Tenant wants blinds, who pays?

Caroline_a

princeofpounds wrote: »

Why? Are they less deserving of being treated as customers because they are students? Do their opinions matter less because of their youth?

I hate this attitude. There is nothing cheeky in this, it's an honest request for something that would improve their living environment.

I don't think it's about youth, I think that it's more about standards of care. I've seen some horrible examples of houses made into hovels by students, and to be honest I'd be asking why they need blinds if the curtains are ok. And why do they have to be silver??

I'm not sure that the landlord should be responsible for 'improving their living environment' - isn't that up to them if they want them? What would be next, plasma telly, fitted bar, revolving water bed???

And no, I'm not a landlord, I just have seen a lot of examples of student houses/flats!

74jax

Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »

Perhaps it's now getting darker and colder at night...and they want privacy?


?

The property isn't over looked, so no-one can look in. My OH would argue that due to it's position you don't need heating on in the property throughout the year (mad...), however I do like the curtains closed and snuggling up in my home, so can see this is maybe what they want also.

And like you all say, it's not my home.

I'm still annoyed we stressed at the start NO BLINDS and are having to fit them but i'll just think of the monthly income................

Annabee

So all students are the same, are they Caroline? OK. Students in this country pay just the same, if not more rent, as other tenants, and are surely deserving of as much consideration as other tenants. Plus I don't think these particular tenants have curtains, even, just a bare window.

pimento

£190 for blinds for a six foot picture window? Blimey! I had a quote for nearer £500 when I wanted a new blind in my eight foot window. I shopped around, too.

princeofpounds

I'm not sure that the landlord should be responsible for 'improving their living environment' - isn't that up to them if they want them? What would be next, plasma telly, fitted bar, revolving water bed???

The tenants cannot 'improve' without the landlord's permission at the very least, because it involves drilling into a wall. And I think you confuse 'gadgets' with 'fixtures and fittings'. Comparing a window covering to a plasma TV is just ridiculous, if for no other reason than that the window covering can become part of the property.

to be honest I'd be asking why they need blinds if the curtains are ok.

There are no curtains. It's a naked window.

I don't think it's about youth, I think that it's more about standards of care. I've seen some horrible examples of houses made into hovels by students,

Incredibly prejudicial. The OP does not indicate there have been any problems. Refusing things on some general notion of 'what students do' is just silly - you are retaliating for crimes that have not been committed.

Besides, students are not 'the young ones' any more. They are now spending tens of thousands to get education, working rather than living off grants. Whilst I'm sure many of them are still into partying, as any 18-22 year old is, be careful that your perceptions are not getting too dated.

princeofpounds

Oh, and I forgot to add that one of the major reasons student houses have been poor in the past is neglectful landlords. It's hard to feel 'homely' about a place when you are subjected to damp-ridden crumbling squalor.

74jax

pimento wrote: »

£190 for blinds for a six foot picture window? Blimey! I had a quote for nearer £500 when I wanted a new blind in my eight foot window. I shopped around, too.

I expect it will be more than that when I get the quote on Thursday.

I think the £190 was for some back pocket somewhere and we would have been left with some screws and nothing else.

I can't actually believe the letting agent would have got a quote from a company that, on looking into, have received so much bad feedback.

Sambucus_Nigra

74jax wrote: »

The property isn't over looked, so no-one can look in. My OH would argue that due to it's position you don't need heating on in the property throughout the year (mad...)

Pretty irrelevant to be honest, I still want window coverings whether it is overlooked or not. Esp as I'm paying the heating bill.

When you say due to it's position - is it in a warm part of the world?

74jax

Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »

Esp as I'm paying the heating bill.

When you say due to it's position - is it in a warm part of the world?

Ha ha I wish!

No just a new build built in a way my OH lived in it for 2 years and never turned the heating on once - even through the winter months - actually we should live there and rent the house out :rotfl: I don't really understand but it's due to the windows, materials and way it faces.... Plus it's high up.

I agree though it doesn't make a difference, the tenants have asked for blinds, they're the ones living in it.

Mojisola

74jax wrote: »

We never wanted blinds in the lounge, even when OH lived in it, as it's a 6ft picture window leading out to the balcony and he always said he didn't want blinds. The tenants took on the property with no blinds and didn't question it (blinds in all other rooms but not this picture window).

74jax wrote: »

the tenants have asked for blinds, they're the ones living in it.

The bit in bold is the main issue. It doesn't matter what you like when you live in the property - the tenants are living there now. They may not have been very happy about the window before but have put up with it until the evenings have drawn in.

A lot of the properties shown on Grand Designs have big picture windows without any window coverings and I've never understood it. As soon as the evenings draw in and you switch lights on, it's like living on a stage in the floodlights.