New Tenants Comments

[HongKongphooey]

My husband owns a victorian terraced house which we lived in for 20 yrs until Sept 2018. After we moved to the other side of town, he kept the house and said he wanted to rent it out. I completely re-decorated it from top to bottom (3 floors) and completely cleaned from top to bottom especially the kitchen and bathroom/toilet. The agent came round to look at it prior to advertising and said how nice it was. One or two of my friends saw it online and said I had done a really good job, and it looked lovely. Finally after some viewings 1 couple with a small child agreed they wanted to rent it. The date was moved back 3 times because the agent said they didnt have the money til payday (he has a low paid job, shes on benefit) They moved in on 22/2/2019. My husband is now managing it himself, the agents final job was to send the inventory which the tenants have made comments all over. They have said every room was dirty, the toilet was filthy, the bathroom was dirty and water leaks through the floor.They said the back yard was full of Cat poo. (We dont have a Cat) and the Carpets ( they asked us to put carpet in the bedroom which was stripped pine floorboards, which we did.)causes itching and a rash. Worse of all they have said there is lice in the top bedroom, which is totally untrue. Alot of these comments dont make sense, I checked and recleaned everywhere before they moved in. I am really really upset and insulted. I feel like asking ane environmental health officer round to confirm this is not true. Why would I let a room my daughter slept in for 20yrs have lice? To make matters worse our old neighbour's and friends next door have complained the tenants continually scream at the kid, and throw cigarette butts outside the front door, and lean on there fence when smoking in the back yard. My husband says I am overreacting. He says he will speak to the tenants Its all making me depressed. I dont know what to do. Any advice appreciated.

[Mamyalynne]

How objectionable they sound, no wonder you are upset.

Hope your Husband gets through to them.

[spathiphyllum]

You're not over reacting. I would get agents to go and inspect property as they know what it was like before they went in.

Environmental health officer will be overkill, but not a bad idea.

I would try to find new tenants

This would have been my first cause for concern

"The date was moved back 3 times because the agent said they didnt have the money til payday (he has a low paid job, shes on benefit) "

[MallyJ]

I hope all the complaints are not going to lead to 'reasons' why the rent will not be paid. Hopefully they are there on a short term tenency and it will not be renewed...I also think you should get the estate agent round soon as to inspect the property. If it is a tip then they will have to make it good again.

[HongKongphooey]

Im wondering if they are going to use all these things to not pay the first months rent. Thank goodness we have only signed them for 6 months. My husband is so laid back about it and them, its really frustrating me, he doesnt see a problem!

[spathiphyllum]

Did they sign a contract?

Before they go in.. really you should have 1st rent last rent and deposit.

[spathiphyllum]

Deposit should really be a months rent +£100

[HongKongphooey]

Yeh they paid 1 months rent and a deposit which is in a holding account. The rent money went to the agent as there fee and then my husband got £200 left over. So really its the second months rent they will have to pay soon.

[Baldric]

As a Landlord myself I suspect you are going to have problems with them.

[DTCwordfan]

Do you have photographs of 'before'?

[david small]

You’ve got some bed ones. Your agent should have vetted them beforehand. Unfortunately I see trouble ahead. I wouldn’t have let to them in The first place.

[david small]

That’s bad ones. Auto correct...sigh.

[hereIam]

When I read '(he has a low paid job, she's on benefits)', I knew exactly what was coming !!

[david small]

Exactly, hereIam.

[ladybirder]

An inventory should have been done on the day they moved in and both the tenant and owner should have a copy. Always wise to take pictures at the same time. I know this doesn't help now it's too late but for the future it will prove your case should you have the same problem again. Did your agent not get references for them? Did they not do an inventory? If not I would ask for the money you paid them to be returned to you. I feel your pain and anger and am sorry you have been put in this position. Stay strong.

[KARL]

Sounds like the agents may have paid too little attention - we gave up using agents decades ago because they were so disappointing. My leaning is toward what others have said, unreliable tenants best got rid of soonest. On the other hand, your husband may have the correct attitude because the situation is now set and there is nothing to do but wait until you can get rid of them - unless they unexpectedly surprise you by turning out fine. Sadly, there seem to be lots of tenants who take the attitude that no matter how good the property, how low the rent and how reasonable the landlord is, they are being exploited and must try all they can to get their money's worth. Nobody, absolutely nobody, has any sympathy for landlords.

[HongKongphooey]

Thanks everyone, I have got so wound up about it, and helps just telling you lot. I told my Husband when the agent told us about the couple, that I had grave misgivings about letting it to them, given there work/benefits situation. I said I would prefer to wait for people who were not as he described(he had met them) a bit rough!! He ignored me, bearing in mind it was costing us £200 a month while it was empty.

[melv16]

In hindsight, I think you should have posted on here the situation with the new tenants before you let it to them.
I'm sure it would be a resounding.. don't go there!

[MallyJ]

On the up side you can refuse to do anymore cleaning of rental property with a quiet 'I told you so!' Or 'You really need to listen to me'
I love it whe I can do that! Won't mention himself letting his property to some lovely people who turned out to be cannabis farmers.......!

[Cloverjo]

If your husband owns the house then don’t you own it too? It’s up to you as much as him as to how you deal with the situation.

I’d give them two weeks notice to get out.

[MallyJ]

Interesting Cloverjo.....I always think that what is mine is mine and what is his is his.......until one of us dies that is!