Renting a house

DawnW

where on earth do you go to get trained as a landlord? Like LAs, it is not a profession! Being aware of the law (and adhering to it) and belonging to the NLA or similar is pretty good. It sounds as though the OP's tenants are getting better than that, even though he is not!

Hammyman

Nariman wrote: »

Firstly, there was no curtains! Spoke to the estate agent and they said it is not the responsibility of the landlord to leave curtains!

Then, when we vieed the property, there was a washing machine, but not cooker or fridg/freezer or dishwasher. But in the flyer for the house, all these where in there. I spoke to the agent and told them that the landlord doesn't have to supply any of the stuff apart from a cooker, as we already have everything else! However when we moved in, we found that the landlord had gone and bought a economy range ELECTRIC cooker and put in place! THere was gas in the kitchen already! again I had a a chat with the agnet, but they said as we never specificed what we wanted there, then the landlord has supplied what he thought was best!


Can someone please help as to what I can do!

Not a lot for the above. If you rent unfurnished, no curtains or white goods is what you get or you get whats left behind. There is no law which states the landlord has to provide curtains, a cooker, a fridge or a dishwasher (I find it hilarious that you expect a dishwasher). And it is up to the landlord to put whatever he wants in should he decide to provide these. By the way, putting good quality white goods in the property you were letting out is a BIG BIG mistake. At best you provide non at all if possible or budget ones if you have to. They'll get wrecked by most tenants.

In regards to the showers, same story. The contractor refused to fit the power ones at your request because he was working for the landlord, not you. There was nothing for the contractor to discuss with the agent or you because the landlord, THE PERSON WHO OWNS THE PROPERTY told him what was required. Your views and financial offer are of little consequence.

If you don't like it then quite frankly, tough. Its not your property and you knew what there was and wasn't when you decided to rent it. Its too late whining about it now.

Oh, and the agent is there to work for the landlords best interests, not yours.

You say you're letting out yourself and I find your naivety as a tenant worrying.

Landlord-Certificates

In our porperty, I made sure everything was in full working order before we let the property out. and also all the quipment left in the property, are off good quality and not some cheap economy range! We also left all the curtains in the property as we thought we had to!

Doozergirl wrote: »

You've done the best by your tenants; if you're lucky, you won't end up regretting it when stuff gets ruined.

G_M wrote: »

Although as a landlord yourself you have an admirable attitude in providing good quality items for your tenants, your lack of understanding of how the letting business business works is a concern. I trust you fully understand your obligations, and particularly the limits of your agent's responsibilites and where your own start and end?

Hammyman wrote: »

By the way, putting good quality white goods in the property you were letting out is a BIG BIG mistake. At best you provide non at all if possible or budget ones if you have to. They'll get wrecked by most tenants.

1) All he/she did was leave the appliances they owned in the property. They didn't go out and buy new expensive appliances.

2) An inventory was used in this case but it amazes me how many landlords dont use this service. It protects the landlord and the tenant and forms part of the contract in effect. There is something to sign and questions/concerns can be raised there and then - at check in and check out!

3) You've been a little naive in moving into a property and then complaining afterwards.

4) When I go to a landlords property I am working for them and being paid by them. If a tenant tells me to do something I dont do it, I just carry on with what I am doing - otherwise I wont be getting paid. How do you know that the shower/shower head you bought was suitable? Who was going to return the ones the contractor bought? You should have spoken to the landlord.

5) Its a legal requirement to provide a gas safety certificate, EPC, means of heating and hot water and means of cooking. A landlord doesn't have to provide a fridge, washing machine, curtains, gas fire, furniture, beds etc etc.

AJ

Wings

Hammyman wrote: »

Not a lot for the above. If you rent unfurnished, no curtains or white goods is what you get or you get whats left behind. There is no law which states the landlord has to provide curtains, a cooker, a fridge or a dishwasher (I find it hilarious that you expect a dishwasher). And it is up to the landlord to put whatever he wants in should he decide to provide these. By the way, putting good quality white goods in the property you were letting out is a BIG BIG mistake. At best you provide non at all if possible or budget ones if you have to. They'll get wrecked by most tenants.

In regards to the showers, same story. The contractor refused to fit the power ones at your request because he was working for the landlord, not you. There was nothing for the contractor to discuss with the agent or you because the landlord, THE PERSON WHO OWNS THE PROPERTY told him what was required. Your views and financial offer are of little consequence.

If you don't like it then quite frankly, tough. Its not your property and you knew what there was and wasn't when you decided to rent it. Its too late whining about it now.

Oh, and the agent is there to work for the landlords best interests, not yours.

You say you're letting out yourself and I find your naivety as a tenant worrying.

Absolutely agree, as for furnishings and white goods, first one can be held responsible for goods falling within fire regulations, secondly any white goods left, even a kettle, if they go wrong then you are expected to put them right. Another factor is I became increasing fed up of moving goods into the property, for the next tenant to want me to move them out, so now rent unfurnished.

tbs624

Landlord-Certificates wrote: »

5) Its a legal requirement to provide a gas safety certificate, EPC, means of heating and hot water and means of cooking. A landlord doesn't have to provide a fridge, washing machine, curtains, gas fire, furniture, beds etc etc.

my bolding. LL is *not* legally required to provide means of cooking, other than a gas or electric point to which a cooker may be connected

tbs624

Hammyman wrote: »

Not a lot for the above. If you rent unfurnished, no curtains or white goods is what you get or you get whats left behind. There is no law which states the landlord has to provide curtains, a cooker, a fridge or a dishwasher (I find it hilarious that you expect a dishwasher). ..

