2 days before he moves out, my existing tenant has put his foot through the bath…literally! I presume this was completely accidental and they’ve been great tenants. New tenants move in on the day existing tenants move out. I will aim to get bath replaced over next few days…however this will be subject to my plumbers availability etc.
Is it appropriate for me to offer to compensate the new tenants by giving them a refund of their rent paid for each day that the bath is out of action for (making a calculation of the daily rent amount), or should I offer more?
If you don’t have an additional shower then yes I would compensate
TBH I would not put someone in a new tenancy with a broken bath tub.
I would wait till it’s done . The other option is pay a premium to get it done for when they move in .
Whatever you decide make sure all correspondence is in writing so there is no comeback.
Legal advice these days is do repairs before you rent . Fitness for human habitation….
Hi, many thanks for that. Yes, I’ve offered for them to delay their move in date / tenancy start date. I’ll offer to compensate them whether they delay or move in without the bath. (There is no separate shower).
Good idea to keep all correspondence to email rather than phone calls, to avoid come back.
Thanks, Sue
You don’t need to compensate them if you change the tenancy date.
If there is no alternative shower I would advise that you get the bath fixed as not being able to wash is legally a breach of fitness for human habitation.
You don’t know how your tenancy will pan out . This would not be looked upon favourably by the courts.
Your contract should have a clause on what to do. In most cases it would be to rehouse temporarily not just a refund of the rent on a daily basis.
It would not be cheap.
I would check with your insurers as to what they advise.
Knowingly commencing a tenancy in such a situation may jeopardise your legal cover if it were to come to that.
Thanks for that. My plumber plans to under take a ‘patch up’ (ensuring the bath/shower will be useable in the short term) whilst waiting for a bathroom fitter to replace the bath. I’ve been in touch with the tenants who plan a phased move in (whilst getting furniture ordered to be delivered) and are thankfully fine about the temporary bathroom measure whilst waiting for the more permanent solution.
I do hear what you’re saying about my legal responsibility re ensuring functioning facilities, and will be very mindful of this throughout.
Thanks, Sue