't bother - instead, you made an assumption that has been proven to be incorrect.

To me - reading this - it appears that your Tenant is actually of very good character and has been completely up-front with you in their questions prior to taking on the tenancy - it is you who now appears to be trying to move the goalposts. Please bury your feelings of being hard-done-to and learn for the next time rather than acting this time.

The worst Tenant I ever let to? Academics. I will not tar all Academics with the same brush from now on, even though it's my own personal experience I am citing, not just rumour / hearsay / stereotypes.