My Tenant Is Weird – What The Hell Is Wrong With Him?

Providing a professional service does not involve turning up poorly manned and ill-equipped then expecting the tenant to muck in to sort out your problem.

By the way, asides from your sexist remarks towards females, the correct english is, 'my friend and I', not "me and my friend."

Lesson over. Grow up.

Looks like someone linked to this post from somewhere, hence the sudden influx of "haters".

@BTLFilth

I think you need to go back to bed and get out of the right side.

haha landlord, you need to spell correctly to become a landlord blogger, new anti social mobility rules brought in by our ConLib friends.

Some of these Trolls are correct, you were completely unprepared and underestimated the job in hand. They are right the tenant has no responsibility to help.

The post I think is more about the morality of standing by and watching, not the legal minimum the tenant has to do.

Why on earth should your tenant provide his labour for free?

Is it not enough that he is paying rent to you?

I wouldn't dream of lifting a finger to help my landlord do anything. I pay him rent, so it's his responsibility to get the work done.

@MacGuffin, BTLFilth and all of you HATERS out there.

Where do you people come from? And why are you all so bitter and disgruntled?
It's not asking a lot is it to just lend a hand to help move a piece of furniture at the end of the day whether you pay or you don't pay.

I have been to restaurants/coffee shops where I've seen the staff work like mad and I've helped clear the table so I can sit down.
I don't go moaning hand on hip giving people a lecture about how I'm a paying customer and I shouldn't have to do it blah..blah..w*nk!

You see someone struggling and you help them. It doesn't cost anything and most certainly wouldn't offend anyone.

The reason why this country is going down the pan is because of attitudes like yours! Your unwillingness to just give a little.

I'm surprised you're not more accustomed to lifting heavy loads, since you obviously walk around with a self-righteous chip on your shoulder every day.

Take it as a lesson. You've learned two things:

1 - washing machines are heavy (duh).
2 - The landlord-tenant relationship is a BUSINESS relationship, not a PERSONAL one (duh)

@ Macguffin

Look love, we all dip into this site because it is informative and extremely helpful, not only to Tenants, Management Agents but also Landlords as well.
Whilst the banta is most often light hearted and hilarious, I think you have completely missed the point. Try putting the needle back!

For someone who really just doesn't 'get it', I really don't think you (of all people) are in a position to point out any lessons learned to others.

Get a life!!

The landlord-tentant relationship is a Human relationship. If you see someone in hardship and you are able, you should help.

I feel sorry for you, if you live in a world where you only do the absolute minimum.

Landlord's comment: 'You must be a woman. You can't even make a point without fucking up.'

What a shithead you are.

@MacGuffin (do you put the guff into MacGuffin ?)

Now, anyone with half a braincell can tell that The Landlord writes his stuff tongue in cheek. But some people fail to see this and takes offence. The silly billies.

He did however make a mistake with the weight of the washing machine, one that I'd wager he'd not make again. After all, he is only human and we all make mistakes, even if some people seem to think we are not allowed to. If he did it again, then I would call him a twat, or something.

But the real story here is the complete lack of caring the tenant showed. No, he didn't have to help - he could have gone inside and left them to it, he could have said "I'm sorry, but I did my back in when I moved that thing out here", he could have said something as to why he wasn't helping.

No, he just stood there and watched them struggle. Could you just stand to one side and watch people struggle? What sort of person does that?

It's just common decency.

It seems the "haters" that have commented have completely missed this point and have chosen to lambast the Landlord with crappy, weak arguments.

Oh I know what it is, it's coming up to a full moon. I suspect in a few days time the haters will be human again and totally unaware of the comments they posted.

Might be there's a reason for all the hate? Most landlords I've encountered have tried to abuse us in one way or another, and only good knowledge of tenant rights and a firm attitude have saved us from it. But why should I be wasting my energy and time fighting with my landlords? For the money I pay I'd expect to be treated like a fucking king. Obviously our experiences do affect our attitude more than anything else.

