Are my tenants over-reacting?!

HellieCopter

They sound like a nightmare! I have been reading with :shocked: too!

Are they recently-retired (mid-60s) or real oldies? I'm just wondering if there is a reason for all their moaning. Perhaps some of their issues are because they don't have friends and/or family nearby and so have nobody to help them with issues around the home.
Not that it matters - you're their landlord and not their carer or home help!

Maybe they're just moany old b*ggers!

But I certainly agree that you need to have a sit down and really good talk with them about their responsibilities as tenants and yours as a landlord. It seems rather like they've taken the 'rental option' so that they don't have the responisbility of looking after their own property in their old age, and they think that they don't have to do anything in their home for themselves. Find out a bit about their personal circumstances if you can. It might help you handle them. Then arrange a meeting and explain how you've been more than accomodating whilst they've been 'settling in' but now they need to live on their own without your assistance!!!

Put it all in writing and give them a copy -like a reference book of what to do in *any* situation! Then they can look up and deal accordingly (hopefully).




Or just get rid and find other tenants!!! :laugh:

Horace

pinkshoes wrote: »

I would say this is the tenant's responsibilty, not the landlord, as you are the one that lives there. Just keep calling the police/council/environmental health! If you're in the flat above, I suggest you take up early morning tap dancing sessions, and be sure to lift up the carpet...

I have done that already, the police keep telling me that its the landlord's responsibility. I like the idea of tap dancing but those immediately below me wouldnt appreciate it (my floors squeak enough as it is:D ), it isnt them thats the problem is it those new tenants in the basement:mad:

geri1965_2

ruggedtoast wrote: »

I wish there were nice council houses that people could retire to, another sad indictment of Browns Britain.

You what? It wasn't Gordon Brown who sold off council housing stock. :rolleyes:

brightonman123

not sure if alrady mentioned, but might be worth doing a full run through with them, and get them to check / sign off each 'problem'.

then let them know any further problems will be charged for.

unless of course you agree to disagree, and get them out.

melancholly

a blocked drain giving them HIV............. just genius. this may be even more unreasonable than the LL who wanted regular cushion fluffing!

never_enough

I'm amazed that you've paid for the things that you have. I doubt any of my old landlords would've been keen to do so much. Your tenants are not being fair though, as you & most of us know, but you need to get them to understand that too. Failing that get rid of them in whatever way you're allowed to do. If you *could* get them to understand what they can/should contact you about they may become reasonable & long term tenants.
They may have had their own home before & not knowing the responsibilities of a landlord just assume it's all down to you. The same if they've never lived in a flat before it might be a bit strange knowing who is responsible for what.
The idea of doing a house folder is a good one, I've come across this before. All details of how to use appliances, tradesmen that you trust in an emergency, emergency services (for gas leaks & the like not the 999 type!) can go into it.
As other peple have said keep it in writing as much as possible. I would never give my work or home number to tenants, having learnt through experience, see below! That's one of the joys of mobiles, you're as contactable as you want to be.
I know it's not much consolation, but it may at least make you laugh to hear that I was once dragged out of a hugely important meeting at work as my tenant had called to say there was a ***major emergency***. I wasn't really expecting to hear that the fluorescent bulb had blown in the bathroom. :mad: :rolleyes: :eek: Oh & my tenants were young architects...

PasturesNew

Horace wrote: »

eejits downstairs who slam and bang about at 3am waking everyone up

The landlord of the flat above me broke the restriction on flooring and put down cheap, badly laid laminate. The last people up there used to get up at 5-7am and clomp about. Woke me up every morning. And they'd slam the doors and clomp down the stairs. My sleep was disrupted so much it was a part of my decision to give up my temping job as I was just knackered every morning.

Now got a new tenant up there and she's quieter, except works in a bar. Comes in at 3-4am clomping about and waking me up.

Bloomin' noisy nuisance. But she's no idea it's noisy. I think one assumes that noise doesn't travel. And if there's only one noisy person in a block of flats they never hear anybody else making a noise, so assume the sound-proofing is brilliant.

I'll have to write her a note I think. I am on the ground floor and have laminate, I can't stand the noise I make myself, so immediately I step in it's shoes off and soft slippers on.

PasturesNew

The answer must be to provide social housing to anybody that wants it, at the price to costs to provide. So non-profit making, but available.

The problem before was they were having to subsidise it. Housing Associations are fine, except not enough of them.

I have no idea how it all works, where the money comes from, but if they'd just kept up the pace of building new social housing without subsidies none of this would have happened.

Social housing too wouldn't have had the stigma as everybody would have been living in them. Nowadays it is more the losers that get priority. Good people have been pushed out because of the needs of those that take and expect.

WTF?_2

Becks045 wrote: »

I really am a good landlord and try to be as fair as possible but I despair; they are on an AST contract until November. Can I ask them to leave...I've had enough of this?

Any advice?!

You're pandering to their every demand and clearly they are the sort of people who can sense weakness and will take the p1ss wherever possible.

Given that you've already acceded to a number of their ridiculous demands, you'll find it hard to say 'no' in the future.

Personally, if I were in your position I'd not renew their tenancy and take steps to evict them after the statutory period. You definitely do not want the hassle.

mr218

i personally think that these people are not helpless or stupid. they are taking advantage of you because you let them. they keep pushing and pushing and see how far they can go. anyone truly helpless will be thankful and not moan to you all the time.

dont bother about curtailing their tenancy. when they call with an unreasonable request just say that you are not required to tackle that. simple and straight. if they keep moaning then tell them they can do what they feel is right but you are sticking to the terms of the contract and that is that. if they are not happy offer them the option of early termination of contract and you can go your separate ways.

meanwhile keep track of all communications in case you need it at the end
good luck