Tenant wants blinds, who pays?

Mikazaru

Caroline_a wrote: »

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!

I'm a student and have just left my flat, it was well looked after and cleaner when I left than when I moved in. The guy before was a professional who didn't pay the rent, upped and left halfway through the tenancy and left it in a complete state so I wouldn't tar all students with such a sweeping generalisation.

Having blinds put in is quite the same as demanding a revolving water bed is it? Given there isn't anything there at the moment maybe they want them to help with heat, to feel safer or for any number of reasons. If they going to be there paying the rent for a year and a half I'd agree to put some blinds in and their occupation shouldn't matter in the slightest.

xyellowx

dont most letting agents know of a handy man/small company that carries out these types of small jobs who they could reckonmend 100%
of couse there would be no conflict of interest between the letting company and such a company :beer:

not saying this is whats happened in this cace;)

BornAtTheRightTime

74jax wrote: »

Yeah, when you put it like that I do understand. I'm annoyed I guess because right at the start we said no blinds, they signed the agreement, now 8 months down the line they want blinds and we are having to do it.

For goodness sake TALK to your tenants. I suspect the whole letting transaction went something like this:

Tenants: we like it, we'll take it but we do need some blind or curtains in that room
Agent: Oh not a problem, just sign here... thank you
_____
Agent: Mr & Mrs LL, any chance of you putting up blinds in that room?
LL: no sorry, sold as seen
_____
Tenants: When are the blinds being fitted?
Agent: Still working on it, don't call us, we'll call you...
_____
Months later...
Tenants: it's been months and still no blinds despite us being promised them and nagging the agents continually, so here is a quote we got as cheap as chips, we don't really want silver but it's not much, can we do it and deduct from the rent?
Agent: LL says maybe, send me a copy of the quote...
_____
etc etc.

ads2312

Just get some Ikea ones, they are pretty cheap and get someone else to fit. If hubby wont do it, do you have a friend or someone who can ? Where is the flat, i'll do it for £50 !!
also the silver blinds don't last. We put one in the bathroom and everytime you touch it to clean, it bent up, looked really naff very quickly. Replaced with nice oak ones.

74jax

BornAtTheRightTime wrote: »

For goodness sake TALK to your tenants. I suspect the whole letting transaction went something like this: My OH won't allow me to, but I'd love to do this

Tenants: we like it, we'll take it but we do need some blind or curtains in that room
Agent: Oh not a problem, just sign here... thank you Interesting and possibly what did happen
_____
Agent: Mr & Mrs LL, any chance of you putting up blinds in that room?
LL: no sorry, sold as seen It was before the tenants signed (when we were discussing the rent etc
_____
Tenants: When are the blinds being fitted?
Agent: Still working on it, don't call us, we'll call you...
_____
Months later...
Tenants: it's been months and still no blinds despite us being promised them and nagging the agents continually, so here is a quote we got as cheap as chips, we don't really want silver but it's not much, can we do it and deduct from the rent? No they want silver, we suggested cream to match in with the decor (cream/brown) but they want silver metal
Agent: LL says maybe, send me a copy of the quote...
_____
etc etc.

I'm thinking you may be right, I guess the letting agents might have said yes they can have them in order that they signed.

We have a quote on Thursday by a company we know, I will get a quote for cream (which we want) and silver (what the tenants want) and compare.

74jax

ads2312 wrote: »

Just get some Ikea ones, they are pretty cheap and get someone else to fit. If hubby wont do it, do you have a friend or someone who can ? Where is the flat, i'll do it for £50 !!
also the silver blinds don't last. We put one in the bathroom and everytime you touch it to clean, it bent up, looked really naff very quickly. Replaced with nice oak ones.

The other blinds are Ikea blinds and so if we got them, at least they would match in with the rest in the property. I am pricing these blinds (after Thursday when we can get in and measure) and will ask builder friends if they will fit. However the problem is the tenant WANTS silver metal, not cream (to match decor) and not wooden brown (as in the rest of property).

ads2312

As others have said, you really need to talk to the tenant.
No point getting them done in wood for them to complain and cause problems. Tell them you are happy to put them in at your cost but they will match the rest of the flat. They really cant argue with that and if they do tell them to do one !!

Svenena

You're not forced to do what your tenants want. I think blinds are a very reasonable request, but choosing the colour when they are a permanent fixture and would not match the decor is not. Speak to them yourself and tell them they have the option of the blinds that match, or no blinds. I'm sure they'll be happy to have the matching ones after all.

poppysarah

If you buy them then:

- they belong to the house
- they get put up right
- they stay with the house when the tenant leaves
- there will be no unsightly holes in the window thing making it harder for the next person to put up blinds if they wanted them
- your tenant will be happy.

on the downside
- they cost money

Gwhiz

I'm going to guess that one of the students has a new partner and they like doing it in the living room but they are the "lights off" type and need as much darkness as possible to hind their hideous faces from each other