Bad Tenant??

[fire-bird]

Apologies if this is in the wrong place - i wasn't sure where to post it. I currently rent a property off a close friend - she has recently borrowed money on the property and I have had to have a survey carried out. All in all i've had to have 3 surveys done in the space of a year because of problems with the mortgage lender. Anyway the last one was in November and the results of the survey have just come back - stating that we are bad tenants, we don't look after the property and we are untidy. Because of this the mortgage company have increased my friends payments by �85.00 a month and put her in a high risk category. My friends is aware of the wallpaper which needs replacing which my cats clawed when they were kittens and we agreed that when we were able to redecorate we would do this no problem. I admit I am not the tidiest person in the work but my house is always clean. My questions is are the mortgage lenders allowed to do this - it has really upset me as I didn't think we were bad tenants at all. The bathroom taps broke a few months ago and we replaced them without getting the landlord involved - would bad tenants do that? I just wanted to hear other peoples opinions who may have been in this situation before as I'm not sure what to do - oh and the mortgage company have said they will send another surveyor out in March to re-evalute the property. Surely a bit of wallpaper isn't going to make that much difference is it. Thanks for your help.

[Twenty20]

There's something very odd about this. You say that you have had to have a survey done on the property you rent - tenants don't get surveys done, landlords do. Do you mean you've had to let a surveyor in to the property to do a survey? This would be normal if the landlord is remortgaging. I don't understand why you've seen the results of the survey if this is the case?

Also, a mortgage lender wont be interested in whether you're tidy or not, that's nothing to do with them. All they are interested in is whether the borrower will be able to make the repayments or whether they'll be able to get their money back if they have to repossess.

Are you sure this is a surveyor?

Also, you don't actually have to let anyone in to the property whilst youre renting it, you dont even have to let the landlord in if you dont want to unless it's an emergency. It's called quiet enjoyment of the property.

[fire-bird]

Hi - Sorry I wasn't very clear - yes I meant the landlord had a survey done - the only reason she told me about it is because they've put her payments up and said that as they are coming back in march i need to get the place tidied up.

[redcrx]

I cant see why a mortgage company would increase her payments unless the rental value of the property has gone down and they are somehow trying to ensure that they get money whilst its occupied.

Is she actually applying for a buy to let mortage and only had a standard mortgage before? This would increase the payments as a BTL mortgage is usually a higher interest rate

[fire-bird]

Hi - I'm still paying the same amount of rent but obviously I am worried that this might be passed onto me as I am not in a position to pay any extra rent - it did seem odd to me which is why I posted after advice. Thanks for your answers.

[redcrx]

if you have a rental agreement then she can only increase you rental when the lease is up for renewal.

[Twenty20]

I think as redcrx says, that the increase is more to do with taking out a new mortgage - maybe she's switching to a buy to let or maybe she's come to the end of a fixed rate or something. Personally, I wouldn't worry. She would have trouble putting your rent up by �85 a month unless youre paying a very low rent now.

How tidy you keep the property is really no concern of the landlord, all she needs to be concerned about is the condition when you move out.

I still don't understand why the surveyor would be coming back in a few months, unless there were defects that she had to put right (and I don't mean tidying the house or the wallpaper!)?

[buildersmate]

I read it and couldn't work it out either, 20/20.
Like you, I reckon it is a fixed buy-to-let mortgage come up for remortgage and with so much concern about the security of these from the lenders, they are taking a real close look at the 'perceived quality' of the tenants before deciding the risk factor to apply. Higher risk factor equals higher interest rate offered - 'or else we will foreclose on you' ??
With this one, the tenant and landlord know each other well, but the mortgage company won't know that - not would they probably care.
I think this mortgage is being passed around the sub-prime lender bazaars - and different (potential) lenders are taking a view on whether they want to take it on. This last one wants to see that the 'tenant' has improved. Cheeky whatnuts.