Getting a house owner to clean up their property

gebbel

The first house as you enter the estate where I live is badly in need of painting and weeds are everywhere on the paved area outside. The house itself is rented out through a letting agent. The other 5 houses that line the front of the estate are in pristine condition (all owner occupiers). So this one sticks out like a sore thumb. Is it worth getting onto the letting agent to ask the landlord to do something about it? They probably won't give two hoots once they are getting their cash.

I'm asking as I've recently joined the residents association who are trying to keep the estate well maintained. Thanks.

Walter Bishop

It's worth giving the letting agent a ring but 'expect nothing, and you'll rarely be disappointed' as they say.

0ph0rce0

We were away before for a while & came back to long grass and weeds in the front garden.

Opened the door and had 2 notes saying CUT YOUR GRASS,YOUR BRINGING THE LOOK OF THE NEIGHBOURHOOD DOWN.

We made notes for those two houses on the road that said GO **** YOURSELF

jimmycrackcorm

gebbel wrote:

I'm asking as I've recently joined the residents association who are trying to keep the estate well maintained. Thanks.

Why don't you just offer to do it yourself if you're so concerned about the "look" of your estate.

bertsmom

I will never understand the notion people have that other people's property is their business. I live in an estate in Co. Galway and recently went to the residents association meeting. I was shocked at the petty trivia the people concern themselves with. Naming people in front of a room full of strangers that THEY CONSIDER driving too fast in the estate and what their employment is etc. If the state of the property structurally or health wise affect you eg. Rubbish attracting vermin then look for a change but if you don't like the look of a house or state of its upkeep then just mind your own business and continue keeping your home well maintained and just concern yourself with that and not the way others choose to live.

athtrasna

Can we try to help the OP please?

SB_Part2

I don't see an issue getting onto the letting agency and asking them to look into it. They might not do anything but if you don't ask you don't get.

gebbel

jimmycrackcorm wrote: »

Why don't you just offer to do it yourself if you're so concerned about the "look" of your estate.

Are you serious? That's the most ludicrous suggestion I've read here all day.

Do you normally clean up after other people yourself?

Clampdown

I'd say it's been a while since you had to deal with the typical letting agent or landlord in Ireland. It can often be like pulling teeth to get many of them to do the minimum of necessary repairs let alone anything cosmetic. And that's when it's requested by the rent paying tenant! They will do sod all for a neighbour I'd say.

If they let the house get into that state they are not going to be bothered about fixing it at the urging of someone who has nothing to do with the property. It's quite likely the tenants have mentioned it and been fobbed off anyway.

Clampdown

gebbel wrote: »

Are you serious? That's the most ludicrous suggestion I've read here all day.

Do you normally clean up after other people yourself?

Well in fairness it's not much more ludicrous than you thinking you have any right whatsoever to tell someone else how their property should look!

gebbel

Clampdown wrote: »

Well in fairness it's not much more ludicrous than you thinking you have any right whatsoever to tell someone else how their property should look!

Their property is neglected and run down. Paint is peeling off the walls. Weeds everwhere. It looks cat. Typical couldn't give a toss once the cash is coming in landlord negligence. And before you retort at that, I rent a property myself....but no way I'd let it deteriorate like they have. It's not fair on the rest who show a bit of pride in their home.

I may not have the right to tell them how their property should look, but it certainly should look better than it is right now.

intheclouds

Theres a house in my estate like this. Same deal, it's let out, all the other houses surrounding it are well maintained, this place looks like a doss house. It lowers the tone and the value of the surrounding properties.

All I can suggest is to pressure the letting agent. Or the owner if you can find out who it is. Ask if there is anything you can do to help. Sure, you might be told to mind your own business but if you are you are.

