Nightmare Tenants - what can we do?

Kynthia

Posters are right that the tenants don't have to allow viewers and surveyors round. However to be fair to the OP I think the main thing they felt that made them nightmare tenants was the excessive complaints, fears and requests made day and night mostly about things nothing to do with the landlord.

Jagraf

I think its great that the tenants contact the landlord over such matters as neighbours dog etc. if it is causing a nuisance its much better for landlord to sort it rather than it becoming an official complaint.

I'm not sure what the landlord expected? Again, if its a noisy dog and the owners knew about it, I would be slightly annoyed.

ViolaLass

Jagraf wrote: »

I think its great that the tenants contact the landlord over such matters as neighbours dog etc. if it is causing a nuisance its much better for landlord to sort it rather than it becoming an official complaint.

I'm not sure what the landlord expected? Again, if its a noisy dog and the owners knew about it, I would be slightly annoyed.

Couldn't they talk to the neighbour themselves? What magic powers do they think the LL would have?

Jagraf

ViolaLass wrote: »

Couldn't they talk to the neighbour themselves? What magic powers do they think the LL would have?

Some neighbours take no notice of tenants. Also, if the landlord wants to sell the house, any neighbour disputes need to be mentioned. The landlord may stop it becoming a dispute.

ruggedtoast

Jagraf wrote: »

Can I just summarise what I understand you have said:

You couldn't afford the mortgage so moved into rented, then took on tenants (presumably so mortgage could be paid)

Then your tenants kept wanting things done (some legit, some you think OTT)

Then they weren't satisfied so they wanted to leave but you said no, as they would be breaking their contract

Then after saying they couldnt leave, you want them to cooperate by opening up their home to your prospective purchasers as you now want to sell as being landlords isn't for you.


If this is accurate, then why do you expect them to cooperate if (1) you think they are hassle and (2) you won't let them leave and (3) yo are disturbing their peace so that you can get rent from them and sell the house while they babysit.

Sorry I would be a bit peeved too if I were them.

This, basically.

[Deleted User]

I am sure some of the tenants requests were a bit OTT, but the tenants lives could be being made hell by a neighbours dog. They seem to be ignorant of the law (or hoping you were) when they said they wanted to move out early. Now the situation has back fired on all of you.

But I'm a tenant and I've told my LL I won't accept viewings anymore. I've had three sets, requiring lots of 'getting the house looking nice', had the LL telling me to do things like I was a five year old in spite of the fact that whenever he's done an inspection or the viewings the place has been spotless, even painted it. So I said no this last time. As far as he was concerned he was giving me a few days notice so what was the problem?

Lots of bad feeling between me and the LL (repairs not done, state the house is in). That's the problem.

I realise you may not feel you've been like this.., but the tenants perspective may be different. It sounds like they are the sort that don't understand what being a tenant entails anyway. So I'd hope they do move out quickly and if not, do pay rent and don't damage the property.

I'll be honest though, if I was a LL, I'd go and visit prospective tenants in the home, just to see how they look after a place. And I'd use social media searches etc. References aren't always as revealing as a prospective LL needs, and you are discovering why.

TopQuark

Jagraf wrote: »

Can I just summarise what I understand you have said:

You couldn't afford the mortgage so moved into rented, then took on tenants (presumably so mortgage could be paid)

Then your tenants kept wanting things done (some legit, some you think OTT)

Then they weren't satisfied so they wanted to leave but you said no, as they would be breaking their contract

Then after saying they couldnt leave, you want them to cooperate by opening up their home to your prospective purchasers as you now want to sell as being landlords isn't for you.


If this is accurate, then why do you expect them to cooperate if (1) you think they are hassle and (2) you won't let them leave and (3) yo are disturbing their peace so that you can get rent from them and sell the house while they babysit.

Sorry I would be a bit peeved too if I were them.

This, entirely. I find it amazing the number of people who seem to treat others (i.e. tenants) as an insurance policy or safety net when they hit difficult financial times. Using them as some sort of flexible financial product, chopping and changing things to suit themselves and then acting all affronted when the tenant gets peeved and asserts their rights.

Tenants are also human beings, who have commutes and kids and lives as much as them, but are expected by such rank amateur LLs (who often ignore their legal obligations, believing in their ignorance that they don't apply to 'accidental LLs') to make large changes at next to the drop of a hat, usually entirely to their own detriment. When they complain, they are 'nightmare tenants'.

You wouldn't like to be treated like this yourself, so why would anyone think it's acceptable treat others in this way? If you can't afford the mortgage, sell the house rather than attempting to use others as an (expendable) cash cow.

b_girl

As stated we expected them to be awkward about the viewings and weren't surprised. If you think tennants who ask for a loft conversion and a swimming pool in the garden (at our expense!!) aren't nightmare tenants I don't know what is! And the very fact they expected all financial details relating to the sale of the house and who we sell it to go through them or they'd not let people in to view is utterly bonkers!

Anyway, we've told them that they can either move out at the end of the term or earlier. They keep pestering for their deposit back before they move which obviously they won't get as I have a suspicion it will not be painted back to magnolia when they move.

I should also state that they have already broken the tenancy agreement by having another Ariel fitted without discussing with us first.

ognum

b_girl wrote: »

As stated we expected them to be awkward about the viewings and weren't surprised. If you think tennants who ask for a loft conversion and a swimming pool in the garden (at our expense!!) aren't nightmare tenants I don't know what is! And the very fact they expected all financial details relating to the sale of the house and who we sell it to go through them or they'd not let people in to view is utterly bonkers!

Anyway, we've told them that they can either move out at the end of the term or earlier. They keep pestering for their deposit back before they move which obviously they won't get as I have a suspicion it will not be painted back to magnolia when they move.

I should also state that they have already broken the tenancy agreement by having another Ariel fitted without discussing with us first.

OP I think you are doing the right thing to just let them go. From your posts it seems you are very wound up in this property, it is always difficult to let a property that was your home.

Letting property is a business, once it is let it is the tenants home and in my opinion you should not try to sell with tenants in situ, I am aware other LL would disagree. You are doing the right thing to wait.

As for extra ariel breaking the tenancy agreement I think you are being a bit extreme, the tenants should seek permission but IMO it is their home and I want their home to be how they want it, provided everything is returned to the original state and the rent is paid on leaving then why be concerned.

Move on!

Jagraf

TopQuark wrote: »

This, entirely. I find it amazing the number of people who seem to treat others (i.e. tenants) as an insurance policy or safety net when they hit difficult financial times. Using them as some sort of flexible financial product, chopping and changing things to suit themselves and then acting all affronted when the tenant gets peeved and asserts their rights.

Tenants are also human beings, who have commutes and kids and lives as much as them, but are expected by such rank amateur LLs (who often ignore their legal obligations, believing in their ignorance that they don't apply to 'accidental LLs') to make large changes at next to the drop of a hat, usually entirely to their own detriment. When they complain, they are 'nightmare tenants'.

You wouldn't like to be treated like this yourself, so why would anyone think it's acceptable treat others in this way? If you can't afford the mortgage, sell the house rather than attempting to use others as an (expendable) cash cow.

We have been a tenant and a landlord (tenant at moment). There are some massive houses available for rental in our area, mostly are also for sale and overpriced, and the owners are just looking to pay their mortgages. They are also being let as furnished which means owners don't have to pay for storage. Some people think tenants are stupid.

I would much rather rent from a professional landlord.