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Showing a potential new tenant

Started by Janet, March 27, 2012, 04:43:21 PM

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Janet

I hope someone can offer some advice.
I have a house which is rented through an agent on a one-year agreement and this has 5 months to run. The current tenants, while keeping the house in good condition, have given me some headaches and I don't trust them. Shortly after moving in they asked if they could have a dog, and I refused (the agreement stated no pets anyway) and they replied that if the situation was the same when the renewal date arrived, they might not re-sign.
At the last inspection, they told the agent that they are interested in renewing their agreement (I didn't expect that, as they made lots of complaints not to mention the dog issue). However, I have found a lady who is looking to rent long-term and I have asked that she is allowed to accompany the agent at the next routine inspection so that she can see what the house is like. I have told the agent that it isn't definite that the new lady will want to rent the house, but she may be interested should it become available at a later date. Rather like someone dropping off a cv to a company in case a job comes up. My concern is that the tenants will wait until it's really close to the renewal date and then say that unless I allow a dog they won't stay, leaving me in a situation without a tenant.
My question is: Can the tenants refuse to allow someone entry to view the house given the fact they may want to stay and when they haven't been served notice? They were advised in writing a week ahead of the inspection, so it hasn't been sprung on them. I want to do the right thing, and I don't want to upset the tenants or make them feel insecure, but I also want to protect myself. I wouldn't rule out letting them stay, but I would prefer to have a new tenant.
Sorry to rattle on and hope this makes sense.

Jeremy

Hello Janet,

I think you've answered your own question.  The tenant must allow periodic inspections.  Your new prospective tenant must be savvy enough to play along with the pretense that they are with the letting company, otherwise you could cause a significant damage to teh relationship you have with your existing tenant.

However, if you don't trust your new tenants; they try to move pets into a "no-pets" house just days after moving in and you say you would prefer a new tenant, then I think you're telling us all that you shold really ask your eisting people to move uot at the end of their agreement and find a new tenant, this lady - or someone else.

Let us know how things turn out.

Janet

Thank you for your comment, Jeremy. It looks like the tenants want to stay even though I won't allow pets. I feel a bit mean about it but everyone I've spoken to advises to stick to this.

The agents rather muddied the water by being late for the inspection and the tenants ended up showing the potential new tenant over the house. While doing that, it was discovered that the agents had spun a story to the tenants about the new lady...so that wasn't pretty and has caused a lot of confusion.

All this makes me want to change agents now!

ciaraboo

Just on the topic of pets......many tenants with dogs etc will stay in the house for longer as they do not wish to move when they have pets. If it is a good tenant (respectful of property etc) I'd consider letting them have a pet.

Janet

Thank you for your comment, Ciaraboo. I gave the whole matter a lot of thought last week and decided they could go ahead and have a dog. They originally asked me almost as soon as they moved in last year, and asked for loads of other things as well, so I felt it was too much, too soon. Now that they've shown they are responsible and reliable, it seemed churlish to stick to the no-pets rule just because I could. So, thank you for yur comment and confirming what I came to feel was the right thing to do.