Is door bell a mandatory facility requrement to be provided to tenants? So, if provided by the LL they must see to the ongoing maintenance including change of batteries etc. Door bells have changed overvtime and have become user friendly, cheaper too, battery operated with no requirement for hard wiring and the tenant can take them with them when they move. Some tenants prefer certain types anyway, even ‘Ring’ for security. So even if LL take all efforts installing a door bell, tenants might end up putting theirs, thereby having two bells at the door. Hence my question - Is door bell really mandatory for LLs.
No like a toilet seat not mandatory but useful
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You could have a clause in your contract making all consumables, such as light bulbs, batteries, toilet rolls etc, the tenants responsibility.
Thanks all. David122, so, without the clause, can the alternative be to ask the tenants to buy a plug in wireless door bell, which will belong to them and they can take it with them at the end of tenancy. I don’t know, has any one had any problem with this.
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IN any case, door bells have to somehow be fitted onto the door. If you are happy about having several different holes being made where tenants stick their doorbells, then that’s £20 well saved.
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wireless door bells are very good or in flats many use the mobile
The button push will have batteries even with the plug in bells.
To be frank I think this is an economy too far. I would suggest you buy a plug-in doorbell. Even without an explicit clause in your tenancy agreement, it would be hard for the tenant to persuade a judge that the landlord should be providing the batteries as its accepted practice that the tenant pays for consumables.
Toilet rolls ……
Do you normally provide these ?
and tissues to wipe their noses , but only once a day
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No it is not mandatory. I dont provide them on houses but i do on my flats with shared access running power from my landlord supply.
Dont get into battery doorbells as if you supply then you need to support them
Thanks all for sharing your thoughts. As theres’s already a space for a door bell, as a gesture, i bought a wireless door bell with batteries in the pack. I’ll give it to them and tell them to replace the batteries when they ran out. I want them to be happy, and in turn respect and look after my house (well, i hope so). So, a win win.
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House - manual door knocker - no maintenance, no complicated fitting.
Flat blocks - door release entry phone system - no need for tenants to come to the main entrance door, no batteries - runs off power supply, no maintenance.
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Surely you should be providing an automated rear end washing seat… 
- with government regulated temperature guidelines control to ensure the tenants don’t burn their delicate parts.
Of course. Tut tut, you don’t wipe their rear ends for them…
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Very true Chris35. My door has a knocker. That could have been enough. I must be a soft touch to have bought them a door bell and i have to toughen up otherwise next request might be a jacuzzi.
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Well as someone who has a property services business providing maintenance, rennovations, air b n b management, 30 landlords, 200 homeowner customers, 500 tenant customer, all in London etc for nearly 10 year.
My honest opinion is…
- Dont portray scrouge like vibes to your tenants, you’ll regret it
- DO help them to feel good about even the small things and especially when it cost you very little
- Do overreach a little by being nice
- Dont battle them over silly stuff
- Spend time before they move in to clarify whats included and what is not
- DO set aside some funds each month to deal with maintenance
- Provide them with info where possible on how best to care for the property but tell them like its your personal experience living there
- Except and expect to refresh the property every 12 - 24 months or between tenancies. Thing of this as a MUST and so if you dont have to then its a bonus
- Set aside 10% of the rent to cover you
Consumables:
- toilet seats
- towel rails
- tissue roll holders
- taps
- door bells or chimes
My point is that if you get on the wrong side of your tenants and create a negative vibe fro. The start then your tenants will not respect your property and will do the bare minimum to care for the property. I see this every week because I deal with tenants and landlords, I see the back and forth.
And last but not least, your property is just bricks and morter… your main value is how you conduct the processes and simplicity as a londlord in that you give respect to tenant and they will reward you for it by even finding you other good tenant when they leave.
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Sage words of wisdom
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It always amazes me some of the questions we get asked here for simple things that will cost very little in ,money ,time and effort
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Ok
I agree
And abide