I don't agree that people should live in an estate and mind their own business and ignore the condition of houses around them. When I was young our next door neighbours garden was awful. A tip. It was because he was old and not capable of caring for it. So we looked after it for him, and he was delighted. Later when my parents were incapable a different neighbour mowed their lawn. There is no harm in offering help.

bertsmom

Offering help is lovely and thoughtful and indeed I am sure some people would be very grateful to have the help BUT some people are quite private and having a house with kerb appeal is just not important to them. I don't mean to be argumentative with the OP I understand that it is important to them but maybe just chill out and see that everyone has different lifestyles and priorities

pablo128

intheclouds wrote: »

I don't agree that people should live in an estate and mind their own business and ignore the condition of houses around them. When I was young our next door neighbours garden was awful. A tip. It was because he was old and not capable of caring for it. So we looked after it for him, and he was delighted. Later when my parents were incapable a different neighbour mowed their lawn. There is no harm in offering help.

I agree.

gebbel wrote: »

Are you serious? That's the most ludicrous suggestion I've read here all day.

Do you normally clean up after other people yourself?

Unfortunately the OP doesn't.

jack923

gebbel wrote: »

The first house as you enter the estate where I live is badly in need of painting and weeds are everywhere on the paved area outside. The house itself is rented out through a letting agent. The other 5 houses that line the front of the estate are in pristine condition (all owner occupiers). So this one sticks out like a sore thumb. Is it worth getting onto the letting agent to ask the landlord to do something about it? They probably won't give two hoots once they are getting their cash.

I'm asking as I've recently joined the residents association who are trying to keep the estate well maintained. Thanks.

To be completely honest I think you should stop worrying about what people think of your estate and also that what someone does or doesn't do with their own property is none of your business.

Although if it bothers you that much then do it yourself.

Clampdown

gebbel wrote: »

Their property is neglected and run down. Paint is peeling off the walls. Weeds everwhere. It looks cat. Typical couldn't give a toss once the cash is coming in landlord negligence. And before you retort at that, I rent a property myself....but no way I'd let it deteriorate like they have. It's not fair on the rest who show a bit of pride in their home.

I may not have the right to tell them how their property should look, but it certainly should look better than it is right now.

How is it not fair to you? I'd really like to know.

If you were to walk down a city street in a new outfit and with your hair combed would you feel it was unfair to have to look at the homeless people with shabby clothes and poor hygiene?

Why not just be grateful for the nice home YOU have and stop worrying about what other people's homes look like? There's more to life than winning the Tidy Towns.

iainBB

Why not dirty your house up to keep up with their style. If they are not will to change why don't you give it a try.

athtrasna

Mod note
If you can't contribute in a helpful way please don't reply to this thread.

gebbel

Clampdown wrote: »

How is it not fair to you? I'd really like to know.

If you were to walk down a city street in a new outfit and with your hair combed would you feel it was unfair to have to look at the homeless people with shabby clothes and poor hygiene?

Why not just be grateful for the nice home YOU have and stop worrying about what other people's homes look like? There's more to life than winning the Tidy Towns.

I don't agree with any of this. This property is in a state of neglect. It's the very first property you drive by as you enter the estate. Let's say I want to sell up, or anyone else for that matter. First impressions of a potential buyer? Plus weeds spread elsewhere. That what weeds do.

Look this isn't me on a crusade...others have a problem with it also. I'm just trying to find a solution, because it's just not acceptable that the absent landlord doesn't seem to care, or doesn't perhaps realise it. Nothing to do with competitions or titles. I think it's perfectly reasonable to point it out to him or her.

jack923

gebbel wrote: »

I don't agree with any of this. This property is in a state of neglect. It's the very first property you drive by as you enter the estate. Let's say I want to sell up, or anyone else for that matter. First impressions of a potential buyer? Plus weeds spread elsewhere. That what weeds do.

Look this isn't me on a crusade...others have a problem with it also. I'm just trying to find a solution, because it's just not acceptable that the absent landlord doesn't seem to care, or doesn't perhaps realise it. Nothing to do with competitions or titles. I think it's perfectly reasonable to point it out to him or her.