I also agree on the buy-to-let business making the housing market much more inaccessible but then it's a British cultural thing I guess. I for one are totally not interested in buying although the rents in this country are still ridiculously high giving so little for the value + having to deal with those incredibly nitpicking and ignorant landlords.

This landlord here has a knack for writing and a good sense of humour but I can't help thinking if I was his tenant I'd probably consider him a bit of a prick. Not that I necessarily think it's a bad thing to be a prick, in fact I admire many of them, but then again it's not a kind of person I'd want to help, now why should I?

@ Zetty

Whilst I agree with you that there are a lot of bad Landlords out there, I would also like to point out that there are lots of good ones too. I should know, I've moved properties around 28 times in my life and have only owned my own property in the last 6 years or so.
Just because you've had a few bad experiences you can't tarnish them all with the same brush. Let's face it, greedy & ignorant people come in all sorts. Not just Landlords.
Let's put Landlords aside for the moment and talk about Tenants.
I think Tenants can be equally as bad. A lot of them don't clean, live in squaller, they break things and don't replace them not to mention fall into arrears with their rent and expect the Landlord to pick up the pieces. So you see it is a double edge sword.
Not saying you are one of these Tenants but they DO exist!
Rent is expensive, likewise the same when you have a mortgage to pay.
So there are a few people like the Landlord who have worked bloody hard to invest in properties and make a living out of it. Is that such a bad thing? Why should people like him be condemned for being successful? Just because he's a Landlord charging you market price to rent you his pad, you still feel it's OK to standby and watch him struggle?
Well if that's the case it is your choice but I'd say it's more of a reflection on the kind of person you are than the one he is.

@Ginster -- Have to agree about the tenants, I've seen enough of people who can't take any reasonable care of themselves and the property.

But there's still a difference here called "professionalism".. Tenant is a customer and landlord is a professional provider. I've moved >10 times here in the UK I believe but still didn't face anyone decent. I seem to know way more about the property and the law than they do -- how does that implies they have been working hard? Since I've always been aiming at the cheap end (which at least in London is still bloody expensive compared to anywhere in Europe), maybe there are more professional landlords for the more pricey properties, I don't know.

Property business is a dirty one, I've learnt that. I also understand it's not an individual landlord who's responsible for the market prices but isn't it natural that an individual tenant, giving a large chunk for his income, would expect a professional service for something as important as his home? For the landlord it is often just another property -- for the tenant it is the fundamental core of his/her life.

My point was, the general hate is not unfounded, there are plenty of reasons for it, people are not satisfied and it shows. This is a sector which would IMHO definitely benefit some tighter regulations.

@The Landlord -- sure I can't know what kind of person are you other than how you come across from your writing. Needless to say I enjoy your style and come back for more once in a while. No doubt you provide lots of valuable information too.

Was just pointing out all the hate doesn't surprise me a bit as there are obvious underlying reasons. No intent to get personal here with someone I don't know in person, aight :)

I agree with Ginster - Comment 35

I am new to the whole property game, trying to learn everything possible related to being a landlord, and a big chunk of what I have learnt has came from this website. Some people I feel do not appreciate the landlords generosity in sharing this knowledge.

His humour and style of writing makes the website even more valuable, as it makes learning fun, and most importantly, he is REAL about things, he does not sugar coat stuff, he says it how it is. Its the reason I keep coming back.

I wish you well landlord, and keep the good stuff coming. ;)

As the old ancient proverb goes... "Behind every successful person is a pack of haters".

Yes, you should have come prepared. I don't expect you would have lended a hand if the tenant said he was short of a bob or two because you are taking all of his money away every month. You need to step away and look at this for what it is, a business. You wouldn't expect to help a removals team to move house as you would expect that they would have trained people just as you would expect a landlord to arrange appropriate labour for a task such as this. I think you have no soul - especially after looking at your post where you can't even supply a curtain rail and curtains. I get fed up of having to lash out money on curtains everywhere we move to.

