Landlords & Tenants

[BayBoy1]

I am a Landlord, my tenant has said that the patio door has come out of the tracking and the locks are faulty, I have offered to send a repair man to fix the job and make the door secure, the tenant said he would sooner have a complete new patio door with new locks etc at a cost of 1,300 pounds, and he will pay the complete cost himself with no cost to ourselves at all, either now or in the future. Being as he is paying all of the cost will this give him more rights as a tenant now or when he leaves or we want him to leave, or should we pay the full cost of replacement instead of repair, or go 50/50 with him.
Him & his wife have been tenants for 3 years under the Shorthold Tenancy Act.
Hope someone can help with this situation.. many thanks

[tonywiltshire]

Assuming you have an agreement with this periodic tenant which covers repairs and your tenant is prepared to go outside this agreement and make the payment themself ask them to write to you and ask permission to have a new door fitted at their expense, then reply saying you agree subject to the door remaining when the tenant leaves and add any conditions you wish to make ensuring they understand the agreement is still in place.
This will probably come under the Landlord and Tenants act 1985 section 11 and as you are aware the Landlord is legally responsible for certain repairs to the structure and not the tenant, the door will be fitted at the tenant’s risk.

[Old_Geezer]

All sounds weird to me. Were I a tenant I don't think I'd want to pay that sort of bill and then be given notice to leave next day.

[joko]

if he pays it does not give him any sort of 'ownership' rights over the property, and he cannot remove them when he leaves.

put it all in writing and make him sign it.

if the door does not need replacing then you are under no obligation to replace just becasue he'd prefer it.

my dad once had a tenant who redecorated her living room simply because she wasnt keen on the wallpaper - it wasnt particularly nice, but it was clean and in good condition and therefore perfectly functional - she tried to demand my dad then cover the cost of all the paint, brushes and decorator she employed.
she was outraged and felt why should she have to pay for decorating HIS house ... turned out some idiot had told her to just do it and send the bill, utterly convinced this was acceptable... because of some garbled interpretation of the landlord being responsible for repairs and maintenance rule.

it wouldnt surprise me if someone has told this person that if they pay for enough repairs over time they somehow develop a share in the property.

its possible that they've heard about how sometimes, when a couple split up, when one is not the owner but has spent a lot of money on the property over a few years, they are entitled to some sort of a share...and got it all mixed up and think this will work.

[kloofnek]

When I first moved into my home,privately rented,I said I would put tiling where the shower is (over bath one).At the time the wall at that end was gloss painted which I did not think was very good to have.She was fine with that and said if I did any work in the house and then came to leave,she would make some sort of re-embursement.We have since made many improvements over the 20 years we have been here.She appreciates what we do and so has kept the rent very low.She is pretty much a "virtual" landlady, whom I only see if any major repair needs doing such as the roof etc.when I then telephone her.I have the policy of any insurance for she has taken out for plumbing ,drains etc. I then just see to it and the bill (if one) is passed to her.
If the tenant wants to pay for a better patio door,let him,it is a case of he is living there and wants to make it nice for himself.

[Peter Pedant]

say yes and thank you

even for the properties I let, this represents less than three months rent and would be a good deal even for a years lease.

if your tenants are like Kloofnek you need to keep them and a low market rent is one way of doing it.

this is of course claimable against tax - clearly not an improvement

quids in - if you dont like your tenants can you send them to me please ?

for something like this I usually go 50/50 to be honest

[shoota]

Bet they lost the keys and had to break in.....