As someone else said it could easily be an elderly woman who is unable to do it, why not offer to help? Who cares about the tidy towns man.

looksee

There was a time a few years ago when a number of houses on the estate where I live were rented out and were seriously neglected. This was nothing to do with elderly people, it was simply absentee landlords not caring so long as they got their rent. Most people made the effort to keep their property tidy, but you do not need too many scruffy houses to make the whole place look like a kip.

The situation seems to have turned round now, and there are no unacceptably neglected properties, it will never be a pretty estate, but at least it looks cared for. Is it a fair bet that the people who are so dismissive of the OP's issues are not paying a mortgage, and therefore unconcerned about the value of their accommodation?

Sleeper12

I think most estates have one or 2 houses. Sometimes it's someone elderly but more times than not it's rundown rental property.
I agree with most here about not having any say in others property. But in answer to your question, God loves a tryer. It's certainly worth getting in touch with the estate agent but it is worth remembering that we have a lot of accidental landlords and a lot of these can't afford to keep the inside of the property up to standard let alone the out.

hairyslug

Have you asked them to tidy up?

sunny2004

Sleeper12 wrote: »

accidental landlords .

Just looking for clarification as to what this mean ?
Thanks

Stealthfins

Maybe the neighbors like to have a wild garden,soon they'll be all the rage.
Bees are in decline.

I once didn't like the kerbs full of weeds on my estate,so I got my wheelbarrow, cullinear weed hoe,a grain shovel and a brush,spent 2 hours contently slicing every weed from the crevices and edges.
Filled up my wheelbarrow and dumped them into my compost heap.
That was a job done professionally,clean and my annual fee for the residents association paid.
I do it twice every year.

I'd rather do that than hand over 100 Euro's to some dodgy resident's association.

A landscaper would charge around 200 for the same job....

gebbel

hairyslug wrote: »

Have you asked them to tidy up?

No and I don't know who the landlord is.

jack923

looksee wrote: »

There was a time a few years ago when a number of houses on the estate where I live were rented out and were seriously neglected. This was nothing to do with elderly people, it was simply absentee landlords not caring so long as they got their rent. Most people made the effort to keep their property tidy, but you do not need too many scruffy houses to make the whole place look like a kip.

The situation seems to have turned round now, and there are no unacceptably neglected properties, it will never be a pretty estate, but at least it looks cared for. Is it a fair bet that the people who are so dismissive of the OP's issues are not paying a mortgage, and therefore unconcerned about the value of their accommodation?

There was a time I used to live with a family member in a rural part of finglas where there was bushes from fields on the other side of the road growing onto the road and trust me it looked very bad, the council neglected it but the residents didn't sit around complaining about it, a group of people many of them elderly went out and done it themselves made a few days work out of it even though it wasn't their job it was the councils.

Now why can't people in his area do the same if it bothers them that much? It surely wouldn't take long.

newacc2015

looksee wrote: »

There was a time a few years ago when a number of houses on the estate where I live were rented out and were seriously neglected. This was nothing to do with elderly people, it was simply absentee landlords not caring so long as they got their rent. Most people made the effort to keep their property tidy, but you do not need too many scruffy houses to make the whole place look like a kip.

The situation seems to have turned round now, and there are no unacceptably neglected properties, it will never be a pretty estate, but at least it looks cared for. Is it a fair bet that the people who are so dismissive of the OP's issues are not paying a mortgage, and therefore unconcerned about the value of their accommodation?

Ah the generic all Landlords care about is money argument. I get from your attitude that you arent a LL. It will very difficult to maintain and look after a property you dont live in. I know LL's who cut the lawns in their houses religiously every 2/3 weeks. Sometimes there is no length on the lawn after 3 weeks while sometimes after 2 weeks of rain/sun the garden can look unkept.

