The prospective tenant I have is very keen and I still have to do full referencing checks on her.
In my property, I have pencil pleat curtains, with plastic hooks, which hang from the plastic runners, in the living room and bedroom. In the bathroom and kitchen, I have fittings for the white plastic rails, but in-situ I have extendable poles with net curtains.
The prospective tenant says she will be bringing her own curtains.
Should she want eyelet curtains, which require poles fitted, would it be my responsibility or hers to pay and have them fitted?
I have also agreed to remove the washing machine, dryer, fridge freezer, dining table, coffee table, bedroom cabinet, drawers, which of course will be at my expense and not an issue for me.
Tell her that she can use her own curtains but you are not changing the curtain track, and you do not agree to her doing this. Put it in the tenancy agreement, you can make additions to the Openrent tenancy.
I would agree with Caroline7. Also, put in the contract that the walls need to be made good when she leaves, as if she put posts there will be holes in the walls that need to be filled in.
She has said she will be using the same style curtains as I already have, but also wants to buy roller blinds, which fit outside of the window space. I understand these are ones you can install yourself and can be bought for about £6 from the R@nge and similar stores.
I hope she will not be too nit-picky, as she has now mentioned what kind of garden she likes and has mentioned that maybe the neihbouring gardens may need a bit of work done and she does not mind doing them too. These are properties also owned by us.
You need to reassess your position with this tenant
Furnished means furnished
It does not give them authority to start to change
The first thing my mother taught me was if they start like this it only gets worse
Last year I had tenants for less than 12 months who did a lot of damage to a furnished house whilst disassembling
It only gets worse
I let my tenant change newly installed brass curtain rods; it had hooks installed on wall, as well to hold curtains. When they left, the curtain rods were not traceable and I had to refit cheaper metal rods again.
I would say they can change the curtains but they must use the existing track, they must also remove and store the original curtains and refit them at th end of the tenancy. Any window fitments as far as you are concerned should be that same on tenancy commencement as termination.
Also, fine if you want to start removing stuff and store them, but I’d either list the property as furnished or unfurnished. Any removal of furniture and associated transportation/ storage fee is then down to tenant.
I have learnt this the hard way, and people always take the mile when you’ve given an inch. it’s best for all parties to set clear boundaries.
Do you want this tenant ?
If you do make a deal but make it clear and plain.
eg you could offer them the following options
yes you can fit your own curtains but you are responsible for storing and restoring the curtains and re-fitting at the end of the tenancy - or refunding me the actual cost (even if higher than the deposit ) at the end of the tenancy. I will add this to the tenancy agreement.
Yes show me your curtains and fitting and if I agree you can fit them at your expense - but agree they become my property and included in the inventory , and at the end of the tenancy you agree to leave them in good condition or replace me them with others in similar condition or cover the cost of a professional flitting replacement curtains
or lots of other options - but make a deal with tenant and watever it is add it to the agreement before you sign it !
She said how she wants the garden style, which included a shrub not being trimmed. Mum, an expert gardener, has said it really needs trimming and is doing it.
If this lady moans or makes yet another request/complaint, I will say goodbye to her.