Anyone ever let a tenant do building work on their property?
Discussion
Just looking for some advice or if anyone has any experience here.
We are considering privately renting a small 2 bedroom property [value c. £150,000] to a family, we aren't looking to charge much, just enough to cover the mortgage and save a bit of money to refurbish the place bit by bit.
We have had one family interested, and the father has offered to do some work on the house as part of a 3 year contract he wants to sign with us, in particular he wants to close off a car port at the front of the house and create a dining room, amongst other ideas he had. He apparently used to be a builder back in Lithuania and is looking to set up his own company here, but this is a few years off. He has offered to do this work whilst he lives there in return for reduced rent. I have no way to see an example of his work, or get any references.
Has anyone ever done this themselves [i.e. been the tenant who did the building work], or rented to a tenant who worked on their property? Am I leaving myself open to be stuck with a problem for 3 years?
We are considering privately renting a small 2 bedroom property [value c. £150,000] to a family, we aren't looking to charge much, just enough to cover the mortgage and save a bit of money to refurbish the place bit by bit.
We have had one family interested, and the father has offered to do some work on the house as part of a 3 year contract he wants to sign with us, in particular he wants to close off a car port at the front of the house and create a dining room, amongst other ideas he had. He apparently used to be a builder back in Lithuania and is looking to set up his own company here, but this is a few years off. He has offered to do this work whilst he lives there in return for reduced rent. I have no way to see an example of his work, or get any references.
Has anyone ever done this themselves [i.e. been the tenant who did the building work], or rented to a tenant who worked on their property? Am I leaving myself open to be stuck with a problem for 3 years?
I'd politely refuse his offer. We recently had a tenant who was supposed to do some work in the same arrangement. Ended up with kitchen units in the living room, every door off the hinges and two missing altogether, a splashback up on a wall to hide the holes from the wall units and best of all a large square cut out the living room carpet.
This was a joiner, and a guy known to us for some time. I'll never understand what hoes through peoples heads sometimes.
This was a joiner, and a guy known to us for some time. I'll never understand what hoes through peoples heads sometimes.
I wouldn't personally entertain someone with no references etc doing building work on my asset. Unless it was minor. Closing off a car port and turning it into a dining room would not be minor.
Be careful with a 3 year AST - unless there are reciprocal break clauses you wouldn't be able to issue a section 21 no fault notice - it wold have to be something like a section 8 breach of contract. Are you sure you want this?
Be careful with a 3 year AST - unless there are reciprocal break clauses you wouldn't be able to issue a section 21 no fault notice - it wold have to be something like a section 8 breach of contract. Are you sure you want this?
I would be more worried with tenants who did naff all. Just ask if inspections and approval would be OK.
You could word that as " can I pop round for a cuppa to see how your getting on.
Actually I'm from the other side of the fence being a tenant myself.
I've part installed C/H, put a drive in, double garage, knocked out the old fireplace and installed a coal effect gas fire. (Calor)
The last project was to cut the entrance hall in half and install a downstairs loo and wash basin. The bathroom's upstairs.
Cheers
Paul G
You could word that as " can I pop round for a cuppa to see how your getting on.
Actually I'm from the other side of the fence being a tenant myself.
I've part installed C/H, put a drive in, double garage, knocked out the old fireplace and installed a coal effect gas fire. (Calor)
The last project was to cut the entrance hall in half and install a downstairs loo and wash basin. The bathroom's upstairs.
Cheers
Paul G
Evening OP
As mentioned above - there are a few issues I can see (as a past letting agent)
1) Potential poor quality of work - it would also be difficult to make any work contractually binding. Come the end of the tenancy they could have absolutely ruined the place and you don't have a leg to stand on. I've seen tenants offer to do work a few times. Once we took on a house where this has happened and it was incredible!
2) I would advise very strongly not to sign anything above a 12 month, and even then a 6 month break clause is always a good idea. This chap may be different, but tenants who are eager to sign up for extended periods can often have ulterior motives (i.e. they know the system better than you!),
Good luck,
Phil
Not a chance in hell would I let a tenant loose on my houses, I made that mistake once with a tenant wanting to retile the bathroom, was a right f
king mess. He is still in the house 5 years on but I'm going to have to retile the whole lot after he leaves, and I paid for the bloody tiles too!
They are allowed to decorate and that's it.
That being said I have allowed a few tenants to get the pros in to do works, recently a tenant got a joiner in to create a window seat/storage in the bay window of an old Victorian house and I was so impressed with the work I paid the bill myself. Tenant custom made all the cushions for it and end result is fantastic and great use of a dead space.
One rule I have is never take anyone on their word alone, he might well be a good builder but without a portfolio of work I would reject his offer. Oh and max of 12 month tenancy too, let it go periodic after that.
king mess. He is still in the house 5 years on but I'm going to have to retile the whole lot after he leaves, and I paid for the bloody tiles too!They are allowed to decorate and that's it.
That being said I have allowed a few tenants to get the pros in to do works, recently a tenant got a joiner in to create a window seat/storage in the bay window of an old Victorian house and I was so impressed with the work I paid the bill myself. Tenant custom made all the cushions for it and end result is fantastic and great use of a dead space.
One rule I have is never take anyone on their word alone, he might well be a good builder but without a portfolio of work I would reject his offer. Oh and max of 12 month tenancy too, let it go periodic after that.
Edited by dazwalsh on Wednesday 5th August 08:10
No!
Had a Tenant who was a builder. He offered to replace the windows and doors at cost as he was struggling with the rent etc.
Funnily, he was always away when we wanted to inspect the work from inside - it looked okay from outside.
When we eventually got him evicted and gained access, the work was a nightmare.
We didn't need a key as we touched the front door and it fell into the hallway!
All the windows were as bad.
Had a Tenant who was a builder. He offered to replace the windows and doors at cost as he was struggling with the rent etc.
Funnily, he was always away when we wanted to inspect the work from inside - it looked okay from outside.
When we eventually got him evicted and gained access, the work was a nightmare.
We didn't need a key as we touched the front door and it fell into the hallway!
All the windows were as bad.
Sounds like a recipe for disaster.
Used to be a builder in <insert east european country> = done enough DIY/labouring to blag it until you're too deep in to sack 'em, blame the many mistakes on language barrier/ "we do this way at home" (while looking at something wonky/cracked/etc)
Known and recommended tradesmen from east europe- polish plumber in particular (specialised in gshp which all the english plumbers I know won't touch) and some some albanian stone workers I'd recommend to anyone for granite etc so don't give me any PC bhollicks, fact is 90%+ are bengal lancers (who sadly give the few decent ones a bad name). Ironically the good polish plumber fked off because once he had his corgi and everything he needed to charge proper money, and people can't think beyond polish=dirt cheap.
Used to be a builder in <insert east european country> = done enough DIY/labouring to blag it until you're too deep in to sack 'em, blame the many mistakes on language barrier/ "we do this way at home" (while looking at something wonky/cracked/etc)
Known and recommended tradesmen from east europe- polish plumber in particular (specialised in gshp which all the english plumbers I know won't touch) and some some albanian stone workers I'd recommend to anyone for granite etc so don't give me any PC bhollicks, fact is 90%+ are bengal lancers (who sadly give the few decent ones a bad name). Ironically the good polish plumber f
ked off because once he had his corgi and everything he needed to charge proper money, and people can't think beyond polish=dirt cheap.Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff