Picky tenants!! Need opinions please

Simple_life

I have a little sympathy with the request to repair the flagstones outside, but it's also blatantly obvious that it's not the right weather and a job that should wait to spring. They also can't demand exactly who does it. Does the agent know them personally? It almost feels like they are in cahoots or the agent is skimming loads off on the repairs.

I totally agree with the flagstones issue, well the one patio anyway.

The agent to me sounds intimidated by them. She tells me that they hound her constantly by phone or email and appear in her office. She believes they are unreasonable and nothing will ever please them.

I would have thought that if you were a new tenant with a short initial tendency and you had just had your first child, you would try and be more accommodating.

I do not want to cause upset in a new family by chucking them out. I want them to calm down and enjoy my beautiful house with their new child.

ruggedtoast

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

Handles sound horrid. Not surprised they wanted new ones.

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

OK.

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

It sounds like a ghastly bench that no one wants.

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

This cooker sounds clapped out.

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.

Resolved to the satisfaction of all then.

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.

This sounds like a suspicious box.

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

They could have done this themselves.

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.

No one wants to teeter around on loose slabs!

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 wouldn't care about this if I were a tenant to be honest, who cares if the landlord's garage rots away? Pah. As a homeowner I would want it fixed though.

At least they seem to care about the house. Your next tenant could move a pack of chewing schnauzers in for all you know.

Simple_life

I have a little sympathy with the request to repair the flagstones outside, but it's also blatantly obvious that it's not the right weather and a job that should wait to spring. They also can't demand exactly who does it. Does the agent know them personally? It almost feels like they are in cahoots or the agent is skimming loads off on the repairs.

I totally agree with the flagstones issue, well the one patio anyway.

The agent to me sounds intimidated by them. She tells me that they hound her constantly by phone or email and appear in her office. She believes they are unreasonable and nothing will ever please them.

I would have thought that if you were a new tenant with a short initial tendency and you had just had your first child, you would try and be more accommodating.

I do not want to cause upset in a new family by chucking them out. I want them to calm down and enjoy my beautiful house with their new child.

ruggedtoast

Simple_life wrote: »

I have a little sympathy with the request to repair the flagstones outside, but it's also blatantly obvious that it's not the right weather and a job that should wait to spring. They also can't demand exactly who does it. Does the agent know them personally? It almost feels like they are in cahoots or the agent is skimming loads off on the repairs.

I totally agree with the flagstones issue, well the one patio anyway.

The agent to me sounds intimidated by them. She tells me that they hound her constantly by phone or email and appear in her office. She believes they are unreasonable and nothing will ever please them.

I would have thought that if you were a new tenant with a short initial tendency and you had just had your first child, you would try and be more accommodating.

I do not want to cause upset in a new family by chucking them out. I want them to calm down and enjoy my beautiful house with their new child.

Er, yes!

I guess the question you should ask yourself before you phone your agent and ask for a call out is.. would I call someone in and pay for it if this was my house?

http://www.my-let.com/blog/what-does-behave-in-a-tenant-like-manner-mean/

Simple_life

Rugged toast thank you for your time to reply to my post. Your response made me laugh. It's true you may have thought the handles were ugly and the bench etc. but when you rent a house you get what you see. Some of your points are valid, although not very helpful to my situation. To be honest you sound like my irritating tenant...........are you???

Simple_life

That last post came out wrong that was meant to be a joke rugged toast. Reading it back it seems a bit erm rude sorry.

moromir

Serious question but how much do you trust the agent?

Is it possible the tenants are nervous, having had problems with previous landlords taking their deposit for minor cosmetic issues that are the landlords responsibility - its enough to make someone wary in their new house.

Maybe they think they're just informing the agent so theres a record? Maybe they're scared to do the jobs without consent - infact maybe they've asked the agent whose told them no, a professional contractor has to do it.

Maybe the 'professional contractor' is infact the agent's brother in law

You see my point. Are you sure you're getting given an accurate picture of how this is all going down?

Maybe you have got picky tenants or you've got tenants who are looking after the house and are desperate not to lose their deposit... have you been able to talk to them much when you've been there doing the odd jobs to gauge their attitudes to doing minor jobs?

Simple_life

Oh and I pay the agent to check the maintenance things. They do a report every three months. As yes some tenants wouldn't report it as they just wouldn't care.

Simple_life

moromir wrote: »

Serious question but how much do you trust the agent?

Is it possible the tenants are nervous, having had problems with previous landlords taking their deposit for minor cosmetic issues that are the landlords responsibility - its enough to make someone wary in their new house.

Maybe they think they're just informing the agent so theres a record? Maybe they're scared to do the jobs without consent - infact maybe they've asked the agent whose told them no, a professional contractor has to do it.

Maybe the 'professional contractor' is infact the agent's brother in law

You see my point. Are you sure you're getting given an accurate picture of how this is all going down?

Maybe you have got picky tenants or you've got tenants who are looking after the house and are desperate not to lose their deposit... have you been able to talk to them much when you've been there doing the odd jobs to gauge their attitudes to doing minor jobs?

They have a detailed inventory and deposit is safe in scheme. But yes it may be that they Are nervous of being billed for things and I understand your point.

I asked them to hammer out nail in garden fence, they refused. I ordered the shower trim to go to their house, they said they won't fit it themselves. They are nice when I go around but not so nice in emails etc to the agent.

The agent is very friendly and i don't think she is scamming me, but also think that she just tries to keep the peace by getting me to agree to the works.

ruggedtoast

Simple_life wrote: »

That last post came out wrong that was meant to be a joke rugged toast. Reading it back it seems a bit erm rude sorry.

Made me laugh actually.