Horror stories please!

Miss_Merlot

I will shortly be acting as a landlord (well, lady!) for my MIL's property, as she has dementia (recently moved her to assisted living, guesstimating a year before she needs residential care). Have POA and I'll be doing everything on her behalf - first time have ever been in this sort of position before.

Planning on playing fair and being a "good" landlady (though not a pushover if the tenants start taking the mick).

Please share your horror stories - either as a tenant or landlord - on this thread so I know what NOT to do!

elsien

My LL sent his "maintenance" man round with a blowtorch to unfreeze the frozen pipes one winter. Of course they may have frozen due to the windows not closing so having the gaps stuffed with newspaper to insulate them.......

jimmy_cricket

House across the road from me rented out. They are nice and quiet neighbours. No issues with parking. Lights go out about 10.30 so no late night parties. Turns out it was a cannabis farm. Apparently this is not unknown to happen. Paid their rent on time though

tom9980

Read all this for a start

G_M wrote: »

This thread is intended to provide information to both landlords and tenants relating to Assured Shorthold Tenancies (ASTs) in England and Wales.

Topics covered:

* Deposits: payment, protection and return

* Ending/renewing an AST: what happens when a fixed term ends? How can a LL or tenant end a tenancy? What is a periodic tenancy?

* Rent increases: when & how can rent be increased?

* Repossession: what if a LL's mortgage lender repossesses the property?

* New landlords: advice, information & links

* Letting agents: how should a landlord select or sack?

Any posts added which provide information relating to Northern Ireland or Scotland, where the law is different, should clearly indicate the relevant country in the heading. Failing this, the assumption is: Eng/Wales.

Please feel free to PM me if you spot errors (whether legal or typos!). Also omissions or suggestions for improvement.

---

An Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) can exist in 3 forms:

1) Fixed Term Tenancy. This has a start date, and either a 'term' (eg 6 months, 12 months), or a specified end date.

2) Statutory Periodic Tenancy. This is created by statute (law) automatically when the fixed term ends, if the tenant does not leave, and if no other agreement exists. 'Periodic' means it continues on a 'rolling' basis (usually monthly, but sometimes weekly or quarterly).

3) Contractual Periodic Tenancy. This can be created either:

i) from the start (ie the initial contract specifies a 'rolling' tenancy - there is no fixed term), or

ii) at the end of the fixed term, if that is what the original contract specified would happen when the fixed term ended.

bouicca21

When I was a tenant it would have been useful if the LL had paid the mortgage, thus obviating the repossession proceedings ...

Elfbert

One of my old landlords was 'mates' with the letting agent... both were useless.

When we escaped the house the agent arranged to show some prospective tenants around, at 10am one Saturday morning. They turned up early, we warned them to run a mile. He turned up about 10 past ten, and we let him in, only for him to step into the hall....and promptly fall back out onto the street. The smell of drink was so strong it made my eyes water! He couldn't even speak he was so drunk! Needless to say we never used that agency again!

Bossypants

Just think about how you would want to be treated if you were renting the place. No one expects rental properties to be palaces, but things like having a decent boiler, being prompt with repairs, having a decent job done, and giving as much notice as you are able when you intend to come round/send someone round can make a huge difference to the tenant, and consequently to their relationship with you and how they treat the property.

In terms of not being a pushover, just remember that this is a business relationship. That doesn't mean you can never take into account any legitimate problems which may arise, but if you approach the situation as a business woman first and foremost, and expect them to do the same, then the outcome is more likely to be satisfactory for everyone. For example, say they are unable to pay the rent one month due to redundancy, that doesn't mean you have to start eviction proceedings there and then, but you can expect them to put a plan for repayment on the table, and be clear with them that that is what you expect.

Rambosmum

My landlord set up scaffolding and tok the roof off whilst he then built an extension at the back. Two weeks later, still not re-roofed and damp EVERYWHERE, then wanted to take our deposit due to 'our water damage'.

lizards

One student place I rented, there was a crack so large in the wall that a massive mushroom grew out of it. You could feel a breeze through the hole, and none of the windows shut as the frames were warped. One of our housemates' dad was a builder, took one look and basically condemned the house for subsidence. Not that we realised any of this when we looked round before we took the place, because we were students!

Despite leaving the place immaculate, we lost all our deposit because apparently the massive mushroom was caused by "splashing in the bath" and as a result the entire house had to be repainted(!!!!)

Wish I knew then what I knew now and that the DPS et al was around!

Old_Git

Tenant sent text at 1.45pm to say a piece of fascia board had fallen down .I received the text at 3pm as I was at work .
Tenants boyfriend arrived at 4pm to tell me their child had stood on a nail from the facia board and I would need to hurry up and get it fixed .(this was 1 hour after I knew about it )

Same tenant asked me to get an electrician as the light bulb was flickering .
Same tenant decided to bleed the oil boiler and broke the pump .Then told the plumber I should have made sure she didn't run out of oil .
Same tenant asked for a new front door as her hall was cold .The hall has a flat roof and will always be cold .Oh and her latest ,I have the wrong (PVC) windows because they dont have a vent and I wont be able to sell the house .

Needless to say I want her out ASAP.
Another tenant swapped his washing machine for mine ,and left me a broken one ,he didnt ask for his deposit back and I didnt offer it back .

Tenant gave 10 days notice instead of 28 days .I still gave him his deposit back as he had been a good tenant and he was moving back in with family as he was struggling with money.

Pricivius

Tenants burnt hole in carpet, patched it with some off cuts and put furniture over it at inspection. I accept I should have noticed but do all landlords move all furniture to check?

Tenants bought a puppy despite no-pets clause and my stated refusal to waiver. Puppy peed on laminate causing it to warp, chewed furniture and doors, left fur everywhere and a definite dog smell.

Tenants installed Virgin services without my permission as property had sky installed and I did not want holes drilled through external wall and wires trailed thoughout the house. The installation was rubbish - Virgin box on wonky on both outside and inside, wires everywhere attached to walls and flooring.

Tenants switched my 6 month old washer-dryer for a rusty old one when they left. Agent didn't notice on inspection.

Before anyone says I am pernickety, I know now that I am not cut out to be a landlord and I no longer am and intend never to be again! The Tenants above (the same couple) received their full deposit back, just left me with a mess and astonishment at their dishonesty.