Picky tenants!! Need opinions please

Simple_life

Looking for opinions on this subject as I am becoming ill over the matter

Background info:

We bought a house back in 2006. It was run down and needed a lot of modernisation. We paid too much for it but had to back then, we kept getting out bid on other houses we tried to buy. We spent about 25,000 doing it up over time (money we took in loans and still paying off). Then 4 years later the school catchment areas changed and I needed to move to get daughter into the school her friends were going to and some other issues. This is when we found out our house was in negative equity by a lot of money!!!

I couldn't bring myself to lose all this money so we put the house on a buy to let and then went and rented someplace ourselves. It all turned out great, as it was a risky situation I believe we took. I have a really good landlord (private). I rent my own house through an agent.

Our first tenants were excellent, never heard from them really. We had a few maintenance things to do and that was all in the time they lived there. These tenants moved out when they had saved enough of a deposit to buy there own house, after two years.

My agency did all viewings for the new tenancy and handled everything, for a very hefty sum of money I may add. Which we didn't really have.

The new tenants are a nightmare! I am getting calls/ emails from agent re complaints/ things they want changed or fixed etc. I can't keep up. They are in my opinion not essential things that I should be changing/doing and I think that my agent should not be chasing me with these requests and should be advising the tenants of what is deemed maintenance and what is not etc.

I pay the agent all my profit a month and they just seem to be a middle man. Oh I should point out that the new tenants have a six month contract and that their lease ends end of December 2013.

Example of things:

Diamond round ball thing on cupboard handle fell off and they wanted new handles. - I glued it back on

Shower screen plastic bit on bottom to stop water leaking looked scruffy wanted new one - ordered and replaced myself

Bench in garden they didn't want - it wasn't mine it was left by previous tenants and agent scraped it but billed me for it - this was refunded after dispute

Oven door on cooker was slightly ajar, hinges had moved slightly wanted a new cooker- It was repaired.

Condensation had stained window sills in a bedroom. Due to wooden blinds resting and trapping the water- they wanted the window sill sanded and re varnished- I refused they then Asked for new windows and when this was refused they called out the council for a damp test to be done. They reported that the windows were fine and no damp.

Wire in the outside meter box looked strange - told them nothing to do with me and that they 'the agent' would have to call hydro or who ever responsible for the box.

Nail in the fence coming through from next door neighbour side - I went round and banged it out with a hammer.

All these things that were reported were annoying but I went with it and tried to be as accommodating as I could be.

Then this week I have had a request to relay the patio outside the conservatory as some slabs loose and tripping hazard and also another patio in the garden. Agent set about getting a quote and it comes to nearly £600 including v.a.t.

Again the Woden trim that surrounds the garage needs to be replaced ( in their opinion) because the paint has stripped off and the wood underneath has started to rot. Should this not have been picked up in previous inspections before it started to rot? The wood covers the join from the roof. Another quote of £170 to fix this. I think it not that bad and could just be painted it is only plywood. But I am no expert.

I think the tenants believe that by renting they can have a beAutiful home to their specification because someone else is paying for it.

Things just seem to be getting worse. I want to end the contract at the end of the lease in December as they just don't seem to understand or agree on what constitutes maintenance or cosmetic work. Agent has agreed that I should end contract when lease ends.

Thing is .......they have just has a baby and I don't have the heart to end the contract at Christmas time. I chose to go with an agent (paying 12% p/m) so I didn't have to get involved personally.

What are others take on this situation? Are they being over picky? Did I just get extremely lucky with my first set of tenants? I really wish I could sell it and get rid of these problems but not in a position to do so at this time.
Thanks

jk0

Issue section 21 notice. They are a nightmare.

nathand_2

By trying to be accommodating you're encouraging them. So late on in the tenancy the best thing you can do is issue a S21 and get them out.

19lottie82

it does sound like they are being picky!

BUT you dont have to end their contract, after the AST is up just let it go on to a rolling contract. the agency will no doubt try and encourage you, and them to sign a new contract, as they will get their commission and "fees", but you don't have to, just tell them no.

you dont have to fix all these things if you dont want to. if it were me i'd go and fix the things you can by doing DIY, but the other expensive stuff, well just tell them its too expensive and not financially viable.

if they are not happy they can leave once the ast expires, if they give you a months notice from the next rental date.

Blackpool_Saver

Wish you were my landlord, blimey, can't get anything done here

Simple_life

Thanks for the replies. I was instructed to accommodate them by the agent. I am pretty sure they won't go even after being issues with s21. They seem to go out of their way to make problems. I am hoping that if I refuse their requests they will end the tendency themselves. Not likely with a newborn though.

19lottie82

don't feel bad about refusing minor cosmetic requests.

maybe you should have a word with them face to face and tell them what you will and wont be prepared to fix, so they know what to expect in future.

Simple_life

Agent has said that I will have to fix the patio off the conservatory as it is health and safety. Risk as it leads to stairs.

My husband went and put more sand under them to stop them from moving but they not happy with that and said they wanted them professionally laid with cement. I'm no expert As I said but was told by my dad that in this weather the cement will just crack and I will have the same problems pretty quickly. I have informed the agent of this and hopefully this will give me some time to save for the repair in spring. Don't know if tenant will be happy with that though. I'm worried that they can enforce things as they seem to be professional at this stuff. Like when they called the council round about the condensation issue.

19lottie82

Simple_life wrote: »

I was instructed to accommodate them by the agent.

PS if the agency "instructs" you to do anything else, tell them to bog off! again, they are prob keen for you to fix these non existent "problems" as they make money by using their own overpriced tradesmen*.

they are working for YOU, so don't take anymore of their carp.






* as an example, the agency my friend uses to let her flat quoted her £2k to paint a small 2 bed flat, magnolia!!!!

Simple_life

Agent has said that I will have to fix the patio off the conservatory as it is health and safety. Risk as it leads to stairs.

My husband went and put more sand under them to stop them from moving but they not happy with that and said they wanted them professionally laid with cement. I'm no expert As I said but was told by my dad that in this weather the cement will just crack and I will have the same problems pretty quickly. I have informed the agent of this and hopefully this will give me some time to save for the repair in spring. Don't know if tenant will be happy with that though. I'm worried that they can enforce things as they seem to be professional at this stuff. Like when they called the council round about the condensation issue.

lingolady21

I'd go onto the rolling contract, give them a fixed amount of time (that you set in your head), and if it doesn't improve, serve notice.

I sympathise as I'm having similar problems with my tenants, who also seem to think I should be paying for a spanking new home and that I'm making a fortune out of them (which I'm definitely not), and being asked to fix similar things, all of which have actually been working when we (repeatedly) go to the house. I'd have a strong word with the estate agent as well, since you are paying them to manage this, and they obviously aren't. Had to get mine to attend with me recently to see requests are hoohas over nothing.