Nightmare Tenants - what can we do?

Errata

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.

The tenants aren't a nightmare, they're barking mad. Communicate with them only in writing - landamail - to cover your back and cross your fingers they'll leave whe their contract ends.

AdrianC

Just agree to sever the tenancy as soon as they are able to find other accomodation. That simple. Their deposit, clearly, will depend on the condition of the property once they have moved out. (Please tell us that you DO have a signed and dated detailed and preferably photographic check-in inventory?)

As for the reference - keep it completely factual and minimal.

"I can confirm that <name/s> were tenants at <address> from <start date> at a rent of £X."

ognum

Jagraf wrote: »

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.

I think it is very difficult for tenants living in a LL former home. I have just had a friend of a friend ask me about a property I had just let because their LLS comes around and checks through the window that her John Lewis carpets are being well cared for, it's driving them mad.

benjus

ognum wrote: »

I think it is very difficult for tenants living in a LL former home. I have just had a friend of a friend ask me about a property I had just let because their LLS comes around and checks through the window that her John Lewis carpets are being well cared for, it's driving them mad.

Landlords like this really get my goat. People who can't treat letting property as a business just should not be doing it IMO. Personally I think the fact that such landlords exist is evidence that the law is too weighted in favour of the landlord (and I speak as a former landlord who has had to deal with problem tenants).

fairy_lights

Trashing the house, not paying rent, having a cannabis farm in the loft would make them nightmare tenants. Requesting a swimming pool makes them sound completely bonkers but not nightmare tenants by any means.
Are they generally keeping the house in good order?
I can't blame them for not wanting to cooperate with viewings, it's their home after all. If you want them out, and they are asking for their deposit back now, the easiest course of action might be to refund the deposit on the condition that they agree to move out by a certain date.

Jagraf

ognum wrote: »

I think it is very difficult for tenants living in a LL former home. I have just had a friend of a friend ask me about a property I had just let because their LLS comes around and checks through the window that her John Lewis carpets are being well cared for, it's driving them mad.

I had a landlady like that in London once. Her daughter lived in the flat upstairs and she thought it was ok to wait in my flat,while I was at work, if her daughter was out :eek:. Long time ago mind you. She used to say "it's ok, I've got a key so I can let myself in".

The problem can be nosey friends of the owners too, checking up constantly on behalf of them.

fairy_lights

Jagraf wrote: »

I had a landlady like that in London once. Her daughter lived in the flat upstairs and she thought it was ok to wait in my flat,while I was at work, if her daughter was out :eek:. Long time ago mind you. She used to say "it's ok, I've got a key so I can let myself in".

The problem can be nosey friends of the owners too, checking up constantly on behalf of them.

I had a landlady who lived in the flat upstairs from mine and would occasionally let herself in "just to check the keys still work" :eek:

Pixie5740

I had a landlady try and move in with her cat and dog because snow was forecast and she lived out in the sticks. Needless to say that tenancy didn't last long. :rotfl:

OP, you have to decide what it is you want. Do you want the tenants to leave or do you want to sell the property? I can fully understand why tenants don't want to entertain estate agents and potential buyers wandering in and out of their home.

You did have the opportunity to terminate the tenancy early but for some reason you said no. Now the tenants are saying they'll move but want their deposit back early so either agree a mutual surrender and return the deposit or see the tenancy out and serve notice correctly.

TBagpuss

I agree with PPs that you seem somewhat confused about what you want, and appear to be trying to have your cake and eat it.
It's unfortunate that you did not negotiate when the tenants wanted to leave early - you would have been in a strong position to ensure that they left the property in a suitable condition, and could then have sold the house vacant.

As you now want to sell the house, you need them to leave. When does their tenancy expire, and have you given them formal notice in the correct form?

If they are asking for their deposit back early, then you may still have the opportunity to negotiate with them - possibly to remind them that the property needs to be returned to the original colours, and offer to waive that requirement provided ha the property is otherwise in good condition, and on the basis that they leave promptly on [agreed date] and facilitate viewings in the mean time.

if they chose to be awkward they could force you to evict them, which will be expensive and time consuming.

Given that they have been trying to put possible buyers off, is it possible that they were hoping to buy the property themselves? It may be worth asking them, and while they may have completely unrealistic ideas about price, if they are interested it could save you a lot of hassle, not least as you would have rent paid right up until completion.

Do double check your agreement with your estate agents first, however, to see whether you would still pay estate agents fees if you sell to the tenants.

[Deleted User]

Unfortunately its seems neither of you have an idea what should and shouldn't be happening with respect to a tenancy. Complaining about an aerial (do you mean satellite) being fitted? As long as its done with a degree of care.., so what? It could be an advantage. Can soon remove it if you need to. But regarding this as breaking the tenancy is a bit extreme. I suspect you have a lot more real issues to worry about. You could learn from this, but if you are so willing to blame the tenants for everything, you won't.

Them asking for a swimming pool? Yes, bonkers, but its probably a bad mix of tenant and LL with unrealistic expectations on both sides.

If its only been two months since they moved in, and they made this very unwise threat to move out early.., they probably don't have a deposit to move on with. No idea what the situation is in reality. You could suggest that on the day they move out, you will come round to hand them the deposit , in cash, providing the place is in good original condition. Or just in clean and tidy condition. It might help you to get it on the market sooner, without worries about having them there for the next four months not paying the rent and wrecking the place (worse case scenario).

Or as they are probably panicking as much as you are, you could go round, saying "ok, this situation hasn't worked out. How do we resolve this?", and try to work out something with them. I'd agree its unwise to give back the deposit before they move out.., but perhaps you could agree to pay the new LL a percentage holding fee from the deposit or something?

Repainting a place isn't prohibitively expensive, when I repainted this place I purchased two 10 litre pots of magnolia for £40! Did the job nicely. And in your case, freshly painted would make it a little easier to sell. Get things into perspective.