Does my landlord have the right...?

bg91

Morning Everyone,

I’ll try to cut a long story short with this one. We have been living in our privately rented 2 bed house for 6 months now. First inspection with the LA after 3 months went fine, no issues. Just over a week ago we had another inspection, this time the LL wanted to come along to meet us, which is fair enough, we had no problems with this.

When she visited with the LA she expressed no issues with anything in the house, and we were discussing the potential of putting laminate down in the living room (which we have offered to pay for) and a few other things, which she seemed more than happy with.

Now little over a week later we have received an email from the LA on behalf of the LL with what i would consider some unreasonable requests. We have a condenser dryer in the downstairs cupboard (its easily big enough for it with plenty of room around it). When she visited i explained to her that we always leave the cupboard door open when the dryer is running and leave a nearby window open to ensure its properly ventilated (even though a condenser dryer produces very little moisture, its mainly just heat). She has asked us to relocate this to the garage as she believes it is a heatlh and safety risk being in the house and the garage is far easier to vent. Whilst i agree that the garage is far easier to vent by simply opening the door, it then means that the contents of the garage are not only exposed to the elements, but also exposed to potential theft. With the door closed, the garage would not be vented, and as she seems to think it produces a lot of moisture, this will obviously damage the items in the garage.

Secondly, we have a small snake and a turtle each living in glass homes. The snake lives in something no bigger than a small coffee table and is kept in one bedroom, whilst the turtle is in a larger fish tank kept in the other bedroom. For some reason she has asked us to move one of them downstairs. She has not given any reason for this at all and i cannot see any gain to be had from moving either downstairs. For one, it will reduce the living space downstairs and would require us to move/dispose of a piece of furniture to make room (as both need an electrical socket).

And last but not least, she has complained about the fact that i have begun to paint the garden fence (in a similar colour to what it was previously painted, clearly years ago) which i have paid for myself. When she visited the property she raised no issues with this whatsoever and was even discussing painting the front fence with me. We have been told be the LA that we have to ask permission to do quite literally anything to the property, even though on at least 2 occassions before we have been told that “anything that improves the property without dramatically changing it” is fine to do. I understood this to mean that painting the fence would be perfectly fine as it is a general maintenance job that needed doing.

What i would really like to know before i reply to the LA and LL, is what right does the LL have to request that we move items such as the tumble dryer and one of the reptiles?

And does the LL really have the right to complain about something as small as painting a fence when really, this should have been done by her or a contractor (at a much higher cost!) anyway?

Thanks

Ben

theartfullodger

Your landlord has the right to evict you for NO REASON AT ALL using section 21 (brought in by Thatcher). He can evict the perfect tenant this way who pays in full & on time, looks after the place, complies with alll daft requests from agent/landlord & generates no complaints from neighbours or council.

So it may be wise to compromise: Not fair maybe, not reasonable maybe but do you want somewhere to sleep at night??

To help get the law change remember to vote in the next election..

dirty_magic

I'd just leave them where they are and move them for inspections. No idea why they'd want you to move the pets or why they'd complain about you painting the fence the same colour. I could understand if you'd painted it pink!

She's lucky to have tenants that even try to maintain the property!

kinger101

I'd be looking at moving when the tenancy ends. I know it's hassle, but if it means not dealing with an idiot, it may me worth it in the long run. Just move stuff for inspections in the meantime. And put away the paint brushes.

franklee

Tanks I could understand if they are filled with water as if they leak upstairs it will cause more damage than down. Otherwise it seems odd.

Fence - easy don't paint it.

Dryer, well she's worried about condensation. Find the manual that says how much moisture it produces and compare to shower, boiling kettle or whatever. Are you following the manual regarding ventilation. If you didn't have the dryer and had to dry indoors during wet winter days it'd be worse.

You could try politely explaining. Suggest you forget paying any more money to change the property, forget the laminate.

There is always the possibility of a section 21 notice but you may be a better bet than the next random tenants as at least you're taking care.

If the letting agent is any good they'd have a go at persuading the landlady to tone down any unreasonable requests.

sniggings

if you don't mind moving, tell the LL YOU pay the rent and YOU decide were items go in your home, and you will return the property in the same condition you received it,minus wear and tear.

IF the lease says pets allowed then all the LL can do is "ask" you to move the pets downstairs.

I would always get in writing permission for ANY change, even if the paint is the same colour, as come checkout time, this LL will then have a big problem with them and look to charge you.

Just be ready to move if the LL gives you notice. It might be best for you anyway as two visits in such a short time, with a list of demands, doesn't bode well for the future.

kerri_gt

Ok, playing devils advocate here, could she be concerned the condenser dryer is a fire hazard under the stairs? I know this is unlikely but what if you had it on at night, something happened and it would jeopardise your escape down the stairs?

The fence, perhaps she was concerned you were leaving it half done - or perhaps she wasn't concerned about it but would just like to know in future if you are going to do something. It is her property at the end of the day - my friend rented out a house, paid a visit and found the tenant unbeknown to her had painted various parts of the property brigh pink! Although she said she'd repaint them before she left (which she did, badly) imagine the shock of walking into the property you let out and finding it repainted pink.

As for the pets, I don't know, it could perhaps be a concern on the weight of the tanks, or perhaps she saw the tanks and thought one was filled with water. I would politely ask why she wants this and explain the animals need power sockets. I assume the LL was fully aware of your pets before you moved in?

sniggings

kerri_gt wrote: »

Ok, playing devils advocate here, could she be concerned the condenser dryer is a fire hazard under the stairs? I know this is unlikely but what if you had it on at night, something happened and it would jeopardise your escape down the stairs?

The fence, perhaps she was concerned you were leaving it half done - or perhaps she wasn't concerned about it but would just like to know in future if you are going to do something. It is her property at the end of the day - my friend rented out a house, paid a visit and found the tenant unbeknown to her had painted various parts of the property brigh pink! Although she said she'd repaint them before she left (which she did, badly) imagine the shock of walking into the property you let out and finding it repainted pink.

As for the pets, I don't know, it could perhaps be a concern on the weight of the tanks, or perhaps she saw the tanks and thought one was filled with water. I would politely ask why she wants this and explain the animals need power sockets. I assume the LL was fully aware of your pets before you moved in?

why the need for devil's advocate? there could e any number of reasons for the"requests" fact is, the LL receives rent for the property, so needs to keep their "requests" to what's in the lease agreement.

FBaby

Very good point about the fire hazard under the stairs.

In regards to the fence, it might very well be that they have no issue with the actual painting, just not happy with the fact that you took it upon yourself to do without asking and therefore worry you could take on more DIY jobs that they wouldn't approve without permission. Just agree that you will ask for any such project in the future.

robatwork

Move the condenser
Don't paint
Don't laminate (why spend hundreds when you could be evicted in 3 or 6 months?)

What does the lease say with regard to pets?