Tenants and Decorating – Tired of being a landlord

Hi Avril

Unless they are bad payers or disrespectful to the property or the neighbours I'd be counting my blessings if I were you.

Why spend your profits on the property if that's not what the tenants want.

Keep it it your pocket or better still, have a holiday and relax. That's what retirement is for.

Don't stress yourself out over this, enjoy it 🙂

Regards

Mark

ANY tenant who verbally abused me I would evict, no matter how good a payer they were.
There are plenty of courteous good tenants out there.
Advertise your property for FREE on makeurmove.
Start proceedings to evict them or advise them to change their ways.
Don't let some scumbag tenants intimidate you.
You might be able to have a new boiler installed under various energy grants from the govt.
But as Mark says would a new boiler installation give you any payback.
If it isn't necessary then don't bother.
I would also not pitch the rent below the market level.
If your place is better then go for as much as you think the local market will stand.
You want income as a pensioner.
There isn't much point in selling at the moment; you won't get a good price.
The best returns on capital are from property investment.
You have probably got a good ROI yield.
Don't allow some arsehole tenants to cause you misery; get rid of them.
You appear to be an experienced LL and perhaps you have tired of the whole LL scene.
Therefore perhaps you consider it is time to hang up your LL boots and realise your assets and get spending.
You can't take it with you!!
Retirement means ideally NOT having to concern yourself with the vagaries of ANYTHING.
Perhaps you consider it should now be time for a bit of ME time.
You have done your time, so perhaps sell up, even if for not as much as you would have hoped for and move to sunnier and more convivial climes.

Thank you for another wonderful article. Wherever else could anyone have that type of info on this kind of a perfect way with words? I have a presentation in a few days, and Im around the look for these info.

hi Avril, i've had something rather similar in an HMO and one of the tenants was quite abusive to me in front of the other tenants. I just stood there taking it, and then when he ran out of steam I asked everyone else to leave the room.
which they duly did. then I pointed out to this young chap, as quietly as I could, that as he was obviously not happy living in the house, he should leave. IMMEDIATELY .
I, of course, kindly gave him all the assistance he needed. yes I am such a softy.

Hi Avril, In every case I have had tenants not affording me the access to one of my properties and making a scene about something unnecessarily, I have subsequently found out they were onto something illegal and didn't want me near the property to see it. Drugs being grown in the garage, drug dealing from their room, sub letting their room to others, they have moved a non paying mate into the property, the list goes on. Get rid of problem tenants immediately and the pain will be much less, and the other tenants will most likely thanks you for it and let you know what they are up to. I have had many of these types of tenants and worse and the only thing they respond to is direct action. If I am soft on them then they take me for a ride.

Fully agree with Mark comments - why spend the money if the tenants don't want it. However, it is disappointing that the tenants are ungrateful to a landlord who is obviously trying to keep the house nice, and up-to-date for them. However, don't spend all the money- keep a little bit back because somewhere along the line when these tenants leave the house will probably need a more comprehensive facelift.

The only tenants we've had problems with are the ones we have done favours for!
(By the way, moderator, the comment by 'adverse rental property' is spam!)

Hi Avril,
You obviously look after your property well. But I can also understand that the tenants do not want your improvements. It is annoying if you have workmen tramping in and out of your home. There are a number of issues of trust etc.

If you want to do the work and the tenants dont want the disruption:
1. don't do the work, or
2. give them notice and do the work once they have gone.

I lease several properties to students and I always discuss any possible work on the house in advance of the lease being signed. I take the view that any improvements are beneficial to both landlord and tenants. If the tenants do see it that way I don't let the house to them.

Simples.

simple solution, put up the rent to the average, if they don´t like it they are free to move on, win win.

Hi Avril

Not a good time to sell at present so ask a family member to deal with your tenants or use a letting agent - you still get the rent and can sell when the market improves.

Increase the rent to the market rate - this will give you more income and also demonstrate to your tenants that you are not a soft touch. If you added 10% this would pay for a letting agent.

At least three of my tenants who have been with me for approaching 10 years. Clearly you do have to be able to gain access to do work otherwise properties become uninhabitable. The tenant has to accept this.

No one should abuse you so so send them a formal letter explaining that if it happens again you will terminate the tenancy - ideally get someone else who is experienced to deal with any face to face confrontation.

Best wishes and happy retirement

Bob Grant