New tenant wants to store furniture in the property before tenancy starts

Counting_Pennies_2

I wonder if you can help.


Our new tenant has requested to use their new house for storage in the week before they take on the tenancy.


Does anyone know what the legal grounds are concerning this?


It will be quite an inconvenience for us as they requested their specific move in date, so we decided to carry out some renovations on the property for the period of a month between our old tenants moving out and this new one moving in.


Can anyone advise regarding insurance, legalities of us storing the items in the property etc.


Thanks

davidmcn

If they want to start using the property a week early then start the tenancy a week early. Doing it any other way gets messy.

Daerve

I'd tell them no. If they want storage they pay for storage.

Mossfarr

Its not an ideal situation - they need to be aware that it would be entirely at their own risk as you do not have contents insurance. You would need to give them a written disclaimer. Also there is the issue of access - you definitely don't want to give them keys so will you be expected to attend every time they want to bring (or collect) things? If storing their items would cause you any inconvenience I would say no.
I did allow my current tenants to move some items in a couple of days early but they were in no doubt that I would not be responsible for their safekeeping. My property is very close to my own home and my husband and myself were there most days so access wasn't an issue either.

Herbalus

Insurance and legalities isn't an issue - their belongings would be under their insurance anyway, so storing them at your house is entirely at their risk. Make sure they know that. And of course legally they can store them there if you let them.

I'm guessing it's problematic to start the tenancy early (maybe you've already signed the agreement?), so I wouldn't stress trying to change that.

I would allow them to store items (if you have a convenient place in the house where workmen etc won't be) if they could arrange to bring them while I was already at the property, and I wouldn't give them a key. Otherwise they'd keep coming and going, and could be disruptive to whatever you're doing. If they couldn't meet when I was at the property, I'd politely say it's not possible.

It's not wise to be cause animosity to your tenants before the tenancy has even begun, but I wouldn't go out of my way to accommodate them.

G_M

I'd be inclined to discuss and agree. It's an easy way to help them out & earn brownie points as a LL , and that is always worth having!

Yes, make clear it's entirely at their own risk. Make sure you've taken some cash off them so they are fully commited (holding deposit, security deposit, advance rent, whatever).

Don't give them a key. arrange a once only date/time when they deliver and you let them in.

And of course this depends on your renovation - if there's one room that's finished or you don't need access to, give them that for storage rather than spreading their stuff around the property getting in your way.

ellie27

Are you MY landlord?!?!!?

We have a lease on a place due to finish soon, a house we were renting while we purchases.

We moved out of the rental 6 weeks ago but have 1 more week of the lease left to pay. Last week the landlord asked if the new tenant could store stuff in the house! I said yes, if they want to takeover and pay the lease as of now, but otherwise no!

Herbalus

ellie27 wrote: »

Are you MY landlord?!?!!?

We moved out of the rental 6 weeks ago but have 1 more week of the lease left to pay. Last week the landlord asked if the new tenant could store stuff in the house! I said yes, if they want to takeover and pay the lease as of now, but otherwise no!

I don't think so. The OP said they had a month with no tenant while they made some repairs/renovations to the property, so they're not asking a current tenant to allow the next tenant's stuff to be kept there.

Counting_Pennies_2

ellie27 wrote: »

Are you MY landlord?!?!!?

We have a lease on a place due to finish soon, a house we were renting while we purchases.

We moved out of the rental 6 weeks ago but have 1 more week of the lease left to pay. Last week the landlord asked if the new tenant could store stuff in the house! I said yes, if they want to takeover and pay the lease as of now, but otherwise no!

No the house is empty we are doing it up

Old_Git

I would say yes .My new tenants who I already knew are decorating before they move in .
Her father lives in the house behind and he used to cut the grass .He has a key to the back door .
I am not charging rent until they are moving and I don't expect any problems .