UK Landlord Forum / Life

Hi

I am a new Landlord my tenant had some issues when she moved in intermittent working boiler and wardrobe doors needed fixing and my re direction on my mail got messed up and went to the address for longer than I would have liked. I got all the problems fixed ASAP.

But I think she is spoilt now and thinks that she had done me a favour for looking after my mail.

They have said the house is too cold? The EPC shows the house has solid walls can't be insulated it's an old building. Tenant said the windows are dirty? Then today said a kitchen door has come off of its hinges and said it wasn't her fault and can I confirm I will not charge them?

I'm new to all this but dirty windows and it's too cold I don't think I will be taking responsibility for that? The broken door clearly they have broken it why don't they fix, I think I should charge for broken door it was working before hand ? 

You have to ask yourself how many doors have you taken off their hinges in your lifetime.  My count up to today is zero.  Are you close to the property to inspect?

As for the house being cold that's tough really.  Tell them to crank the heating up.  As long as the heating is working as it should then I fail to see what it's got to do with you.  Doesn't sound like they'll be happy when it does get actually cold.  I suspect they have the ability to go and buy a fan/halogen/oil filled heater?

If a tenant phoned me to say the windows are dirty I would be telling them to get them cleaned then, I couldn't care less if they looked out through windows covered in bird crap, it's their prerogative.  You need to tell the tenants that although it's your house, it's their home and they should treat it as such.

It's the thin end of the wedge, next they'll be informing you a bulb has gone, that the toilet roll on the holder you provided has almost finished and the carpet needs vacuming.

Clean 'their' windows now and you'll forever be doing work for them, man up, put your foot down.

I just re-read your post, is it a cupboard door? 

It's a kitchen door

I so much agree I have to man up she is taking the P!

I'm going to tell her firmly but nicely to go do one lol

Or I will never hear the end of her crazy requests

Thanks

Good luck! Let us know how it goes.  Help the girl out though supply her with a window cleaners number and say 'maybe you should give this guy a call'! 

I'm still confused about the door, is it the main interior door?

If the windows were clean when she took on the property, then it should be in the agreement she is liable for them, if she signed that the property was in good order when she took it on then if the door for some strange reason has come off its hinges I suggest they are put back on.  The trouble is work is not always done in a way that a Landlord would like. So offer to sort the door and tell her the cost will be added to her rental for the next month. If she then states she is sorting it, make sure she does and have evidence of such. One job often turns into many trust me on that one.

I tell all my tenants don't bother me with stupid stuff and i wont bother you. If you want the inconvenience of weekly inspections that can be arranged. I will fix stuff that needs to be fixed but I'm not going to mow the grass.
Don't ring me if the house is on fire. Ring me when its gone.

Washing windows. LoL.

My guess is the tenant means mold inside the windows due to it being cold.

I would go and fix the internal door, and have a good look around, if it is purely a case of no money for heating, and generally the house is clean and tidy, cut her some slack, but if generally they are "takers" have a bit of an up and downer with her so she will leave you alone or leave.

Makes me laugh really that these people think houses magically clean themselves..... Or Mummy does..