I know a lot of LL's who dont bother cutting their lawns regularly or painting their houses etc, as they cant stand dealing with residents who have too much time on their hands moaning about issues not even related to their house. I know one landlord who gave up going to maintain one of his houses as the local residents association had a vendetta against him claiming his house of 18/19 year old female were vandalising cars and were putting full black bins on people cars. There was no apologies when the Gardai found out it was being caused by halfway house of lads. I know for a lot of landlords a job that should take 30 mins in one of their houses can take about 2 hours as they have to listen to various neighbours blaming their tenants for all the issues the neighbour has regardless of whether it is related or not eg rats, flies etc

My opinion if you buy into a housing estate, you need to accept not everyone have the time to upkeep their house or not everyone is so preoccupied with keeping up with the Jones, that they dont see the point of getting new PVC windows every 5 years or so.

Go to a housing estate in an upper middle class area versus a working class area. In a middle class area you will find a ton of houses with rotten windows that are 80/90 years old, railings that are rusting and driveways that in bits. None of those houses are rented. Versus go to a very working class area and you wont see a single original window in site. Everyone will have those tacky 'cobble style' driveways and cheap PVC windows.

A neglected house doenst mean it is owned by a absentee landlord. People who have money and a lot of it, are ridiculously bad at maintaining their homes too as they dont need to show off their money.

Sleeper12

sunny2004 wrote:

Just looking for clarification as to what this mean ? Thanks

It usually refers to people who bought property at the height of the bubble, possibly to live in themselves. Bubble burst and they couldn't pay the mortgage on their own home. Some of these moved out of their home. Some moved back with parents or rent somewhere cheaper for themselves. They then rent out their homes and possibly have to add to the rent they receive in order to pay the mortgage. Quite often they don't have money for the upkeep of the property and it becomes run down.

In short an accidental landlord never set out to be landlords but were forced into it out of necessity.

Stealthfins

gebbel wrote:

No and I don't know who the landlord is.

Have you ever read the book "The elves and the shoemaker"

Very insightful indeed.

Sometimes it's nice to help people out without them knowing.

You could be the helpful elf,stealing weeds from your neighbor s garden....

misstearheus

Hire someone to maintain the garden and take it out of the Rent and hand over the Receipt instead of money. They'll soon know what they need to do if they want full rent off ya.

bertsmom

In answer to the OP who seems to think that the people who are of the opinion that he or she should just be content to maintain their own home the way that they choose and leave others to do as they see fit. I am actually a mortgage holder and I work full time and have other responsibilities to older parents. I keep my property immaculate because I choose to, it's regularly painted and I keep the exterior neat and tidy BUT my neighbour chooses not to for whatever reason and that's her choice. She seems to be a perfectly nice person that just has other things that interest her so I just mind my own business and continue keeping my own property as I wish. I do not see how her property is any of my business as long as it does not impact on the structure of mine

sunny2004

misstearheus wrote: »

Hire someone to maintain the garden and take it out of the Rent and hand over the Receipt instead of money. They'll soon know what they need to do if they want full rent off ya.

You clearly didn't read the OP

IvoryTower

Sorry to hijack, didn't think this deserved a thread, similar issue.

On my lease it says i have to maintain the garden (unfortunately no tools are provided). But when we moved in the garden was already unusable, it's completely overgrown since day 1, would need a good bit of work to make it half decent. The neighbours are grumbling and i wouldnt mind using it myself.

I was wondering should he at least have it in a decent state for it to be maintained or am I asking too much.

Sleeper12

IvoryTower wrote: »

Sorry to hijack, didn't think this deserved a thread, similar issue.

On my lease it says i have to maintain the garden (unfortunately no tools are provided). But when we moved in the garden was already unusable, it's completely overgrown since day 1, would need a good bit of work to make it half decent. The neighbours are grumbling and i wouldnt mind using it myself.

I was wondering should he at least have it in a decent state for it to be maintained or am I asking too much.

He should have given it to you in a good state, the same as you would expect him/her to have the house for when you move in. Problem is you should have said before you moved in. You accepted the house & garden "as is" so its up to you now.
You could ask the landlord & see what they say or say nothing & make it easier to ask about repairs as they come up.

