long term renter, thoughts on refurb

londonlass001

Hi there,

Basically have been renting same property for 9 years. In that time, our landlord has carried out urgent repairs/replacements but has generally neglected the exterior of building and internal decor etc. We have pointed out things that need doing when we have letting agent inspections or when they occur but, for example, the guttering wasn't replaced despite a contractor saying it needed doing. The exterior doesn't directly affect us in terms of causing us problems but surely it's common sense to look after an investment?

We have tried to keep the property in good order but there is only so much you can do when some of the fixtures were old and worn to begin with (bath, sink and toilet poss 30 years old and sink and pedestal were cracked when we moved in) or cheap materials e.g. carpets, were used in original refurb. We like where we live, don't want to move but feel that we are stuck in terms of stopping the property declining further. We are thinking of putting in writing a request for new carpet and bathroom but wanted some opinions from landlords on here or anyone really who has some ideas/opinions.


thanks in advance

poppysarah

Compare what you'd get for the same amount of rent. If you could get something all new and shiny why stay if the landlord won't meet those standards?

The hassle of moving is probably easier than the effort of living with refurb work.

clutton_2

it is not your fault that the property is declining, and if the exterior is not causing you any problems then ignore it - it is a stupid landlord who does not maintain the exterior as sooner or later it will affect the inside

but why not write a polite note asking for a new bathroom suite and giving some prices of some local firms - we're not taking more than a few hundred quid here

if you mention that leaks will soon begin to damage the interior .... might that shift him ?

clutton_2

"If you could get something all new and shiny why stay if the landlord won't meet those standards?""

but at least OP knows he has a long term landlord who is not likely to want him out in 6 months - that is Very important to renters security

poppysarah

clutton wrote: »

but at least OP knows he has a long term landlord who is not likely to want him out in 6 months - that is Very important to renters security

But if that security depends on living in a old unmaintained house ....

BitterAndTwisted

If you're not paying top-of-the-market rent you could consider doing the decorating and recarpeting yourself. I would. Ditto a new basin and pedestal, they're not expensive. By writing to your landlord asking for these things to be done you could risk them giving you notice but that all depends on how keen you are to find another, equivalent rental property

clutton_2

it also depends on the level of rent they pay

poppysarah

clutton wrote: »

it also depends on the level of rent they pay

So it's ok for poor people to live in slums?

roses

As you have been there 9 years, you are probably on quite a decent rent. If you moved out a) could your landlord rent out the place in the current condition for more b) could you get better quality for the same price

londonlass001

Thanks for the replies, I appreciate other perspectives. Not being a landlord myself, I wasn't sure if we were being unreasonable?

Compare what you'd get for the same amount of rent. If you could get something all new and shiny why stay if the landlord won't meet those standards?

The hassle of moving is probably easier than the effort of living with refurb work.

We have weighed up the pros and cons of moving including being able to have a home which is in better repair. For all sorts of reasons, we really don't want to move unless we have to, which is why we have stayed in the property so long.

but why not write a polite note asking for a new bathroom suite and giving some prices of some local firms - we're not taking more than a few hundred quid here

If you're not paying top-of-the-market rent you could consider doing the decorating and recarpeting yourself. I would. Ditto a new basin and pedestal, they're not expensive.

These are our options as far as I can see, but my partner and I are divided. We have painted walls etc in the past without permission but justified that as maintaining the property. As you can imagine, over 9 years, the original paintwork began to look tatty. This, in my mind, is a much bigger risk though. I would prefer to give the landlord the option of doing the work not only to save my own money but also I don't want any comeback about doing unauthorised work especially if something were to go wrong. My partner feels that by asking them to do it we run the risk of them raising the rent but I think we could live with that as long as it was fair and proportionate.

I don't think they would ask us to leave but I suppose am concerned that if they say no, we might well have to think about whether to pay for it ourselves or move.

anyway thanks again

clutton_2

poppysarah says

""
Originally Posted by clutton
it also depends on the level of rent they pay
So it's ok for poor people to live in slums? ""


please dont twist things just because it is a landlord saying it on here

the level of rent someone pays may, or may NOT, be related to their income - as OP says she really likes living there and has accepted a poorer quality environment for other personal reasons she has not disclosed

and no, its not ok for ANYone to live in a slum, but OP has not described her home as a slum