Landlord can't afford repairs

Foxy-Stoat_3

Halle71 wrote: »

We are new landlords - completed on 8.11 and tenants in 23.11 - of an unfurnished four bed house in London. Some of it is a bit dated (well, one bathroom and aforementioned washing machine) but generally it's a great house for the rent, we decorated throughout even though this was not necessary or requested by the tenants who agreed to take the house, and the few things we were requested to supply are really good quality. We also took a fitted wardrobe out at their request and this left a hole in the laminate so we had to carpet that room. We've been beyond reasonable.

Two days after they moved in I received an email to say the washing machine was leaking so the next evening we got a plumber round to check it. He checked under the machine (dry) and the filter and seal (both fine) and concluded that the machine was overfilled although the tenant denies this.
However.... although the washing machine casing is normal sized, the drum is very small at 4.5kg, not really big enough for a family and the tenants are a couple plus toddler. Also, the machine is a bit dated - probably put in when our vendor replaced the kitchen 8 years ago - so we were wondering if we should just replace it anyway? It's integrated though so won't be a cheap fix.

What would you do or expect as tenants?

Thanks!

May be worth starting your own thread, but...I would expect a working washing machine if I were a tenant, if it was a 5 bed then I would expect a reasonably sized machine, 2/3 bed then a standard size one, 1/2 bed then a small machine I suppose......If I were a Landlord I would also expect (prefer) happy tenants who pay on time without causing me grief.

If they are renting off you for 12+ months, then a new washing machine isn't going to be much in the scheme of things...obviously you don't want them coming back at you for this and that for every little thing. You will need to update the check-in inventory accordingly if you do decide to buy a new one.

sandsni

Halle71 wrote: »

We are new landlords - completed on 8.11 and tenants in 23.11 - of an unfurnished four bed house in London. Some of it is a bit dated (well, one bathroom and aforementioned washing machine) but generally it's a great house for the rent, we decorated throughout even though this was not necessary or requested by the tenants who agreed to take the house, and the few things we were requested to supply are really good quality. We also took a fitted wardrobe out at their request and this left a hole in the laminate so we had to carpet that room. We've been beyond reasonable.

Two days after they moved in I received an email to say the washing machine was leaking so the next evening we got a plumber round to check it. He checked under the machine (dry) and the filter and seal (both fine) and concluded that the machine was overfilled although the tenant denies this.
However.... although the washing machine casing is normal sized, the drum is very small at 4.5kg, not really big enough for a family and the tenants are a couple plus toddler. Also, the machine is a bit dated - probably put in when our vendor replaced the kitchen 8 years ago - so we were wondering if we should just replace it anyway? It's integrated though so won't be a cheap fix.

What would you do or expect as tenants?

Thanks!

Hi Halle, welcome to the forum, and welcome to the wonderful world of letting property. You'd probably be better to start a new thread with your query so you get answers specific to your problem. Otherwise they could get mixed up with the OPs problem.


If the washing machine is not broken then I would leave it and tell the tenants to make sure they don't overfill it. There's nothing to stop them doing a few small loads rather than one large one. Tell them if the same thing happens again and the plumber insists it's through overfilling you will charge them for the callout. It sounds as though you've done all the right things so far, but sometimes tenants tell porkies and you have to learn when to jump and when to expect the tenants to act in a "tenant-like manner".

AdrianC

marathonic wrote: »

I sympathise with the landlord because Christmas is a tough enough time to have funds ready

Christmas is only as tough on the pocket as somebody allows it to be. And, if they put it before ensuring their business is solvent, their priorities are plain wrong.

AdrianC

Pixie5740 wrote: »

:mad: I have zero sympathy for the LL, she is running a business for Christ's sake. What does she do with the rent money?

Pays the BTL mortgage...

Foxy-Stoat_3

AdrianC wrote: »

Pays the BTL mortgage...

It should pay the interest only BTL + 25% or its not worth while.

AdrianC

Foxy-Stoat wrote: »

It should pay the interest only BTL + 25% or its not worth while.

You know that.
I know that.
She quite probably knows that.

But the reality... (and that's with very low interest rates)

fishybusiness

I have zero sympathy for the LL, she is running a business for Christ's sake. What does she do with the rent money? We are constantly been told that one of the benefits of renting is that as a tenant you are not responsible for maintenance and repairs to the property which is all fine and well if you don't end up with a clown like this as your LL.

Who is telling you that?

To me the benefit of renting is that as I don´t have the funds to buy, I am able to have a home, and that makes me happy

Halle71

Apologies, I thought I started a new thread. I was on the phone to British Gas at the same time. No more multi tasking for me.
Sorry and thanks for the advice given.

BigAunty

The OP could ask the landlord to consider releasing them early from the contract and find somewhere better.

My friend lived in a flat that was plagued with maintenance issues and when the bathroom ceiling fell in, the landlord was happy to release her from it rather than have her endure yet more disruption.

Pixie5740

fishybusiness wrote: »

Who is telling you that?

To me the benefit of renting is that as I don´t have the funds to buy, I am able to have a home, and that makes me happy

Just Google "Renting versus Buying".

One of the things to consider when buying your home is whether or not you can afford repairs and to maintain the property. When you rent the LL is supposed to take care of those things unless the T damages something in which case they have to pay for it. Good LLs know this and good Ts don't wreck the place and pay their rent on time.