DavyD_83

gebbel wrote: »

I don't agree with any of this. This property is in a state of neglect. It's the very first property you drive by as you enter the estate. Let's say I want to sell up, or anyone else for that matter. First impressions of a potential buyer? Plus weeds spread elsewhere. That what weeds do.

Look this isn't me on a crusade...others have a problem with it also. I'm just trying to find a solution, because it's just not acceptable that the absent landlord doesn't seem to care, or doesn't perhaps realise it. Nothing to do with competitions or titles. I think it's perfectly reasonable to point it out to him or her.

Sounds like your only viable options are to ask the landlord to improve the house, and if not willing/able to do so to then offer to do it yourselves or to contribute to the cost of getting the work done.

I'm not saying you should have to pay, or you should do the work, but the reality is if the Landlord doesn't want to do or pay for it themselves, there is not a lot you can do to make them other than offering to make it as painless as possible for them.
If the landlord is having no trouble renting, and collecting his rent at the moment; he may have no incentive to improve the house.
Conversely, if the LL is currently having trouble with the tenants (late rent etc) they may purposely be letting the house decline to avoid throwing good money after bad (I think that's the phrase; looks ridiculous written down :P)

For context: I'm a mortgage paying homeowner on a Semi-D situated between 2 rental houses (1 students; 1 family). In our estate it is very evident at a glance which houses are rented and which are owner-occupied. To me this is just the reality of house rental as it exists.
On the plus side, our house was cheapest bought in the estate on house register record (in 2012). For every seller who's house is de-valued there's a buyer who may need that discount

witchgirl26

IvoryTower wrote: »

Sorry to hijack, didn't think this deserved a thread, similar issue.

On my lease it says i have to maintain the garden (unfortunately no tools are provided). But when we moved in the garden was already unusable, it's completely overgrown since day 1, would need a good bit of work to make it half decent. The neighbours are grumbling and i wouldnt mind using it myself.

I was wondering should he at least have it in a decent state for it to be maintained or am I asking too much.

Did you bring up anything about the garden when you move in? Ours was in a similar state when we rented our last place but we put it in writing that we were willing to do the up keep of the garden but only if it was brought to an acceptable level first. There was a bit of back & forth about it but we did get it sorted.

If you haven't brought it up before, maybe say it to the landlord & see the response. It might be helpful to have a couple of quotes of what it would cost to bring it back to a normally manageable level.

IvoryTower

witchgirl26 wrote: »

Did you bring up anything about the garden when you move in? Ours was in a similar state when we rented our last place but we put it in writing that we were willing to do the up keep of the garden but only if it was brought to an acceptable level first. There was a bit of back & forth about it but we did get it sorted.

If you haven't brought it up before, maybe say it to the landlord & see the response. It might be helpful to have a couple of quotes of what it would cost to bring it back to a normally manageable level.

No I didnt say anything. We've been living there for 2 years now. I asked him at the start of the summer could he get it up to scratch and i would maintain it then. He sent his nephew around who made it worse. Then the neighbours were on to me so i asked again the other day, he said its up to tenant to look after garden. I checked the lease and it does say that. So I just text to see if he can get it to a usable state I would gladly maintain it then. Does that seem fair?

If he says no i'll probably just leave it as is

witchgirl26

IvoryTower wrote: »

No I didnt say anything. We've been living there for 2 years now. I asked him at the start of the summer could he get it up to scratch and i would maintain it then. He sent his nephew around who made it worse. Then the neighbours were on to me so i asked again the other day, he said its up to tenant to look after garden. I checked the lease and it does say that. So I just text to see if he can get it to a usable state I would gladly maintain it then. Does that seem fair?

If he says no i'll probably just leave it as is

Honestly if you've been there for 2 years then it really is up to you & not to the landlord. Especially as it's in the lease. As long as the basic tools (lawnmower) have been supplied.

