UK Landlord Forum / Life

Hi there

I've just been to my flat for an inspection - all good, clean, tidy and the tenant pays on time. My flat is in a block over a hundred years old and has quirks - this is context - it's def not a new build, but it has all mod cons.

However, he's constantly contacting me if he sees anything out of place in the communal areas and if there's a slight something happening in the flat. I can brush them off to a certain extent he's not paying for communal areas, I am, but this visit has left me fizzing. His opening gambit after me asking if everything was ok for him was 'yes, just getting used to the cold, i'm wearing thermals'. I asked if he used the central heating or gas fire and if it was working ok as I'd had the boiler serviced a couple of months ago and the gas checks done? 'Yes but I don't put it on all the time'. OK, not my problem then.

Then he says the lounge door doesn't close fully, it catches on the threshold (wooden floor the door side) and he wants me to pull up the carpet to see what the bulge is. I refused. I asked if it was a major problem for him. He said it caused a draft. I said put the heating on.

Then the kitchen door scrapes the kitchen floor. Can I do something about that - maybe rip up the wooden floor? I told him that wasn't going to happen and asked if it was a problem for him, he said not really but wanted to point it out to me. I noted it down and said will speak to a joiner, but if it's too expensive then I may just leave it as is't not an emergency. My question is, do I need to bother as it'll mean taking the doors off, planing the bottom and re-hanging them? It's not hindering his living there - in fact he'll probably then complain there's a draft under the door!

Then he wants me to put a padlock on the loft hatch which is in the communal area and why there isn't a knob on the boiler pressure gauge for him to adjust the pressure.

Really, he's constantly Whats App-ing me photos and for this visit he contacted me saying 'It's time for you to do an inspection'. He's only been in the property 6 months and could cost me a fortune! I know I should be grateful to have a conscientious tenant who pays on time, but really, he's ripping my knitting! I feel he wants the comforts of a new build in a period property.

I've been landlord for this property for 7 years now and no one has reported every niggly thing. As a landlord, do I need to do everything he points out? I understand that by letting me know, it's absolving him of any issues should he leave. However, I feel he's in for the long haul.

Thanks for listening to my rant.

I think the fact he is a paying tenant (and apart from he psychotic maintenace issue) means he is someone you want to keep.
I think you might be being a just little too nice....

Then the kitchen door scrapes the kitchen floor.......... asked if it was a problem for him, he said not really but wanted to point it out to me. I noted it down and said will speak to a joiner

Why did you bother to continue the conversation? As soon as he said not really..then you are done - end of conversation.  Saying you will speak to a joiner only opens the door (HAH!) for him to continue the conversation.

Listen to him, determine if really an issue (either (a) safety, (b) will become worse and so a problem, (c) causing the tenant some real grief)..if none of these  then ignore.

Like a child, the more you encourage the behaviour the longer it will persist.
You could also suggest asking him to batch his requests - his constant streaming of issues might be the thing that really gets to you and so asking him to limit this might help (although I suspect not).

So in short ...NO you dont have to do everything he asks and you dont need to respond to every single Whatsapp message either.

Best of luck

Rants are cool. I like them. I bet when you read it back you thought to yourself - "gee, listen to how I sound"... this is why the Landlord business is a people business. It's not actually about the bricks and mortar and the age and condition of property... it's about people and how you deal with them, and how they deal with you. Now, first off - do recognise, for sure, that it's good for Tenants to tell you about problems. There's nothing worse than a Tenant that says nothing about the little leak, right? 

This one sounds a bit anal, maybe a little passive-aggressive... but what I hear here is a personality clash. Now, you've also been doing this for 7 years - I will bet a Pound to a penny that you are getting jaded... just a bit. And you don't have the time and the patience that you once would have... I know I'm right. It affects us all. We want an easy life and these bloody Tenant should be grateful that we're allowing them to stay in our property in exchange for money! Too right! I'm with you.

The answer is - no, of course you do not have to do everything. However, do some things... jointly prioritise. Remember that your approach to maintaining and looking after your own property might rub off on the Tenant... likewise, the opposite... if you don't care, why should the Tenant care? After 7 years you should have access to a tame Handyman... you shouldn't need to go finding a Plumber, a Joiner, a Plasterer, a Gardener, a guy who does this, and does that - you should be able to find someone who is "multi-skilled" and reasonably priced who can plane a door (it's easy) and add a knob to a thing (sounds easy!)... or get yourself down to Screwfix and pick up a few magic beans and get on with them yourself. Do a few things... show willing. Don't do everything... don't let the tail wag the dog, ever.

Like was pointed out - the way you relay your own conversation, you appear to be deliberately (unconsciously) opening yourself up for requests. Arrest that desire right now. 

After all, the alternative is to evict the Tenant because they're ripping your knitting (I like that, I will steal it)... and that'd probably be short-sighted of you.

Also... consider some pills that make you relax - the GP can prescribe them. They work in all angles of life, not just Landlording - or some lavender on your pillow.

Peepul of ze vurl - relax!

Your rant came at just the right time for me.Have just had 2 ickle babies aged 22 and 28 move in to a flat.Already I feel I dislike them both heartily.I do not provide heaters for these particular flats.they are well-insulated and double glazed.Previous tenants have dried wet clothes,made toast etc.with the fires provided,so It was made clear they had to bring their own heaters.They have just had their uncle phone to say they got up this morning and it was cold.I pointed out that it often gets like that in winter,what am I supposed to do about it?
There has also been a whole list of things they "Just want to point out" e.g.The cistern makes a whistling noise,and they don't want to get complaints from upstairs if they flush in the middle of the night.I did not tell them the neighbour is a coke-snorting,hard- drinking chef who will still be out partying when they need to go pee pee.Aaaargh! Time for my medication. Good luck with your guy-agree with the others,do what is your legal responsibility but don't get sucked into his neediness.

Thanks folks for the advice. Yep, just go to stop being so dang nice...

It's good to be nice to Tenants that pay on time and look after your property.

So, don't go entirely the other way... do things, but do them on your terms and don't think you need to do everything. Consider things that might enhance the property for future lets. For example, some of my Tenants have a shower, but suggested adding an over-bath one to the other bathroom would be beneficial as they'll have guests over Christmas. I am now looking into this because it will keep them happy and it will enhance the property for the future. Sadly, costs are higher than I would want... but it's all about investment, unless you're just wanting to extract as much money as possible and gradually let your properties degrade over time. Some Landlords will.