A Landlord's perspective, if you please!

nikki_angel

How would you feel if your tenant fixed a couple of issues that were negative on the inventory i.e a broken kitchen door hinge, mouldy mastic behind kitchen sink and curtain pole problem?

These are things that are marked on our inventory but easily sorted. We have already fixed the curtain pole issue as the whole thing was falling off the wall and I can't live like that. I also filled in a massive hole where the metal tie back for the curtain had pulled the plaster away where it was too heavy. The kitchen door hinge and mouldy mastic is easily fixed too so I am quite happy to sort these myself. Would you want to be asked before this was done or would it just be a pleasant surprise when the check out inventory came about?

Wings

Want to be asked, since agreeing to the same, moves liability on to the landlord.

Yorkie1

I'd advise asking your LL, otherwise if you do it and he doesn't like the way you've done it, he could hold it against you at deposit (charging you to undo your work). NB Ask & get consent in writing, just to cover your back too.

G_M

Minor 'making good' is fine. Any significant repairs/a;terations, get LL permission. Screw loose or come out on a door hinge? Fix it.
Damaged paintwork requiring a room repainted? Ask!

diable

I would say thanks and hand over a bottle of Chateau Deffends and wish them a nice evening.

nikki_angel

Brill, thanks all for your input. The kitchen cupboard door hinge is minor and I would say sorting the mouldy bits are too. Anything bigger I'd ask anyway. These seem like such small things that I wouldn't want to bother the LL with them.

GillsMan7

I probably wouldn't need to bothered about minor works like fixing a hinge. As a tenant I've undertaken such work and don't expect to tell the LL. But if one of my tenants decided to do more work such as decorating, replacing doors, etc I'd want to be told.
One thing I would say is that anything the T does which they perceive as an "improvement" doesn't negate any thing they do which would ordinarily require a deposit deduction. For example, if my Tenant damaged my carpet which required a deposit deduction of £100 to make right, they couldn't argue that they've made £100 of improvements by cleaning and fixing stuff around the house so shouldn't be made to pay. It doesn't work like that.

Hammyman

nikki_angel wrote: »

How would you feel if your tenant fixed a couple of issues that were negative on the inventory i.e a broken kitchen door hinge, mouldy mastic behind kitchen sink and curtain pole problem?

These are things that are marked on our inventory but easily sorted. We have already fixed the curtain pole issue as the whole thing was falling off the wall and I can't live like that. I also filled in a massive hole where the metal tie back for the curtain had pulled the plaster away where it was too heavy. The kitchen door hinge and mouldy mastic is easily fixed too so I am quite happy to sort these myself. Would you want to be asked before this was done or would it just be a pleasant surprise when the check out inventory came about?

I'd be embarrassed and give them some money off the next rent as a thankyou. Mind you my mates Landlord didn't give a toss and my mate did the repairs just so he could stand living there. Told him he was mad but I kind of got the point.

My problem is that even though I ask my tenant if she has any problems when she comes round with the rent, she's so grateful to have a decent house instead of one like her last one with no working upstairs electrics and a water leak so bad you had heating + high water bill or turned water off but froze (metered water), that she would do them and not say owt.

nikki_angel

Oh definitely not Gill. I wouldn't have the cheek to say that to my LL. Her house is so lovely I would be mortified if I done any damage to it, let alone say "well I fixed that curtain pole so that's a few quid off!"

Thanks Hammy, these issues are minor so no big deal really and nothing I'd want to worry the LL with.

I've just had to get the radiator looked at in the bedroom as it wasn't working at all. I felt bad about that even though it was neither my fault or in fact something I should worry about speaking to the LL/LA about. I love this house and really hope that we can continue past February when our contract ends. I am just not looking forward to the fees to renew which will no doubt be silly amount. I don't want to go onto a rolling tenancy though as I would like the security of knowing I was here for at least another year, as would the LL I expect!

tbs624

Discuss with LL, confirm in writing, take before and after photos and each party keep a copy.

Wings

tbs624 wrote: »

Discuss with LL, confirm in writing, take before and after photos and each party keep a copy.

And who is to say the tenant is competent to carry out either the said repairs or decorating, a LL can be opening a large can of worms.


I am presently assisting a LL who gave such consent to a tenant, only to find his now ex tenant had painted the premises in highly vivid fluorescent colour paints, forgetting to protect ceilings, uPVC windows, carpets, skirting boards and carpets from the paints.