Rented house refurb - should I do it?

Sue_S

Hi, I'm a landlord and have a tenant in my property who has been there for almost 4 years. Never a moment's worry and rent always on time. The property is managed by a LA.

My question is: When we let the property the carpets were looking a bit shabby and we were going to replace them but the LA said that the tenant was happy to move in with them as they are so not to bother and to do them when the tenancy ended.

Well, here we are 4 years down the road and I feel that the carpets must be almost threadbare. Should I contact the tenant (through the LA) and offer to refurb or just wait for the tenancy to end - or for them to complain? I realise that they may not want the upheaval of moving furniture etc but I wouldn't like them to feel unhappy about the condition of the property.

What do you think?

princessamy86

Why don't you just ask them? Not necessarily through the agency, just pop a note through the door asking them to get in touch as you would like to discuss a potential refurb of the property. If they aren't bothered, you don't need to spend any money but I always think that if you make a property nice, then tenants are often more likely to try and keep it that way.

*judge*judy*

I'd just ask the tenants but make it clear that it's "because you are such good tenants" etc ,otherwise they might start getting worried and think you're getting it ready to sell!

silvercar

They could be the sort of tenants that would worry that you would increase the rent if you paid out for carpets etc.

When was your last inspection? You may find the tenants have bought new carpets themselves.

Sue_S

silvercar wrote: »

They could be the sort of tenants that would worry that you would increase the rent if you paid out for carpets etc.

When was your last inspection? You may find the tenants have bought new carpets themselves.

Do tenants do that? I thought they had to ask permission to make any changes (although I see that they've had a satellite dish installed and cut down a hedge without asking). I certainly wouldn't have a problem with it but I'd be surprised...

zzzLazyDaisy

If they are really happy in the house, and with you as a landlord, and plan to stay there, they might put cheap carpet down to make it more like 'home'.

If so, they have probably been told that they have to return the house to its original state if they move - so your carpets could well be stored somewhere, waiting to be put back down!!

If an inspection hasn't been done recently, I'd make arrangements to pop over. You can then see if there is anything else that needs updating while you are at it.

(I wish my son had such considerate landlords when he was renting......)

mlz1413

Sue_S wrote: »

Do tenants do that? I thought they had to ask permission to make any changes (although I see that they've had a satellite dish installed and cut down a hedge without asking). I certainly wouldn't have a problem with it but I'd be surprised...

Have the LA's been doing inspections? Have you ever attended one or been asked if you would like to?

The Tenants sound like they are very much at home and if you are happy with them in general I'd just do an inspection or get the LA to do one and report back to you any changes from the inventory.

If you go along to the inspection you don't have to say you are the LL you can just be part of the LA team but it would give you the opportunity to ask if any improvements would be desirable and guage responses about the rent increasing concerns.