Landlord Vent !!

ManAtHome

Sorry, but you're either running a business or a hobby - anyone who deals with customers (ie people) is going to get ripped off at some time. I'm afraid you're going to have to learn from it and adjust your terms and conditions accordingly.

I think most of realise the impact of selfish behaviour - higher prices, higher insurance, higher taxes, speed cameras, parking meters.. the list goes on.

Somerset

ManAtHome wrote:

Sorry, but you're either running a business or a hobby - anyone who deals with customers (ie people) is going to get ripped off at some time. I'm afraid you're going to have to learn from it and adjust your terms and conditions accordingly..

Unfortunately you're right.

chugalug

OP - from what you've said so far you're making at least 2 mistakes. You're not charging enough 'up front' should the same thing happen again. Most landlords charge a deposit plus a months rent in advance. In this area this would be at least £1000, enough to sort any problems should the tenant do a runner. Second, you're expecting your tenants to treat your house like you did and taking it personally when they don't. They don't care about your property. It's not theirs and never will be. On top of that they probably resent the fact that as a landlord you are raking it in and charging them a fortune for a house they'll never own. Not fair and not right maybe, but unfortunately true. Of course people should treat things with respect but not everyone thinks the same and you need to toughen up if you're going to be a 'real' landlord.

Wig

elona wrote:

Wig

I read all of the post and do not know what you are referring to?

Then perhaps you can explain your post, which came directly after mine, who/what were you reffering to?

Wig

OP,

I think you've learned from this and that is good, there's no need to become a bad landlord, just a landlord who protects his interests & does regular inspections (and makes sure he knows for certain they are being done - I don't buy the 2 months "they need their privacy" bit you do it when you go to collect the rent, and I wouldn't trust an agency as far as I could throw 'em.). You are running a business not a charity, you should not have accepted a drop in the rent. Sounds to me like the tennant might have pulled your leg from the start, - maybe he never did have a job in the first place?

Life is full of selfish, nasty, scumbags, thankfully we don't have to encounter them on a regular basis.

Somerset

Today is a new day - and the sun is shining here .

Vent over.

Imho ' what goes around comes around '

sooz

'what goes around comes around' - lets hope so.

i personally - and most agencies here - charge 6 weeks rent as deposit [more in the case of pets or smokers], to avoid the 'i'm leaving in a month, and my deposit is a month's rent' scenario.

good luck with the next tenants

Alleycat

Hmm, 6 weeks rent as deposit or even more!? As a tenant, that is absolutely extortionate. I am assuming that there would the month's rent in advance on top of that as well. We are both smokers and have pets and were charged 4 weeks rent as deposit with 4 weeks rent due in advance.

We would also strongly object to having an inspection as frequently as once a month as this would be a serious invasion of our privacy. We have one visit per year when the contract is due for renewal.

There will always be scum bags out there, but tenants do deserve some respect as well.

VickyA_2

Somerset wrote:

They did every two months ( full management ). Last time was fine. This time it's a tip. Why do you think the tenants did a runner 6 days before final inspection ?

Are you sure? OH and I live in a rented house which has "full management" from the letting agents. I feel sorry for our landlord as I don't think that he's getting full value for money:

We have a six monthly property "check up"/inspection to ensure that we're keeping the property in a decent manner. 4 weeks ago it was time for our inspection.............. the agent ran into the house, looked in the sitting room (on her way through), into the dining room, peered out of the back window into the garden and went. Now, these agents are very very highly respected in the area and well, I just feel sorry for any landlords..........

My parents also rent out a house (different area, different agents) and they had a similar problem to the OP. Letting agents did virtually nothing about it. Solution? Clean up the property and start again................. My mum was NOT pleased, even though references had been taken etc etc.

sooz

Alleycat wrote:

Hmm, 6 weeks rent as deposit or even more!? As a tenant, that is absolutely extortionate. I am assuming that there would the month's rent in advance on top of that as well. We are both smokers and have pets and were charged 4 weeks rent as deposit with 4 weeks rent due in advance.

We would also strongly object to having an inspection as frequently as once a month as this would be a serious invasion of our privacy. We have one visit per year when the contract is due for renewal.

There will always be scum bags out there, but tenants do deserve some respect as well.

yes, this is quite normal. 6 weeks deposit in london is normal. i've been a tenant myself [not in london] many times, and with a cat have had to offer 8 weeks rent as deposit due to cat, and made to have the carpets professionaly cleaned after end of tenancy, to ensure no fleas. i had no cause to complain - i would expect this too now as a landlord.

personally i don't take smokers, unless there is a garden, in which case they can smoke outside - and appropriate clause is added. smokers in general are getting very frowned upon, and will just have to get used to not being allowed to smoke anywhere from 2007.[already in ireland]

yes, this does mean a vast amount of money upfront, plus 4 weeks rent in advance, but ALL deposit gets returned if place is left as they found it. re return of deposits, new laws come into effect from july, to gov't will now deal with this, and hand it back to tenants much later that i personally would....sorry.


re inspections, yes i agree, even with 24 hours written notice i would feel that
monthly inspections were too intrusive, and prevented enjoyment of premises rented. i only inspect when contracts due for renewal, or something needs fixing.


'There will always be scum bags out there, but tenants do deserve some respect as well' - i agree. i respect my tenants, but expect them to respect me, and my property too. i would hope that this is mutual, not mutually exclusive.