Perhaps your tenant knows you're the kind of landlord who considers him a “washing machine cu*t”?

In which case I'd stand by as well, hoping you drop the thing on your foot.

Maybe you should have asked him nicely if he could have helped you. Maybe he had a bad back? His mates might have put the machine in the garden. You dont strike me, through your posts, as a particularly approachable or personable person (maybe it is you who lacks the soul). Many landlords adopt a haughty 'higher than' air around their tenants. Heck, myu landlord told me recently that I had had 'lots of concessions' just because he mended our immersion heater and put some money in the pot for our distressed and very broken sewage system. You also seem to have a sexual fetish about washing machines with your various phallic references in your post, maybe the tenant thought the struggle with the machine in conjunction with you friend was all part of the 'kick' or a mating dance.

I do apologize for the mistake with the curtain rails. I guess that is what the deposit is for (repairing holes).

I* do apologize, that should have been 'your friend'. and my landlord, I must type a little more diligently.

Time out! Time f*cking OUT!!
Be them washing machine one's or just bloody stupid ones!
It's just pointless trying to explain to an amoeba let alone a colony of them the principles of decency.

@Ginster

'So there are a few people like the Landlord who have worked bloody hard to invest in properties and make a living out of it. Is that such a bad thing? Why should people like him be condemned for being successful? Just because he's a Landlord charging you market price to rent you his pad, you still feel it's OK to standby and watch him struggle?'

It is not Landlord's fault that successive governments have encouraged this sort of exploitative behaviour. If I had the money I still wouldn't do buy to let however as it is not morally sound. I do think it is bad making a living out of buying up houses and pushing up prices and rent; similarly the banks are currently pushing up food prices by speculating on them in the same way. I work as hard as anyone else by the way and still can not afford a house and barely afford my extortionate rent for my crappy house.

Anyway, if he is struggling, get out of it - sell the houses. Oh wait, he doesn't own them anyway, the bank does and now the speculative bubble has burst it is his turn to cry foul.

I can't believe what I am reading here.

Why is buy 2 let not morally sound? Why do you think it is bad making a living out of buying up houses and pushing up prices and rent. It's called a free market economy - if you want anything different go and live the communist ideal. Oh I forgot, most of those have seen the light and are now free market.

Do you complain that the supermarkets are pushing up prices, or the fuel suppliers or your local corner shop who is trying to compete against the supermarkets. Get real!

As for the comment regarding him not owning the property - that's the point. You use someone elses money so that if it goes tits up your own money is protected. The banks arn't the only ones pushing up food prices by speculation - it is the hedge fund managers speculating on what oil prices will be in 12 months time, or the coffee bean crop or pork bellies. When the airlines add on fuel surcharges I dont see howls of derision on here but I'll bet if I said I was putting on a heating surcharge I would be bent over and butt shagged from here to eternity! When the utilities put up prices by 25% do I hear a murmour of decent? Do I bollocks. Thank the last Government - sorry, Gordon Brown when he was Chancellor, for f*****g this up by not having the bollocks to regulate the bankers et al.

If it was not for B2L investors this country would be flooded with the homeless and/or people living at home with mum and dad into their 50's. People may not like the idea (usually the jealous ones or ones who like to talk the talk but are too cowardly to get off their arses and do something about it). The UK is full of detractors who take pleasure in watching people fail instead of owning up and saying "I haven't got the balls to do it but look at him, he has and good luck to him" (or her).

Hells fucking teeth.............

Yes, the free market is pushing up prices for everyone in everything. I do complain about all the price rises except where they are necessary. The country already has a lot of homeless and people living wth mum and dad or sharing and is about to get a hell of a lot more. It is not case of not having the balls or being cowardly it is a case of house prices, and thus rents, being too high. The buy to letters and house investers/MEWers are all part of this game as are all the fools who borrow money to go on holiday of have the latest car to keep up with the joneses. It is dissent by the way.

If you want to blame somebody for prices going up, how about blaming the banking system?

