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Can’t please some people
(82 Posts)We have a house we rent out. Tenant has been in just over 6 months. Rang up on Sat. To say an appliance wasn’t working. I said we would get in touch with a qualified tradesman we always use and get back to her.
He rang her first thing on Mon to check when he could go. He was told she works full time so it would have to be after 6 or weekends. Of course, like most tradesmen these days they need family time so work 8-5 approx. And not weekends.
He suggested I meet him there and wait while he does the job to put her mind at rest. She says she does not like people in her home when she is not there. So she doesn’t trust him or me, her Landlord! she insists she cannot take time off work.
She then said she could “probably” get someone in to fix it out of hours but I said we always use qualified local people we know and trust as we pay the bill. I don’t want some bodger in there doing more harm than good so I told her not to do that and why.
She ignored two emails I sent her asking how she wished to proceed but has now sent me a very snotty email!
She should think herself lucky because a friend of my son has been waiting 6 months for his Landlord to replace a broken boiler and is now going down the legal route.
You can’t help some people.
Just remind her of the rental terms and arrange for your tradesman to call then give her plenty of notice so she can make arrangements to be there if she wishes. If you leave it and she goes to the Council to make a complaint, they will give you notice to complete the job. I’ve had tenants who haven’t told us but have gone straight to the council and told them a pack of lies. It was so stressful. Make sure you have all negotiations in writing.
OldFrill
The tenant has come up with a compromise. I'd ring the tradesman she wants to use, agree the cost and let her allow him access. You are being quite obstructive as a landlord, and your personal problems are not her concern.
Landlords house, landlords rules ....end of
OldFrill
The tenant has come up with a compromise. I'd ring the tradesman she wants to use, agree the cost and let her allow him access. You are being quite obstructive as a landlord, and your personal problems are not her concern.
Would you let any random tradesman work in your own home? No idea if he's a bodger with no insurance?
A landlord is liable for the safety standard of the property, and its fittings and appliances provided by them.
Repairs that don't meet legislated letting standard could invalidate the landlord insurance policy.
creakingandchronic
we have lived in our house for 7 years and the landlord has done nothing
several windows are falling out doors rotten gutters blocked no end of things
creakingandchronic. That is dreadful! Even though it’s a private rental you should get your local council involved.
My son’s friend has rented a house for him, wife and two kids for over 13 years. The boiler packed up before Xmas and they cannot get the landlord to replace it. They have always paid their rent and never caused any problems. So they’ve had a cold and very wet winter and they cannot use the shower. The floor is flooded every day. They have all been going to his Mother’s house to shower several times a week. The Council have said if he has made no attempt to replace by today they will issue court proceedings. They can fine up to £31,000.
grannybuy
I suspect many a tenant would expect the landlord to see to repairs.
Yes, of course we know that and it is all sorted now.
The new Government Rules re tenancies are expected to be in force next month. In my opinion they weighted heavily in favour of protecting tenants. You can look up the rules online.
I advise you to have good legal insurance. If necessary top up your existing cover.
I suspect many a tenant would expect the landlord to see to repairs.
I don't think there was a risk to safety/risk to the property butterandjam
Luckily it is resolved now.
OldFrill
Bea65
I believe as a LANDLORD, you only have to give your tenant 24hrs notice for you to access the home - and state it’s for safety purposes re boilers/ electrical equipment/plumbing issues…so you do have the authority here
The tenant has to agree that you can have access.
Not in the case of emergency repairs/risk to safety/risk to the property.
<https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/private_renting/what_to_look_for_in_your_tenancy_agreement/landlord_access>
Anyway, job is now completed as my tradesman lives very nearby so said he would call before she goes to work. He said she also sent him a snotty message before he went.
Well done and well done him for dealing with it promptly.
She sounds like a nightmare tenant!
OldFrill
"Old Frill doesn’t like my views on many things so she is using this chance to show me in a bad light. 😉"
Interesting take Primrose. I certainly am not aware of your views on "many things" and most certainly wasn't intending to show you in a bad light
You've done that yourself.
I'm glad you've rectified your problem. Are you still not renewing the lease?
What rubbish Primrose has shown what a good landlady she is, she rectifies problems on the same day or the next, and she uses trusted qualified trades people.
