Have you met your Landlord?

LEJC

The tenants do have contact details for us...name postal address and telephone number....these are on the copy of the tenancy agreement they signed,so I guess that should they need to get in contact they can,or indeed if they are not getting information from the letting agent.

CupOfChai

We've spoken via telephone, text and email to ours when there's been a problem but never actually met. It doesn't really make any difference to me.

dgtazzman

In the flat we were renting before we only met the LL when viewing it, no more contact with her or the LA for the 1 year AST.

For our current house, we met the LL once, about a week into the tenancy, he came to fix some leaking plumbing on the bath. Haven't seen him or the LA since (he has since given full management of the property to the LA). They didn't even think it was worth coming out when a burst water main flooded the gsrden and left us without sewage drainage for 3 days a while back, just told me to sort it out with the water company as it was their problem. Been in this tenancy for over 3 years.

I don't want the LL/La on my doorstep every month, but a little visit every 6 months would be appreciated to discuss maintenance issues etc. At least it would indicate to me they give a toss...

quidsy

My "landlord" is a large corportae chain & all correspondence is done with an agent. I email them, they email me back, if I need to I call to clarify then follow up with email & photos when needed. it seems to work for me. The least interferrence the better

LEJC

Thanks everyone for your replies...I guess its difficult to know when the line is crossed from being friendly to being someone who is interferring...or indeed aloof

Of course if there were any issues I would be more than happy to meet with the tenants and discuss,but as yet I am not aware that they feel the need to contact ....

I'm also confident about the letting agencies ability to manage and as such have left them to do the job for which they are paid

so I guess if they are happy and the tenants are happy ...I am happy...long may it continue!

Mylo_The_Moggy

When we use to be in private rented, our landlady always used to come every 4 weeks as she collected rent in cash, so we'd see her once a month. This went on for 13 years!
So if there was any problems or anything to discuss, we could do it there & then.
She was always at the end of the phone if we ever needed her but 9 times outa 10 it was always answer machine on landline. She did answer her mobile a few times though so wasn't too bad on communication.

More often than not though, a lot of things always fell on deaf ears....On the other hand, she did let us do whatever we wanted in the house to make it feel like our home, i.e decorated to our own taste.
Sometimes it can be a good thing meeting LL's regularly, but also a bad thing in some ways as you feel they are noseying into your life & surroundings.

We did look after the place very well though, & she was quite peeved when we moved out & bought a house of our own lol.

whalster

If I were you I would go around and say hi and make sure they know they can contact you if they have any problems.
I would also make sure that the tenant is not given any hassle by your letting agent to sign a new tenancy and pay a re signing fee or any other fee for that matter .
let them know you are happy for them to stay as long as they wish , this will be better for you in the long run as you will not be paying agent fees and will eliminate a lot of turn around costs .
This is how I have always done things and it has always worked for me and with a different hat on the feedback/questions we get through privatelandlorddirectory I can tell you this is what most tenants want , dealing directly with the landlord .
It has been said on here many times letting agents are working for the landlord not the tenant where as in truth they are working both ends against the middle to maximise their revenue

dimbo61

Much depends on the tenant/s and the Landlord, type of tenant IE family, professional couple or students, HMO, flat, house ETC.
If you have a good Letting agent or manage the property yourself? The condition of the property and how Good or Bad you look after the place!
Students move into student lets in september or July and stay 10/12 months so the property needs all repairs done after the last tenants have moved out.
The wear and tear on student properties is much higher than "Normal Lets" with a family or young couple staying 12/18 months.
Looking after your tenants is very important and if they do not have your details you may just lose a good tenant over a simple problem!!
They should have your contact details and the Letting agents have to supply them by LAW

rev_henry

Never met our current landlord, but we've only recently moved in. Previous one also never met but did speak to his solicitor a few times (she had power of attorney) as the letting agents were shysters. Had to give them written notice for them to give us the landlord's details though as they refused at first.

Current letting agents have also refused, I'll write to them for the details when I get round to it though. I imagine by the end of the period we'll have the issue with silly re sign fees that whalster describes, so will be good to have contact with the landlord direct.

LEJC

the tenants do indeed have contact details...I guess they have chosen as yet not to use them or have need to use them...

I understand they are a professional couple who have moved newly to the area...hence the reason for us leaving a book of useful information...and plan to buy a property in the area so were looking initially for a 6 month let, but agreed on our house for 1 year as we would not accomodate a 6 month tenancy.

Therefore I am expecting them not to renew the contract when its up at the beginning of july.

As I said previously I wouldnt expect there to be major issues with the property because it was extensively renovated to a high standard...and I guess I was just curious as to how much contact there usually is between LL and tenant over the course of a tenancy.