1) "Quantitative Easing" is just posher way of saying "Printing money". If you print more money, the money that's already in circulation is worth less (inflation), because there's more of it around.

2) In the current climate, governments have a vested interest in keeping their own currency cheap. This means that exports become cheaper for the buyers, which in turn boosts the country's economy (manufacturers experience more demand). This in turn makes imports more expensive (your pounds are worth less of the foreign currency when purchasing imported goods). This is one of the main reasons interest rates are languishing at 0.5%. If the interest rates rise, this strengthens the currency and makes exports more expensive, which depresses manufacturing.

3) Even though the government is overtly encouraging banks to lend, new rules on bank liquidity are working against this as banks are being forced to keep higher reserves when lending. This in turn means that they are able to lend less. The current economy also means that there are less companies and individuals able to prove their ongoing viability.

So to blame landlords for the current inflation is simplistic in the extreme. Might as well blame electric/gas companies for the price of wholesale electric/gas (if the £ is worth less, it takes more pounds to buy the wholesale electric/gas)

The UK is unusual in the number of people who are homeowners - it may just be that the UK is starting to catch up with Europe where many don't own homes until much later in life. If you consider this a possibility, then BTL landlords are simply providing the means for that transformation.

@Mike

1) Agreed

2) Yes, house prices are still too high for use as homes however so low interest rates are just allowing prices to remain artificially high whilst penalizing savers like myself.

3) They have lent too much already - that is why house prices are too high along with the fact that they now use two incomes to calculate mortgage viability.

I'm not blaming landlords for inflation. Rents are high because house prices are high. Nearly all the govt and media are in on it as many are in to their necks with their own buy to let and property portfolios.

I have no problem with long term renting (funny that) but until we have legislation in place to mirror countries such as Germany us tenants will always be at a disadvantage. BTL won't transform our communities without some security for tenants to take par tin communities wiothout being continuously moved on along with their children to different schools etc. The costs of these constant moves add a further burden to the long term renter.

OMG !....I cannot believe how this article has turned out...WTF does house prices, inflation, bad bankers etc got to do with whether a tenant could have helped lift a washing machine.

Clearly there are some absolute idiots who write things most of whom sound like they'd like the UK to become the Peoples Republic of Great Britain. Here's a thought....

'If you don't like the UK system, Democracy but prefer Europes rental culture or North Korea's communism - then move, no-one is stopping you'

On topic - I think the bloke could have at least said ' mate do you want a hand' or as others have said explained why he couldn't (true or not) - IMHO he's made himself look like a pratt by just standing there.

Aus,
Hey, if you don't like the way the article has turned out then there are plenty of other articles on which you are more than welcome to comment. No one is stopping you.

Rents are increasing at a steady rate at present. The basic laws of supply and demand indicate that there is therefore more demand than supply, which would suggest that at present there is NOT ENOUGH housing to rent, far from there being too many private landlords out there - which leads me back ....

ON TOPIC: Perhaps with the increase in rent, some tenants are starting to require a corresponding increase in professionalism - at a level which your small portfolio holder would be hard-pressed to match (a landlord with 3 properties is unlikely to buy a large van and hire a couple of guys to do this sort of work, whereas a housing association might well)

I'll be the first to admit there are a sizeable percentage of private landlords who do not do themselves or their tenants any favours (leaving tenants without heating/cooking facilities in mouldy or leaky badly-maintained properties and failing to respond to legitimate requests for repairs. Failing to meet minumum standards like annual safety checks) When the market recovers it's possible a number of these individuals will go to the wall - and those landlords who develop and maintain a good reputation for looking after tenants will be those who can attract good tenants. (though there will always be tenants who will take the lowest price whatever condition)

Perhaps the future (if it lies with private landlords at all rather than with large companies) lies in private landlords acting together through their professional organisations to contribute to shared facilities which individuals would not be able to afford (such as dedicated removal men) In this way the landlord would not even need to attend site to organise the removal of a washing machine - but merely call the right helpline. Does anything like this currently exist? It seems to be a step up from what lettings management companies currently offer (usually a list of approved contractors)

sorry for the gloomy outlook, but if the tenant above is an indication of a trend towards requiring a higher class of service (as has been suggested) then this seems to be a natural outcome - either private landlords hang together, or they hang separately :D

@ Mike

Far too much time on your hands mate.

