Decorating while tenants are in the property

sparky130a

Lovem wrote: »

Last night I was looking at photos from the agency and saw it needs decorating. I posted on here and asked would it be unreasonable of me to ask?

From the reception to this post anyone would think that I have decorators parked outside the house 24/7 and turned the house into a building site. It was a passing thought and a simple question. When section 21 ends the contract will be going month to month so it would be impossible to get anything done.

Yes it would be. Unless an incentive is offered to the tenant.

And an S21 does not end any contract per se.

Lovem

sparky130a wrote: »

Yes it would be. Unless an incentive is offered to the tenant.

And an S21 does not end any contract per se.

Can you please clarify on the last point? As I was advised to serve a sec 21.

Lovem

Tyler119 wrote: »

I agree, some responses have been quite hostile. Perhaps the OP has every intention of offering a incentive; just because he has not simply laid it out here, does that mean he should receive hostility?

Do you have a good relationship with the tenants? Have you approached them to see if they would be interested in purchasing the property?

Is the property one that would be attractive to another landlord? If it is, it would be an easier sell with sitting tenants. This way you may not have to carry out the work / disrupt the tenants.

Alternatively would you be able to get away with just decorating some of the property? Is the current decor neutral or really old? New tiles and spotlights may be unnecessary for a sale as both can be done to personal preference. Some owners do like using actual light fittings.

Are you able to like to the property listing?

Our relationship is excellent!

Spotlights: the kitchen has the cheap IKEA spotlights. With very poor lighting. I was thinking to replace this with three fixed spotlights.

Painting: it would be the handrails on the stairs. I fell foul to the yellow paint fiasco a few years back (it was on mse) so the handrails need doing. Thankfully these are not in the pictures it is from memory.

Bathroom: change wall to white and replace the two height tiles around the bath.

Yes, if tenant moved out I would have kitchen respray, change stair carpets, redo bedroom wallpaper. However, as they stand it's perfect

Guest101

Lovem wrote: »

Last night I was looking at photos from the agency and saw it needs decorating. I posted on here and asked would it be unreasonable of me to ask?

From the reception to this post anyone would think that I have decorators parked outside the house 24/7 and turned the house into a building site. It was a passing thought and a simple question. When section 21 ends the contract will be going month to month so it would be impossible to get anything done.

Ok, yes it's unreasonable.

I have no idea what 'when s.21 ends...' Means

sparky130a

Lovem wrote: »

Can you please clarify on the last point? As I was advised to serve a sec 21.

A sec 21 is nothing more than a part of the process ( IF served in a valid manner )

In itself it ends nothing.

Tyler119

Well the immediate works you are talking about don't sound too heavy.

When does the tenancy agreement run to?

Pixie5740

Lovem wrote: »

Can you please clarify on the last point? As I was advised to serve a sec 21.

Advised by whom?

A tenancy can only be ended by the tenant or a court not the landlord. A Section 21 is just notice that you might go to court to get an eviction order.

See Ending/Renewing an AST for further information.

getmore4less

sparky130a wrote: »

Yes it would be. Unless an incentive is offered to the tenant.

And an S21 does not end any contract per se.

Lovem wrote: »

Can you please clarify on the last point? As I was advised to serve a sec 21.

A S21 does not end the contract it is a 2month notice that if they don't leave you can go to court(more months).

(you don't seem to understand some of the being a landlord basics)


The issue you have is your tenants know you want them out unless you get an investor.

What is in it for them other than getting messed about for potentially months then having to find somewhere quickly .

You have a tenanted property that is tired and need some TLC.

Your viewers that are not investors see a sitting tenant and many will know that getting vacant possession could be a nightmare they will not be exchanging(unless mad) until the tenants have gone.


Bit of catch 22,

you may have difficulty tarting the place up to get a better price while you have tenants in situ.

You will have difficulty getting a buyer at top end while you have tenants in situ.

The problem with the Cake and eat it approach is it will put people off dues to the uncertainty of getting the tenant out unless they a re investor prepared to leave them in the place as is.

.......................
If your tenants are smart they will be lining up a new place and you will be getting 1 month notice they are off, once they have gone periodic and found somewhere.

Pixie5740

As for decorating whilst the tenants are in-situ I guess you can only ask. If it were me then once you decided to sell have started looking for somewhere new to live, served notice and moved, probably all before you found a buyer never mind hung around whilst you decorated. I am not your tenant though. Your tenants might be fine with people traipsing in and out of their home or they might be happy to hang on in there in the hope that the place will be sold to another landlord. Who knows?

sparky130a

Tyler119 wrote: »

Well the immediate works you are talking about don't sound too heavy.

That's not really the point. If i were the tenant it would make no difference if someone is soft furnishing or jack hammering the kitchen floor. It's an imposition on your home.

As with most things in life communication is key. The OP needs to engage with their tenant.