OldFrill
"Old Frill doesn’t like my views on many things so she is using this chance to show me in a bad light. 😉"
Interesting take Primrose. I certainly am not aware of your views on "many things" and most certainly wasn't intending to show you in a bad light
You've done that yourself.
I'm glad you've rectified your problem. Are you still not renewing the lease?
No, it sure isn’t Primrose who has been shown in a bad light!
She has been a model landlord in trying to get an appliance in working order for an awkward tenant.
Keep a record of any correspondence with her as you've tried to arrange a qualified workman to sort out the problem.
I've been a landlord and know how difficult it can be to arrange a convenient time for repairs with the tenant. Please remember you might own the property but it's her home and you should respect that. As others have said, you can't enter her home with 24 hours' notice without her permission unless it's an emergency. How about trying to get another workman from Checkatrade, someone who can come in after working hours? Offer her a choice of two appointments if you can, either in the evening or at the weekend.
I totally disagree with Old Frill !! It is NOT for the tenant to choose who repairs an item, that is for the landlord only. We had a rental property and a very good tenant; one morning she rang us in a panic as there was water coming through the kitchen ceiling from the bathroom above. She had to go to an important work meeting, what should she do?. We said are you happy for us to enter the property without 24 hours notice, she said yes. We had a Homecare Agreement with British Gas that covered plumbing, electrics, drains etc. They came within two hours while we waited in the sitting room and did the repair. There is no way on this earth that I would allow a tenant to choose who came into our house to effect a repair. She sounds like trouble, I wouldn't renew her lease.
OldFrill
The tenant has come up with a compromise. I'd ring the tradesman she wants to use, agree the cost and let her allow him access. You are being quite obstructive as a landlord, and your personal problems are not her concern.
It is the landlord's property, so they want the best repairman, and that is their right. It is the tenant that is being obstructive; everyone has to make themselves available during the day if they want decent repairmen - owner or tenant.
Primrose
Fwiw I think you have dealt with this situation well.
I have been both a tenant and a landlord and certainly had more problems as a landlord.
Your tenant if ever a householder would find it difficult to get any repairs done if unable or unwilling to take time off work to allow any wirk to be done. Hope she never needs a new boiler as very much doubt she'd find a heating engginerr to wirk after hours. Think you are entitled to engage a tradesperson you trust. You could ask for details of the person tenant has in mind to check them out. Tenant seems unrealistic in not accepting a tradesperson being escorted by you into her home. Goidness I recently had a painter and decorator in for 4 days and I went out half the time.
This has been resolved already.
Just saying.
Primrose, It is your applianceI take it therfore you want a tradesman you can trust. Personally, I would tell the tenant this and say if she is not happy being present if she can’t be, she can get someone there to be with the two of you. If she says no, say I am sorry you are being unreasonable, I am afraid this is not working for me, you have made it clear you don't trust me, we will have to re look at the tenancy agreement. I will get back to you.
we have lived in our house for 7 years and the landlord has done nothing
several windows are falling out doors rotten gutters blocked no end of things
Oldfrill Why won’t it cost the landlord a penny???
JenniferEccles
The tenants in our property both work so this potential scenario has cropped up with us.
Like the OP we have a few trusted reputable tradesmen who we use when jobs need to be done at the house.
Our tradesmen have the mobile phone numbers for the tenants and when work is needed, they liaise with them to chose a mutually convenient time for the job to be done.
So far it’s worked well.
We certainly wouldn’t agree with using someone the tenant knows!
Ultimately it’s our property.
All the time the tenants are there paying rent it’s their temporary home but like all landlords we have the final say on what work is done there and by whom.
Which is exactly how it should be!
The tenants in our property both work so this potential scenario has cropped up with us.
Like the OP we have a few trusted reputable tradesmen who we use when jobs need to be done at the house.
Our tradesmen have the mobile phone numbers for the tenants and when work is needed, they liaise with them to chose a mutually convenient time for the job to be done.
So far it’s worked well.
We certainly wouldn’t agree with using someone the tenant knows!
Ultimately it’s our property.
All the time the tenants are there paying rent it’s their temporary home but like all landlords we have the final say on what work is done there and by whom.
Sadly this sounds like a tenant we had who started being awkward like this, then complained about everything and stopped paying rent. The agent commented that the tenant seemed to think she was a guest in a hotel rather than a tenant
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