Our garden had large bushes & trees. After the first big clean up that we got the landlord to pay for, we did pay for them to be maintained the following year as it was our responsibility at that point per the lease.

Worth the question you've asked but I wouldn't be expecting a positive response.

IvoryTower

witchgirl26 wrote: »

IvoryTower wrote: »

No I didnt say anything. We've been living there for 2 years now. I asked him at the start of the summer could he get it up to scratch and i would maintain it then. He sent his nephew around who made it worse. Then the neighbours were on to me so i asked again the other day, he said its up to tenant to look after garden. I checked the lease and it does say that. So I just text to see if he can get it to a usable state I would gladly maintain it then. Does that seem fair?

If he says no i'll probably just leave it as is

Honestly if you've been there for 2 years then it really is up to you & not to the landlord. Especially as it's in the lease. As long as the basic tools (lawnmower) have been supplied.

Our garden had large bushes & trees. After the first big clean up that we got the landlord to pay for, we did pay for them to be maintained the following year as it was our responsibility at that point per the lease.

Worth the question you've asked but I wouldn't be expecting a positive response.

No tools supplied and no where to store my own either(tiny house). So realistically I will have to pay someone to maintain it. I'd say it costs a lot less for someone to cut your grass than for someone to overhaul it like it needs now.

So I should pay for both is it

IvoryTower

a friend has offered to do it for me the first time, thanks.

Sleeper12

IvoryTower wrote:

a friend has offered to do it for me the first time, thanks.

Happy days.

TENHNY

Good Luck

I am trying for two years to get landlord to paint our house outside and
there was leak inside and damaged the ceiling and i am waiting over 9 months for that to be fixed, Dont assume its the tenants, some landlords have no pride in their house

Ms Doubtfire1

TENHNY wrote: »

Good Luck

I am trying for two years to get landlord to paint our house outside and
there was leak inside and damaged the ceiling and i am waiting over 9 months for that to be fixed, Dont assume its the tenants, some landlords have no pride in their house

run it through threshold.

draiochtanois

This post has been deleted.

Ms Doubtfire1

draiochtanois wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

only if thats after 2 years of tenancy

newacc2015

TENHNY wrote: »

Good Luck

Dont assume its the tenants, some landlords have no pride in their house

What "pride" are they supposed to take in their asset? It is an investment and its only purpose is to make money for them. If you are not happy with your landlord treating his business like a business, you might want to look for somewhere else to live.

When you go to your corner shop and see that it hasnt been painted in a while. Do you ask the owner why he takes "no pride" in it? I doubt it, as I imagine he will tell you what to do with yourself

Owning a rental property is a business ie its sole purpose is to make money for the owner. There is no such thing as "pride" in investing

SB_Part2

newacc2015 wrote: »

What "pride" are they supposed to take in their asset? It is an investment and its only purpose is to make money for them. If you are not happy with your landlord treating his business like a business, you might want to look for somewhere else to live.

When you go to your corner shop and see that it hasnt been painted in a while. Do you ask the owner why he takes "no pride" in it? I doubt it, as I imagine he will tell you what to do with yourself

Owning a rental property is a business ie its sole purpose is to make money for the owner. There is no such thing as "pride" in investing

You do realise some people don't want to be landlords?

TENHNY

SB_Part2 wrote: »

You do realise some people don't want to be landlords?

How is letting your investment fall to pieces good business ?

amos13

IvoryTower wrote:

No tools supplied and no where to store my own either(tiny house). So realistically I will have to pay someone to maintain it. I'd say it costs a lot less for someone to cut your grass than for someone to overhaul it like it needs now.

I'm pretty sure it's the landlords responsibility to either maintain the gardens or provide the tools, regardless of what's said in the lease. Look up the legislation. I'm 99% certain of this.

pablo128

TENHNY wrote: »

How is letting your investment fall to pieces good business ?

Needing a lick of paint and a bit of gardening is not letting it 'fall to pieces'. Whatever about needing a coat of paint, gardening is usually the tenants job.