My Tenant’s Disgusting Taste In Furniture Has Ruined My Life
Written by The Landlord on 24 Jun 2010
Right, so the other day I took a viewing, right? I already discussed how I refused a DSS tenant that was my friend. Ok, well that was only one half of the sorry tale, I was saving the other half for a separate blog post (this one)…
My initial plan, as prearranged with the current tenant, was to take the viewing with the new prospective tenant (which I did), and then immediately after, pop back into the property to take a few glamorous snaps for marketing purposes.
Pictures are probably the core of any BTL marketing campaign, so it’s important to get it right. The consequences of lousy imagery will be reflected on the quantity of leads, so it’s kind of a big deal.
Ok, so, the property itself is in great condition. My tenant is clean, the property is clean- this isn’t a hygiene issue. However, the furniture and the general arrangement of items in the property left me in disarray. Holy shit, I’m still bemused at how someone can have such disgustingly sinful taste!! The furniture was timelessly awful, so I can’t even be positive and say “it’s just old fashioned”, and everything was arranged so awkwardly that it made mobility around the property extremely difficult.
I’m not claiming to be an interior design diva, but I can at least competently buy a collection of items knowing they’d match, suit the property, physically fit the rooms, and have some appeal to “normal” humans. What I witnessed was not normal!
Here’s a short break down of why the decor/furniture made me cry
- Nothing MATCHED! It was so bizarre; initially I thought my tenant was just trying to make some kind of moral stand by being controversial, like a hippy or some shit – “Fuck fashion” n’ all that. But he smelt clean, had short hair, and I didn’t see any tie-dye clothing. Sadly, there goes that theory.
- The focal point of the main living room was a bright red Persian rug, with silhouette donkeys. The colours were similar to the shades scouring the verruca growing under my foot. The rug pretty much covered every square inch of the surface, removing all signs of my beautiful hardwood floors.
- The living room was also shadowed by an over sized computer desk that was located in the corner of the room, but was so big that it managed to reach into the centre of the room. So basically, the main chilling area of the property was taken over by an ugly Persian rug and a computer desk that had overdosed on carbohydrates.
- There was empty tupperware stacked up EVERYWHERE. It’s like he’s using them as substitutes for household ornaments. There was even tupperware in the bedrooms. What the fuck?
- The master bedroom was swallowed up by a wardrobe, which was reliant on the technology of velcro – that’s how the doors were kept closed. I don’t even want to talk about it. It’s too upsetting. Leave me alone.
- The dining table was covered with a “easy wipe” transparent plastic sheet. I use sheets like that to have sex on when I bring home prostitutes. Enough said.
- The bathroom had weird florescent, plastic toiletry holders
While I was showing my prospective tenant around I felt deeply embarrassed. I was actually thinking, “no way would this dude want to rent this pile of shit”. Fortunately, he managed to visualise the property without the hordes of mismatching shit scattered everywhere (he’s a better man than I am), hence why he wanted the place. What a fucking psycho, though, aye? It’s like renting a property knowing that Hannibal Lector was the previous occupant.
Anyways, there was NO WAY IN HELL I was going to take photos of the property in that condition, and then push them into the public eye!! That’s how aids became a global pandemic – an infected monkey was unleashed into the public. As a humanitarian, I refuse to unleash photos of an infected state of interior design. I’m not that mean. God knows what would happen. Maybe it would inspire *shudders*.
So the plan now is to wait until my tenant moves himself and his crap out of the property before I take any new pictures. Fortunately, I didn’t plan on taking anymore viewings until my tenant moved out because I want to fit new kitchen units. However, I did want to start marketing the property and arrange viewings in advance, so the property is kept vacant for as little time as possible. But I suppose I’ll have to take a hit there.
I can’t help but imagine if I didn’t have to fit new kitchen units, and I wanted to take viewings while my tenant and his crap still haunted the property? I literally dodged a bullet. The thought of knowing how bad the situation could have been makes me want to vomit.
Don’t suppose this has happened to anyone else? I’ve decided that bad furniture/decor imposed by tenants is landlord-cancer!!!
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12 Comments - join the conversation...
At least that place had a theme and consistency - I don't have that luxury!
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I was talking to my chum the estate agent today and she told me about a house they recently sold.
It had previously been let out. The landlord took the view that if the rent was paid on time, the tentants could do pretty much as they liked.
She said the carpet was like the ones in a very down-market pub, where your feet stick to the carpet as you walk. And apparently the tenants bought a pig, thinking it was some small, domesticated thing that they could keep in doors. Of course, if was just an ordinary pig, so as it grew, they built a sty in the garden (small terraced house in a built up area). But they also used to let the pig come into the house and there were bits of straw and pig-poo through the house.
