Is this normal - landlord storing their stuff at property

BettyDebt

Hi

We're due to sign our lease on a rental property and move in this weekend.
At the time when we saw the house we questioned what a small bolted door was for on the landing near the loft conversion. EA said they would look into it.

After chasing it up several times today I was told that it is infact a small loft/ roof storage area where Landlord has his things. We wont have access to it, know what it is or be responsible for it. I think this is odd. Surely we should have been made aware at the time? I am also hesistant to store stuff I have no idea what it is. I'm told the landlord wont want access to it. So why keep it?

Normally I wouldn't mind at all. Happy to help out. However as there is a loft conversion there is no indoor/ loft/ understairs cupboard space for storing bits and pieces out of sight (the usual things like luggage or christmas decorations) at all in the house. The landlord has kept the only one space for himself.

The EA says there is nothing I can do about it and I dont want to cause a fuss and lose the house but this seems a little unfair. There is a shed that I would happily store their stuff in a secure box if need be.

Can I insist on anything? What should I write on the tenancy agreement - assuming there is a place for exclusions?

Advice appreciated!
Thanks.

brightonman123

if its part of your property (checj deeds?), then your responsibility- i would get stuff removed- could be weapons, drugs, dead bodies?!

poppysarah

Don't sign it until you have it in writing they'll remove the stuff. If it's storage space intended for the flat then you need it.

BettyDebt

The landlord has no intention of removing the stuff or giving us access to the space. From what I gather from the EA there is nothing we can do!?

poppysarah

There is. Don't sign the tenancy.

System

Or, just not care about it? Can you manage with 1 less cupboard?

I've lived in a property with a locked cupboard that was the owners stuff and I didn't ever think twice about it.

Sure maybe it contains anthrax powder and 10 dead bodies, or maybe it just contains old odds and sods that he can't be bothered to chuck out.

EconomicsGirl

We rent a house which has the landlady's stuff stored in the loft - it was a term in our contract we had no access to it. I think you can ask them if they can remove their stuff as you need the space and if they won't then you have to consider if you want this property with it in or not. Our landlady's things are her responsibility and we didn't mind so went ahead but if you need storeage space then ask for it to be removed. Saying you're not sure you want the property if you haven't got storeage space may be enough to get them to shift it hopefully.

poppysarah

Just make it clear about who's contents insurance is covering the contents of the cupboard.
What if you were broken into and the cupboard was emptied. Then the landlord wanted you to claim for his expensive stuff on your insurance.

Planner

It wouldnt be the fact that their stuff was there that would be a concern, it would be if they under the impression that they can come and go when the please because they need something from it.....

anotherpaul_2

poppysarah wrote: »

Just make it clear about who's contents insurance is covering the contents of the cupboard.
What if you were broken into and the cupboard was emptied. Then the landlord wanted you to claim for his expensive stuff on your insurance.

And, expanding on this, you should probably check that your insurer will still give you cover for your stuff if there's a room containing stuff you know nothing about. I suspect it's not that unusual, but it's worth making sure.

penguine

I would really want to be sure there was nothing flammable in the cupboard.