Comments such as yours are better placed on this is money dot co dot uk - where they might actually be ON TOPIC.

Your idea about collaboration amongst landlords is a good one (even though in the wrong forum) however in practice I doubt it would work as it'd require landlords actually knowing other landlords in the area where they each own properties.

...and forgot to add...yes a service does exist to move large furniture/items - local councils will remove for a small nominal fee and sometimes even for free.

Just thought I'd update y'all on what's been happening. Having read the oh-so-persuasive posts of 'The Landlord' on this site, I was converted and decided to put my new attitude into action.

I showed up at work yesterday and my boss said 'MacGuffin, I will need that report by midday. If you manage to get it done earlier, let me know.'

I said to him 'Man, you're totally unreasonable. You can see that I am struggling. You should help me do it!'

My boss said 'MacGuffin, I pay you to do this work. I do not expect to have to help you complete your assigned tasks.'

I said 'Man, YOU LACK COMPASSION AND YOU HAVE NO SOUL!'

Then he sacked me. How unreasonable!

lol, lots of haters and blamers here. @Haters @Blamers - when was the last time you tried to do something to better the world? Rather than just moan about it?

House prices were too expensive for me. So I got off my arse, worked harder, saved harder, negotiated hard and solved the problem creatively. Did I get frustrated? Yes. Did I get my own home (eventually), yes!

@The_Landlord - you do a top job. This blog is more then an informational resource, it's entertainment and a great way to let off steam (akin to going to a meal or the pub with your friends to relax). Keep up the good work, and enjoy the extra publicity.

:)

Why should your tenant have compassion for you when it’s quite clear from other blog entries on this site that you have no compassion for tenants?

Perhaps you don’t realise it but your style of writing is unprofessional and offensive and you really can’t be surprised about the amount of negative feedback you receive.

My landlord couldn’t be nicer but unfortunately there are a few out there like you who give others a bad name. I’m sure if people saw this blog before signing up to live in one of your properties they’d change their mind in heartbeat.

RSJ

"My landlord couldn’t be nicer…" - Landlord beat me to it in saying How do you know your nice landlord does not have a blog that complains about you? In fact, how do you know 'The Landlord' is not your landlord. That would be intersting.

One thing i don't understand about these chumps is visiting a site where the first message you see on the homepage is "I'm a landlord that bitches/scribbles about landlord stuff" - and then expecting a politically correct-cambridge-graduate-speaking-government-based type of website. Thats like a man going to a strip club in search of a priest for religious advice, or a vegetarian going to a chicken shop for the best in vegan cuisine.

You know what your getting with this site, and if you expect any different, then more fool you.

Have you seen your tenant's Facebook page? That's where the traffic is coming from. And you're right, he's a dick.

You say his soulless because he didn't help you carry YOUR washing machine to the Van, I wouldn't have helped you either.
Its your washing machine not the tenants. Also why not employ someone to replace the Washing Machine? Like John Lewis are you a bit tight? And save your self a Hernia next time.

Washing machines are truly awkward to transport. You probably know this by now, but an investment into a dolly is a wise one. A dolly, also known as "hand truck". They come as the folding variety too. If in a bind, nip to the local ScrewFix.

Alternatively, and something I only observed a few weeks ago, you can use one of those ratchet-straps to wrap around the wachine machine and tighten, then suddenly you have a handy belt to grab.

Also, to have workman's gloves in your toolbox provides awesome value for money, saves you from cuts almost every time you handle a washer!

Hope that helps.

