Tenant is dirty and careless, do we need to keep doing repairs?

Tenant is dirty and careless, do we need to keep doing repairs?

9:46 AM, 20th February 2023, About A year ago 45

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Hello, My tenant generally pays on time, is cooperative and polite but is incapable of keeping the place up. It has turned in four years from a nice place into a tip, and various fixtures have got broken.

My question is, when the tenant is so careless is there any reason we should fix everything they neglect or mistreat?

We’d love to get rid of them but we need the rental income and first we must also save up to totally refurb the place to let it to anyone else.

We have done repairs to keep the place fit for human habitation, and safe, but why should we chuck away money on someone acting like they were raised in a tent?

Thank you,

M&SFan


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Comments

Beaver

14:08 PM, 24th February 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by Hamish McBloggs at 24/02/2023 - 12:37
So in this case the sink is smashed but not to the point that it is causing a hazard, just to the point that it is unusable (according to the inspection report). This tenant has previously smashed other ceramic items and I've just removed the remnants whilst I've been on site to eliminate the hazard. In this case one option would be to just remove the sink and not replace it.

My suspicion is that the tenant persuaded the inspector doing the inspection to record it as a recommended repair in the hope that I would pay for it so that when the tenancy ends it would not come out of the tenant's deposit. So that leaves me with a question mark over the person doing the inspection. However, I have provided that feedback on the inspection report. And I left it hanging - if the tenant wants this sink replaced then the rent goes up.

Reluctant Landlord

15:45 PM, 24th February 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by Beaver at 23/02/2023 - 18:30
even if the tenant didn't know how it happened, when it did they didn't inform anyone by the sound of it so that's a breach of their obligation to report things like this straight away.

you were tight to document it as you did.

From my perspective as the LL I would not be replacing it.

Beaver

16:26 PM, 24th February 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by DSR at 24/02/2023 - 15:45
That's right. They didn't report it, it was picked up at inspection. And they have form on this kind of thing...lots of stuff that 'broke' [not stuff they broke] and lots of "...we don't know how this broke...we don't know how this fell off the wall". So I documented it.

They are very dirty tenants but they mostly pay the rent on time and in full and I'm not aware of any disputes with neighbours. But if the level of damage creeps up I bump up the rent a bit. I just wondered whether anyone gets away with invoicing tenants for damages and if so, how they do it without falling foul of the rules.

Blodwyn

17:46 PM, 24th February 2023, About A year ago

Automatic thought transfer.... [I am not a robot]...

Neilt

9:08 AM, 25th February 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by Robert Sled at 21/02/2023 - 09:29Probably the best comment on here. It's all part of being a PROFESSIONAL landlord.

Neilt

9:25 AM, 25th February 2023, About A year ago

I'm so sorry to hear of your dilemma.
Having a rental business, albeit 1 property or 10, means that you should have sufficient funds to meet most scenarios. You cannot and should not run it on a shoestring.
They're paying the rent so leave them alone then sort it out when they leave.
You get good tenants and not so good tenants. It's all part of the business.
And just remember that the real money is in the property uplift in the end.

Reluctant Landlord

11:04 AM, 25th February 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by Beaver at 24/02/2023 - 16:26
invoicing tenant for damages (for me anyway) never works. To do that in the first instance you basically take the issue on and then it becomes by default yours to resolve, which isn't right if the damage is not of your making or its not a wear and tear issue or something the LL is legally responsible for.

I state that the repair is obviously tenant damage (even if accidental) so not a LL issue to resolve. They can go trough their own insurance to get the repair done or have the option of paying for it themselves.
I do give details of a plumber/electrician/contractor I may have used in the past as way of help for them (and I know the job will be done properly, but they advise them to contact that person directly to discuss replacement/repair options.

I then give them a reasonable timescale to get this done by (according to what the issue is). NB this is exactly the procedure the LA would give a LL so only fair!!

If they haven't carried out the repair by then I send a stern letter stating the implication of not having the repair carried out (possible further detriment to the property/causal effect??) and give them 7 days last notice.
If still no action taken - its a S21.

You cant allow repair debt to add up thinking it can be taken out of a deposit at the end and you cant keep cranking up the rent. It gives a bad tenant no justification for changing their habit and you will end up with inevitably more damage further on and even more stress on the way.

Reluctant Landlord

11:05 AM, 25th February 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by Neilt at 25/02/2023 - 09:25
....err no - its not. an income is what most LL's need!

Reluctant Landlord

11:05 AM, 25th February 2023, About A year ago

....err no - its not. an income is what most LL's need! If all I was bothered about was the property price I'd buy and leave empty.

Anyway with 200-400% council tax for an empty home, insurance costs and then ridiculous CGT at the end - even making money this way is not guaranteed....

David

11:28 AM, 25th February 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by Beaver at 24/02/2023 - 16:26
Landlords don't "get away with" invoicing tenants for damage, they have a right to do so. Compensation for a loss is not a prohibited fee as I said earlier and provided you're clear that the damage was a result of the tenants actions or inactions, Shelter and the Council will have no interest in the matter

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