In fairness to the OP you have perhaps misinterpreted what he said:

Then, when we vieed the property, there was a washing machine, but not cooker or fridg/freezer or dishwasher. But in the flyer for the house, all these where in there. I spoke to the agent and told them that the landlord doesn't have to supply any of the stuff apart from a cooker, as we already have everything else!

Far from wanting the LL to supply a dishwasher, it seems that there was one listed on the "flyer" but the OP told the LA that nothing other than a cooker was needed.:)

Hammyman wrote: »

By the way, putting good quality white goods in the property you were letting out is a BIG BIG mistake. At best you provide non at all if possible or budget ones if you have to. They'll get wrecked by most tenants.

Disagree on that one - if providing white goods budget models can prove to be a false economy.

kerri_gt

I think it is unfair for some to make such sweeping statments about tenants wreaking white goods, carpets, furnishings etc etc - although some do, there are also a number of tenants who do take care of the property they rent - I don't want to live in a filthy pig sty with a washing machine that doesn't work due to my own fault, whether it's my own property or otherwise.

With regard to items that are/aren't, should/shouldn't be included, I agree - this should all be covered in the inventory and if you are at all unhappy about anything at the time this is carried out - don't sign it.

Regarding the showers - contact the LL and explain in a courteous manner that they are not working properly and could the plumber come back out to rectify this. There may be an acceptable solution to sorting these without ripping them out and replacing.

Check your contract to see if there is a break clause allowing you to give notice before the 12mths without penalty - however, if you decide to move - don't forget everything you have learned with this experience - else it might be out of the frying pan and into the fire....

tbs624

DawnW wrote: »

where on earth do you go to get trained as a landlord? Like LAs, it is not a profession! Being aware of the law (and adhering to it) and belonging to the NLA or similar is pretty good.

You're right Dawn that being a LL is not a profession but there is some training available. Some Councils run LL accreditation/training courses, Shelter offer some, some are provided by LL associations such as the NLA, RLA

http://www2.tunbridgewells.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=2852
http://redditch.whub.org.uk/cms/communications/news/2010/may/free-training-gives-landlords.aspx
http://www.rla.org.uk/landlord/courses/courses.shtml
http://www.landlords.org.uk/advice/landlorddevelopment/landlorddevelopment-courses.htm
http://www.unipol.org.uk/National/Training/landlordstraining/
http://england.shelter.org.uk/professional_resources/training_and_conferences/find_a_course/public_courses

Geenie

tbs624 wrote: »

my bolding. LL is *not* legally required to provide means of cooking, other than a gas or electric point to which a cooker may be connected

Absolutely as tbs624 states. We never let properties with any white goods in them let alone cookers. If they have curtains the new tenants are lucky as these are not included either, but left by previous tenants. All flooring is included.

I let my previous home 10 years ago, complete with newish made to measure curtains on every window. The tenants immediately took them down for Next off the peg bright colours. I have never put them back, but sold them for a goodly sum.

MB69

Hi

SOrry, been away for a while and now returned to see all the reponse! Wow!

Some useful and some utterly useless. Some seems that you didn't understand what I said and some ...

So to clarify the things:

1) I never expected the landlord to provide any white goods for the kitchen, apart from a cooker! I was told by a estate agent when letting my property out, that cookers are normally supplied by the landlord for the property. I know that, becasue I ask them specifically because I wanted to know if I needed to leave our cooker or not!

2) We lived in our previous property for 5 yrs before relocating for work. The cooker that we left there, is the cooker we had bought 2yrs ago for our kitchen. I didn't go and buy a new one. The same for the curtains. They are the ones we had in the property.

3) When we looked at the new property, I noticed stuff missing in the kitchen. so I discuees it with the person showing us around, and he confirmed that they will be provieded. I then later emailed the agent to confirm. I didn't say I was expeting a washing machine/dish washer or fridge/freezer in there. I said in the flyer it showed them all to be there. I then told specifically the agent that they do NOT need to provide any of that but a cooker which again I was told it would be supplied.

4) as regards to the inventory,how am I suposed to not sign the contract when they tell you you get the inventory when you move in? I signed the contract on a thursday and then collected the keys on the friday. I was then given a inventory. Was I supposed to come back up north again before the move to go and inspect the house before signing the contract?

5) We moved, then realised that the showers where not working. It is a managed property, so I am told I need to contact the agent for everything. I gues thats why a LL would pay stupid amounts to the agents for the so called management of their property, because they don't want the hassle of calls from the tennants all the time! Thats why I contacted them. I don't have any contact details for the LL, apart from his name. I am told all correspondence for the LL should be directed to the agents?!

6) Now as regards to the showers, my understanding is that IF the LL has suplied something for the property, he has to make sure it is fit for the purpose! I know I don't have anything to go back as about the cooker, it works. It uses a lot of electricity but it does the job! But the shower is different: It is not fit for the purpose! It is not good if you end up with a achy back after every shower because you have to stand with a bend back to get water over you! I have rasied this with the agent, and awaiting their reponse.

7) I have rented properties in the past. And then decided to buy down south. In all the other properties I let, Everything was ok. I didn't complain, because the rent reflected the property. OUr property down south is rented out for £650. We know the people who have moved there, so I know I can trust them and didn't mind leaving allthe stuff there. For the same reason, i know what the LL expects the tennant to do. We are going to look after the property. But when you pay £800, then you expect things to be a bit better! There is a clause in our contract for the 6month. I will try and contact the LL directly soon. We wanted to live in this property for atleast 2yrs before deciding to buy. However if the LL wishes to specnd another £800 to pay the agent to find him another tennant which could take a short while, then it is up to him! I am a qualified electrician which is what !!!!es me off about the work dones to the house and the amount the poor LL has probably been charged over it! I will offer him to manage the property for him myself and that should save him £100 a month! That would !!!! off the agent!



We have let here unfurnished for £800, which is why at least I expected to have half decent things.