@Armin

Those are some very sensible suggestions, but surely it is clear by now that this landlord prefers to have a girly, bitchy whinge?

Landlord - grow a pair and move your own appliances!

As a landlord myself, I understand the cathartic process this blog must have. It is hard always being seen as the 'bad/greedy guy', yet doing your best to be a genuinely good landlord... then finding that some tenants don't always treat you with the same level of respect. Ranting is useful. It acts a pressure release valve, and helps ensure that tenants are dealt with professionally as they should be, even if they are being unreasonable.

But ...on the topic of rants... (just a *slight* tangent here) I am female and I moved my washing machine from the front of the house to the back (where the kitchen is), levered it into an awkward corner and installed it without any help from a male of the species. Some say I am freakishly strong (you can't really tell from my frame), but I suspect it is simply because most women believe this myth (perpetuated ad infinitum by innocent little comments such as yours that tend to completely permeate our culture) that they are incapable of lifting anything other than a small bag!

I have found that I was stronger than 80% of the guys I worked with, probably because the nature of their job was inherently fairly un-athletic, whilst I spent my time lugging all their gear around. Hence, despite being anecdotal to others, my experience shows me that female does not equal weak, nor men equal strong. There are always exceptions - and my view is that most women have simply atrophied their muscles over years of misuse and neglect! Hence the average difference in inherent strength is much less than is perceived.

Sorted - glad I got that off my chest... :D

Oh, also... the guy might have had aspergers (would explain his adherence to roles / lack of thought to help) or an injury. Or he might have been just been a dick.

Oh and I love your writing style. It is epic.

They have scrap value so you shouldn't have too much trouble finding someone to take it away for free. DON'T HELP THEM LIFT IT THOUGH, THEY ARE MAKING MONEY!!!

ps someone who took a broken washing machine from me (actually they paid a little cash) to use in a renovation project just to make it look like it had a washing machine. This presented a moral quandary for me with regards to the help/don't help question.

All i am seeing here is a lot of JEALOUSY from tenants. This thread has really has helped me see why tenants are so weird and inhuman, so thanks for that. Tenants think the landlord has it easy. Landlords have mortgages to pay and the huge responsibility of repairing anything that goes wrong immediately for the tenants. Most work really hard to provide a good service, from mortgages to tax returns to renovating and repairs. It is quite shocking the ungrateful attitude tenants have,they could still be living with mum and dad. When i was a tenant i was always helpful and polite to my landlord and he returned the same. Its normal, decent human behaviour. Going around being jealous, bitter and ungrateful will get you no where, they need to grow up.

Now, as a landlord, I've always been helpful for my tenants; renovating the property first, repairing anything straight away and doing modifications they want. Yet 80% of them have been rude, ungrateful, ignore polite emails and break tenancy agreements. Even though i did several alterations for my latest tenant that he wanted with hardly any thanks, and I asked him to let me know of any problems, he's let the brand new garage door go into such a state that its over to one side and it has to be forced open and shut ( I could not even open it). He thought nothing of telling me there was an issue (I found out on an inspection) and he has been continuing to use it in that state. I don't think the guarantee will cover it now. His response was its only recently gone like that. Even when i am trying to organise repairs he is still ignoring my polite emails! I know he has a busy life but it seems so unhelpful he can't tell me of problems, it takes no time to ping an email over. All i can think he must have an attitude problem like the ones on here, perhaps doesn't like adhering to the tenancy agreement because i am female. I think he finds is emasculating that i get someone i trust to do alterations and repairs (i agreed he could do some things but now he doesn't even bothering asking and just does what he wants, having caused some damage already).

I agree with the landlord here, he seems like a good landlord by agreeing to remove the washing machine promptly, when it wasn't urgent. As he had to carry the washing machine over the tenant's furniture then the tenant could have helped. I expect the tenant just has an ungrateful attitude and resents paying rent. I think the landlord should keep his eye out for another tenant with a better attitude as a selfish attitude like that could mean he'd not pay the last month's rent and leave the house damaged.