new tenant

Hi there
Got new tenant in. Was over there last week because they broke a sink in the first few weeks! and wasnt impressed to be honest with the state of the place. Its a couple but it is so cluttered as my husband said it would be impossible nearly to find a place to sit.They had cooked uncovered meat on a counter . The balcony which is normally spotless(and well maintained by the other tenants is now covered in junk) . Also they put something up in the wall . Not sure is it cellotape or is it bluetack but am concerned about the place. Can people give opinions. We dont really want to lose them but at the same time its not as well maintained as the way other people have maintained it. They are also demanding(at least asking consistently) for something to be replaced(coat locker) that actually was not part of the schedule of items in the tenancy agreementbut had been brought in and left as it was broken by prior tenant. I am not going to replace this as it wasnt part of the tenancy agreement in the first place and have explained this to them but they are still persisting.
Anyway any thoughts.
Had initially good relationship but getting ****ed off!Would prefer to have quiet word in their ear about state of place while keeping records or should I give them something in writing now.
Would prefer also to maintain good relationship

Obviously have a quiet word in their ear about the general upkeep. As for the broken locker thing...you should completely remove it from the premises. You can't reasonably say to them "it's not part of the schedule" but then leave it stored in what is now their home.

I suggest that it's none of your business what your tenants choose to do with their home if it is not causing damage and is not covered in your lease agreement with them. As murphaph suggests, remove the broken furniture which is just cluttering up their home anyway. Why did you leave it there if it is not part of the rental agreement? Was the broken sink a genuine accident or do you have reason to believe that they will cause further damage?

Does your lease agreement include sections referring to the balcony and internal walls? eg Balcony to be kept in keeping with the neighbourhood and permission needed to hang anything on the walls. It seems to me that you have a gut feeling about these tenants. Are you happy to keep them even though you feel your property may be damaged or is it best to cut your losses now?

As your apartment is in a complex you might fall foul of the Management Company/agent if the balcony becomes an eyesore. Most MC's have such a clause in their house rules and would hold you, the owner, responsible.

Just a "For your information" incase it's relevant.

Speaking as someone who has never broken a sink in my entire life I'd be very concerned about people wh o would break a sink in such a short time.

My advice would be to get them out!

My advice would be to get them out!

Click to expand...

Usually not that simple unfortunately !

OP - What is your lease agreement like? is it for 6 months? Have you secured a decent security deposit for breakages etc?

Havealaugh said:

Usually not that simple unfortunately!

Click to expand...

I'm a great believer in a 6 month lease because up to 6 months you don't have to give them a reason to get out.

hi there
thanks for all the responses. he sent me two texts last night , one stating ' what is the story with the locker' . I have an email from him stating to take the locker so that is what we did.Also demanding to know the cost of the work for the sink in advance. I gave him an estimate from the plumber as they cant give exact cost until they actually install but wasnt good enough. He obviously has a lot of time on his hands. The tenancy agreement does say about not putting stuff on the wall and keeping the balcony clean . I think the breaking of the sink was an accident through carelessness.I want to get rid of them to be honest. Its a year lease but we can claim we are selling the property
any thoughts?

If you claim to be selling the property and don't then there is another headache coming down the road. Just a reminder that the letting market is cooling off big time and especially in the more expensive properties.

They might be difficult to replace as rents have fallen of a cliff in the last few weeks.

Tell your tenants to keep the balcony clean and not to stick things on the walls (if that is in your agreement with them).

You sound as if you are actually just finding the business (and this is what it is, don't forget) of being a landlord tiresome, perhaps it is not for you? If you have a fixed term lease with the tenant with no break clause you will not be able to lawfully break it and must sell with them as sitting tenants (or come to some mutually acceptable arrangement). I think you should take a more professional approach to your dealings with your tenants and should not be perturbed by them "asking consistently" (the horror!) for their entitlements.

Put the shoe on the other foot and arrange for an inspection of the property. Provide 24 hours notice and make sure it is in writing. Then take a copy of the letting agreement with you and point out all of the covenants that they are breaching. They won't like it and they may move on. Also explain that there will be another inspection in one months time and provide written notice by hand for that. Tell them that they can have any requests put in writing for your attention and you will collect them at the date of inspection.

Yikes! If they aren't maliciously damaging the property and are paying their rent I'd be much more inclined to take a softly softly approach rather than drive them away to another landlord.

murphaph said:

Yikes! If they aren't maliciously damaging the property and are paying their rent I'd be much more inclined to take a softly softly approach rather than drive them away to another landlord.

Click to expand...

It doesn't matter if its malicious or not, if they are doing so simply by the standards of living that they keep it results in the same cost to you. The OP is clearly uneasy with them as tenants so you do need to have some peace of mind, after all it is your property so do whats right for yourself.

It does make a difference if the damage to the sink was malicious or not. If it was malicious it is more likely to reoccur and cost the OP a fortune. If it was accidental it is less likely to reoccur and cost the OP a fortune.

The OP needs to think long and hard before voluntarily letting their property go void for who knows how long. Even if the OP is uncomfortable with them it needs to be thought about as it could be even more costly than a broken tap.

Like I said, by all means approach them and discuss your dissatisfaction with the upkeep OP but I would think twice about forcing their hand if there's no actual damage occuring (apart from the tap) and it's just that they are a bit untidy.

MrMan said:

It doesn't matter if its malicious or not, if they are doing so simply by the standards of living that they keep it results in the same cost to you.

Click to expand...

Am I correct in thinking that the OP is going to charge her tenants for the broken sink and so won't be out of pocket in any case? (reference made to the tenant "Also demanding to know the cost of the work for the sink in advance.")

MrMan said:

Provide 24 hours notice and make sure it is in writing.

Click to expand...

Forty eight hours written notice is required. Also, if you want to be a real.....erm....whatever...put it in writing that they don't have to be there as you have a key but be sure and give them a proper time frame, ie 10am Monday, 1st December 2008.