renting from family is a nightmare

LegacyUser

I am renting a flat from my sister for two years now. She is married and living elsewhere. My partner and I have one child. The two years that we have lived her my sister doesn't fix an issues in the house and we feel awkward about asking again.
We bought a lot of stuff for the house out of our own money. Now the dishwasher has broken down and we can't afford to replace, I've let her know but it's been a few weeks and nothing has been done. Our shower is broken upstairs since we moved in also. Do I buy a new dishwasher? Pay myself to get the shower fixed?

My sister is a registered landlord. I know that she does struggling with money even though she is working part time and her partner doesn't work.

I feel guilty about putting two much pressure on her.

We recently also bought two new sofas for the place as the other ones were falling apart, she got them for free so we threw them out. We bought new curtains and lampshades as literally nothing has been done to the house in ten years.

I'm stressed because I know she is planning on selling this place is about 5 years time and don't want to pump too much money into it.

What should I do?

pickarooney

Buy the things you need and take them with you when you move?

Othewise, if you have a rental agreement which includes furniture, electrical equipment etc. and that these should be repaired then inform her you're getting them fixed and deduct them from the rent. Less hassle for both of you.

LegacyUser

We don't have a rental agreement and we just sort of moved in an took over when she couldn't afford to pay mortgages.

LegacyUser

Is the rent cheaper compared to renting off somebody else? Could you move elsewhere?

LegacyUser

Tabs101 wrote: »

Is the rent cheaper compared to renting off somebody else? Could you move elsewhere?

Yes it's much cheaper.

LegacyUser

rent is cheaper and we have nowhere to move at the moment. We are planning to stay here maybe another 5 years.

joeguevara

Dishwasher is not a requirement for a rental property. Sister does not need to replace. Ask her can you fix shower and deduct from next rent.

ElleEm

Personally, I would say maintenance is her concern and she should be sorting it out, but furnish the place as you wish and take everything with you when you leave. You should also be checking with her before you bin her stuff, regardless of where she got it. Just keep reminding her that X, Y and Z have to be sorted.

mrty

renting from family wrote: »

I am renting a flat from my sister for two years now. She is married and living elsewhere. My partner and I have one child. The two years that we have lived her my sister doesn't fix an issues in the house and we feel awkward about asking again.
We bought a lot of stuff for the house out of our own money. Now the dishwasher has broken down and we can't afford to replace, I've let her know but it's been a few weeks and nothing has been done. Our shower is broken upstairs since we moved in also. Do I buy a new dishwasher? Pay myself to get the shower fixed?

My sister is a registered landlord. I know that she does struggling with money even though she is working part time and her partner doesn't work.

I feel guilty about putting two much pressure on her.

We recently also bought two new sofas for the place as the other ones were falling apart, she got them for free so we threw them out. We bought new curtains and lampshades as literally nothing has been done to the house in ten years.

I'm stressed because I know she is planning on selling this place is about 5 years time and don't want to pump too much money into it.

What should I do?

Dishwasher live without, insist that the shower is repaired. If she a bit skint chip in. I know it wouldn't be ideal but you can't live without a shower. You could always tell her its a loan until she can afford. As I'm sure you know showers are not cheap. Dishwashers are not really necessary get rid of it put something else in its place.

Larry Wildman

Do the maths.

It's a sweetheart deal on the rent but you're essentially on the hook for maintenance by the sound of it.

If the cost of maintaining the place yourself if less than the cost of renting an equivalent property at market rates, you stay. If it isn't, you go.

What's happening here is a caretaker discount. For a tenant to be on the hook for repairs etc, a discount of 25% on the market rent would be typical.

LegacyUser

Yes it's kinda like a maintenance deal I guess. We have done a lot around the place. Put new fitted cupboards in the kitchen and generally stuff around the house.

by the way I'd never throw out stuff without her permission!! She told me to throw out the sofas!! as they were wrecked! I always ask and I think we are good tenants.

She is settled in a new house with her new husband now and is busy sorting that place out.

It is a sweet deal with the rent and we have offered to pay more but it wouldn't be worth it for her (she said) in tax etc.

We wouldn't take stuff with us. We will leave the sofas too as we threw out hers of course.

No plans too move for another 5 years or so when she decides to sell if market picks back up.

I get on great with my sister. I think it's just the communication I feel if something like shower is broke. I feel pretty awkward because I know how busy she is and she is working a lot. It's not out of laziness I can tell you.

Maybe I'll get the plumber in to fix shower and then just deduct from the rent, I'll discuss it with her first I guess.

Thanks for all your replies!!

cletus van damme

ElleEm wrote: »

Personally, I would say maintenance is her concern and she should be sorting it out, but furnish the place as you wish and take everything with you when you leave. You should also be checking with her before you bin her stuff, regardless of where she got it. Just keep reminding her that X, Y and Z have to be sorted.

you could say that - but the OP is getting the place at a discounted rate. I'd say normal rules don't apply.

OP I'd get the stuff fixed yourself but come to an agreement with your sister that the discounted rate will apply into the future.

if you force the issue , she would be within her right to demand market rates to compensate.

Rubberchikken

If she's a registered landlord she should be professional and have the house up to the correct standard.
If you weren't related i realise it would ve Lieutenanteasier to ask for repairs to be done and strangers would find it easy to insist she take her responsibilities more seriously.

Could you talk to her and explain what needs done to make the house more pleasant to live in?

Larry Wildman

Rubberchikken wrote: »

If she's a registered landlord she should be professional and have the house up to the correct standard.
If you weren't related i realise it would ve Lieutenanteasier to ask for repairs to be done and strangers would find it easy to insist she take her responsibilities more seriously.

Could you talk to her and explain what needs done to make the house more pleasant to live in?

You're missing the salient point.

The OP is not being charged market rent in relation to the property.

tenifan

Hi Op.
You're either paying market rate and getting a good landlord who fixes everything that needs fixing.. and, by the way, many furnished properties are close to slums.

or you continue to rent from your sister and, in exchange for cheaper rent, take care of your own issues. A lampshade costs, what, €10 in Dunnes stores? Oh, and you can take it with you when you're leaving (if you really want to).

Weigh it up. If you're saving €200 on market rate of rent, and in exchange you're spending €100 for a few bits and bobs every month, you just need to ask yourself is the €100 saving worth the hassle of sourcing your own repairs and replacements.