Should we buy new washing machine for tenants?

Mulder00

Ignoring everything else you said about the tenants, if it's a family home with a tiny washing machine (which by your own admission isn't fit for purpose), then maybe you should consider replacing the washing machine. As it's still in working order, you can always get some money back for it too.

Building_Surveyor

BigAunty wrote: »

You are about to encounter the potential risks and issues of letting directly to a tenant that you have a relationship with, namely that minor tenancy issues have the habit of ruining the relationship and that sometimes favours are expected because the tenancy is not run in a proper business like manner.

A formal landlord would have billed the tenants for that plumbers fee because it wasn't a maintenance issue but the tenant not acting in a tenant like manner and using the washing machine properly.

Get an agent to manage this for you so you don't end up having to deal with more issues like this or join a landlord's association and attend one of their courses. Amateur landlords are often out of their depth due to not understanding their rights and responsibilities while having a relationship with the tenant can aggravate simple matters.

+1 for this!! Somes it up perfectly.

A qualified plumber told you the washing machine was over filled and there was no fault, yet you decided to take the tenants word for it when they said 'I didn't do it' which I suspect is because of your relationship. I would have given them the bill. So if you are unable to challenge the tenant with matters such as this, get yourself an agent to do it otherwise you may find yourself forking out for stuff that you shouldn't.

Tbf I wouldn't let a property with any white goods as your setting yourself up for no end of problems which are often related to misuse or people not knowing how to work stuff.

Jordo

How about extending a young family some human decency and courtesy, spending £100 on a new washing machine and being a nice landlord? (there aren't many about).

They'll love you for it and you'll have happy tenants. Imagine if the young mum was your daughter, wouldn't you want her to be able to wash her child's clothes without putting up with a tight landlord?

Be a nice landlord - you'll be loved.

lindens

if the tenants want a bigger machine, you may want to give them permission, at their own expense, to unplumb yours, buy one of their own and get it profefessionally fitted and store the unwanted somewhere safe. then when they leave, reverse this and take theirs with them

thequant

Let them eat cake

Miss_Marple_2

Jordo wrote: »

How about extending a young family some human decency and courtesy, spending £100 on a new washing machine and being a nice landlord? (there aren't many about).

They'll love you for it and you'll have happy tenants. Imagine if the young mum was your daughter, wouldn't you want her to be able to wash her child's clothes without putting up with a tight landlord?

Be a nice landlord - you'll be loved.

If you can tell the OP where to get an integrated washing machine for £100, I'm sure she'll be happy to buy it for them !

Halle71

Thanks everyone.
Some useful food for thought. As they haven't asked explicitly (and the wife, at least, is by no means shy!) I think we will leave it for now but bear in mind that it will need changing in the not too distant future. And definitely a good idea to lose the door - they never seem to fit properly again anyway!

Yes we do know each other, but we are not friends and they are on a six month AST. I have joined the NLA, done tenant checks and have read extensively about our responsibilities. We have not used a LA this time because we already had tenants, live locally and know enough trades people to get most issues sorted in a flash.

The plumber did not charge us - we met him when he worked on our loft, he has just done some work in our kitchen and we have given him lots of referrals so this one was on him. But the tenants are not aware of this and we would definitely pass on the cost of anything similar was to happen.

Thanks again

H

Halle71

Miss_Marple wrote: »

If you can tell the OP where to get an integrated washing machine for £100, I'm sure she'll be happy to buy it for them !

Yes please!

And believe me - we really did go above and beyond with everything else (including 14 x decorator days) so part of me does think lump it or wait!

Mojisola

Mulder00 wrote: »

it's a family home with a tiny washing machine

Halle71 wrote: »

generally it's a great house for the rent

the tenants are a couple plus toddler

But there's only three people living in it.

As long as the machine is working properly, I can't see any LL replacing it.

Kynthia

This is a business. Balance keeping a good tenant happy and avoiding expensive voids with not spending unecessarily and making a profit. If you cater for their every whim from the start they may develop a sense of entitlement rather than be grateful, so be nice but business-like.