UK Landlord Forum / Life

Our tenants have had carpets professionally cleaned without consultung us
beforehand. Now they are asking if we like to contribute to the cost.
The carpets were brand new when they moved in and they are dream tenants.
They do minor repairs and maintenance for us themselves and we reimburse them
for their costs. Do you think we should contribute?


Thanks
Joe

Carpet cleaning is a part of being a tenant.
What about the washing up?

Agree,that is just part of routine housekeeping.You would not expect to pay for a window cleaner for them,or oven cleaning.

Quote from: 098Joe on October 13, 2022, 10:01:07 AMThey do minor repairs and maintenance for us themselves and we reimburse them for their costs.

It's possible that you have set some expectations through your own behaviour. I'm not implying anything is wrong with this approach, not at all... just that they obviously feel there is some kind of unspoken 'understanding' between you... whereas you are just wanting to make or take an easy life.

I would say, a "dream Tenant" who initiates and conducts minor repairs... and pays their rent on time... is something to cherish.

So, while I would agree with the other views expressed here... definitely if strictly speaking... there might be a pragmatic approach taken here... like, if it's £50 then you could obviously swallow that, as a Fat Cat Landlord, but use the handover of money to just politely, calmly and respectfully reiterate that all expenses should always be discussed first. But tell them that you love them at the same time - Tenants like that.

I have some Tenants who take on things themselves. They always ask if they can. They always seem reasonable requests to me. I have - so far - always approved. I always offer to reimburse. I'm not kidding - they come back and say - "no, it's our choice to do this, so no need" - I don't know what the house will look like when they eventually move on. It will probably have turrets and a pool. Very distasteful, but, hey, that rent just keeps coming in and I have - so far - had nothing to do except raise the rent and pay for a bit of boiler work. If they came to me and asked about carpet cleaning, I would happily pay half. I sense you might too (if they were a bit older maybe) but the bit that sticks with you is they didn't ask... and now they're asking.

Tricky one - fine line between repairs and maintenance versus housekeeping, which cleaning carpets clearly falls into.  I think as Hippogriff says, you might want to go ahead and contribute to keep the relationship sweet (whilst mentioning the courtesy of checking with you beforehand, obvs), but I also think you have good grounds to push back on this one given the difference between subheads, as it were.  You might want to sandwich it by asking how the last repair has worked out/if it's still ok, saying the carpet cleaning isn't quite the same, and then moving on to the next thing you'll be paying for etc.