When they moved out, the landlord did very little to the place but still wanted a top price for it and wondered why people were put off.
Funnily enough, I had noticed it on the Estate Agent's website and wondered why it wasn't moving. Now I know why.
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Don't get me wrong, my tenant was great. I'm extremely grateful that he paid rent on time and kept the place clean. And you're right, taste does come a long way down the list. However, I just wanted to highlight the problems bad taste can cause a landlord!
I think the example you highlighted picks at a very common mistake landlords make - they believe everything is ok as long as the tenant pays rent on time! It's an extremely naive approach. A lot of landlords have been stung by tenants that put down several months of rent in advance just to keep the landlord happy and away from the property. In the mean time, tenants have been farming cannabis in the properties. It's becoming more and more common!
But that's why it's important to always perform quarterly inspections!
Keeping a pig in the property, that's the first time I've heard that one :)
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What the tenant does with the property while they pay their rent is up to them. They also have no obligation (no matter what the tenancy agreement says) to allow you access for viewings. So what you do is wait until tenant leaves, and then take whatever photos you need of an empty property (thus making it look bigger).
You don't want a void? Then be greatful the tenant let you do viewings and stop moaning about something that is b**ger all to do with you.
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So, after writing an entire post on what "the problem is", and using the title, "My Tenant’s Disgusting Taste In Furniture Has Ruined My Life" you still ask the brain dead question of what the problem is.
To make it clear, I never disputed:
1) my tenant doesn't have the right to decorate the place how he pleases
2) my tenant "HAD" to allow me to take viewings.
And NO, what the tenant does with the property while they pay the rent is NOT up to them, hence why there are terms and conditions in the Tenancy Agreement.
Now, because you were focusing your time on trying to "attack me", your simple mind managed to fabricate the situation with shit that is completely inaccurate.
Simply, my tenant's taste in furniture has delayed the "old to new tenant" transition, which isn't ideal for ANY landlord. If that's too difficult to comprehend (which it clearly is), then I can't help you.
Quit wasting my time, idiot.
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I am not really sure why you say that your "tenant doesn't have the right to decorate the place how he pleases" as this wasn't what I suggested, indeed quite the opposite. So long as the property is returned to you in the same condition it was in when you let it (less wear and tear) then he can do what he wants in the mean time - build furniture out of empty Pizza Boxes if that is his whim! It's the principle of exclusive occupation and (in it's legal, not literal sense) quiet enjoyment. It is all well and good having terms in your agreement that insist the tenant can only have decor and furniture that you like - but not everyone can afford 'classy furniture' and not everyone will share your tastes. Sure, the terms may be there, but in the real world they are unenforceable and therefore a waste of ink.
I do, of course, realise that you do not want a void betwen lets. Who would? But you are ranting about something that is pointless. You can't do anything about it, the tenant isn't doing anything wrong. So live with it, put a plan together to deal with it, or suffer a coronary before your time.
Sadly, you have no idea of my inteligence, other than a single forum post, so it may be a little early to make the blanket statement of calling me an idiot. On the other hand, I have had a little time since my first post to study some of your other pages.....
I look forward to commenting on some of your other posts shortly - just as soon as I can put some reasoned and intelligent observations together. I think you'll like my new pseudonym.
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To make it clear, I never disputed:
1) my tenant doesn’t have the right to decorate the place how he pleases
2) my tenant “HAD” to allow me to take viewings.
So the fact you failed to read the words in front of you properly, again...has made you the idiot again. Well done.
Sorry, you were talking about your intelligence. Please, continue...
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1) my tenant DOESN'T have the right to decorate the place how he pleases
So you dispute the tenants right to redecorate? I thought this section of your first post was a humerous typo - but you have repeated it verbatim - not a typo, it is obviously what you think.
You are wrong - and some day a tenant will stand up to you and explain just what your rights - and his - are.
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Of course, if I have mis-interpreted your meaning, I apologise. When I went to school double-negatives equalled a positive. However, language evolves and it may now be different - perhaps my English isn't what it was. Maybe one of us needs an english language course at night school!
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Friends again? Until the next time ;)
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I initially started this website because I wanted to document my every step from property idiot to property landlord,
in hope that people would find my site and help me along the way. I literally didn't have a clue about being a landlord
when I started this website.
The family were going to clear the place until we suggested they market 'as is - a retro delight'. Place went within 3 days for more rent than a similar 'normal' property!
No accounting for taste!
Jools
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