r/uklandlords

I’m curious to hear from landlords and live-in landlords about their worst experiences with tenants or lodgers.
I’m particularly interested in the horror stories, whether that’s tenants refusing to pay rent, damaging properties, breaking house rules, causing problems with neighbours, refusing to leave, or behaving in completely bizarre ways.

Have you ever had a tenant who seemed perfectly reasonable during the viewing and referencing process, only to turn into a complete nightmare after moving in?
I’d also be interested to hear about any ridiculous demands, strange habits, or situations that were so absurd you couldn’t help but laugh.

What happened, how did you deal with it, and what would you do differently now?

I’m based in the UK, but I’d welcome stories from landlords anywhere in the world.

So I am a landlord of an apartment dealing with a water leak somewhere in the building. The damage is on the walls and ceiling.

The management company has buildings insurance which I am in contact with their loss adjuster. The insurance policy states an excess of £5000 for escape of water.

I also have landlord insurance with directline and their excess for escape of water is £500.

So far I have been told that directline won’t cover the walls and ceiling because there is block insurance in place. However the excess is so high that I m unlikely to be eligible to claim on that and would need to pay up to £5000 to fix something which is not our fault. Is it correct that I cannot claim on directline because block building insurance is in place? Will I end up paying up to £5000?

Also the renewal with directline is coming up so should I just cancel the buildings cover. I don’t have contents or legal cover so is there any point in buying my own landlord insurance?

Any help would be appreciated

Hi all. Me and my wife have lived in the same house for 5/6 years now. Originally we rented off a landlord that my cousin works for. At the time we didnt have the money for a deposit so in lieu of that we gave him our oven and fridge as the new place has built-ins. Therefore didnt pay an actual financial deposit. The house is now owned and rented out by a different person as it was sold with us as sitting tenants.

Were looking to move at some point into Social Housing as my wife has mobility issues and the house being 1800's as really narrow stairs that are hard for her to navigate at times.

The question is, what would you guys deem fair wear and tear for 5/6 years of a tenant? The living room carpet is worn and lifted from the backing near a door, i think possibly due to installation. Theres also some wall blemishes and woodwork needing paint etc.

I have no issue with replacing the carpet and decorating the place before we move out but im looking for opinions from you guys as landlords yourselves.

Many thanks

As the headline suggests. I have a tenant that has been sent to prison. Their partner wants to be added to the tenancy so they can get help with benefits etc.

Any advice and suggestions? Is it as simple as just putting their name on it or do i need a special form etc? I dont want to do a new tenancy...

TIA

For the record, it's the wife who is in prison.

Looking through savills / allsops and plenty for sale in london usually housing association sales

Who in their right mind is buying with cost of work and RRA and stmp duty to justify the prices - Some of the flats are not even cheap but continue to sell and i cant see investors paying bridging finance and making a profit

Has anyone here actually bought in auction recently in london and if so why?

I’m a landlord myself but due to a chance in circumstances will need to rent a place.

Have viewed a suitable property and keen to take up the tenancy. However there are some works which need to be completed first in the bathroom and shower room.

I negotiated some money off the rent for this if the works are still ongoing whilst I’m living there.

Landlord agrees in principle but agent says this isn’t legally enforceable because the rent can’t be reduced to allow for the works and then increased again, because only one rental increase per year is permitted under the renters rights act.

Is this correct or is the agent just messing me around?