Landlord made strange comment

Shadylou

Bit of a strange one here, my landlord has been doing a few bits and pieces around the house for the past few weeks (repairing tiles and installing a new shower among other things) and he called a while ago to drop off some stuff he needs for tomorrow while I was getting the washing out of the machine.

I had a few bits and pieces belonging to my boyfriend as we were away for the weekend and they got mixed up with my stuff and I washed them as I was doing my own. I caught him looking at them and he asked me who owned the clothes and when I told him they were myou boyfriends he asked me how often he stayed with me and told me he can only visit up to 3 times per week!!

My boyfriend does not stay over because my kids are still getting to know him but that's not the point!! Can my landlord dictate to me who I have in the house?
I do not receive lone parent or rent allowance

L1011

Check your lease as goes guests.

Extra people = extra wear and tear, so many leases do mention it.

foggy_lad

Simple answer is yes he can, he has rented to you and your kids and anyone else is a visitor and should not be there overnight more than 3 nights a week and not more than 2 consecutive nights. Any more than that and he is considered to be living there and the rent would most likely rise accordingly.

Shadylou

foggy_lad wrote: »

Simple answer is yes he can, he has rented to you and your kids and anyone else is a visitor and should not be there overnight more than 3 nights a week and not more than 2 consecutive nights. Any more than that and he is considered to be living there and the rent would most likely rise accordingly.

When I told him my boyfriend does not stay overnight he said it doesn't matter, he cannot visit more than 3 times per week day or night?

B.A._Baracus

Only my two cents... But landlord is either really observant or really nosey. He was either making a random comment or sussing things out. In any case less he knows the better from now on.

So if he starts asking questions in future like 'ahh how's your boyfriend do you see him much?' or 'who bought the new xxx' then shut him off and say whatever in response.

But for what it's worth it sounds like he was sussing things out. I mean looking at clothes? Asking why a man's clothes were there? Pssh.

Stealthfins

foggy_lad wrote:

Simple answer is yes he can, he has rented to you and your kids and anyone else is a visitor and should not be there overnight more than 3 nights a week and not more than 2 consecutive nights. Any more than that and he is considered to be living there and the rent would most likely rise accordingly.

This is a really sad post.
I'm in my 40's now and back when I and friends were renting in our 20's land Lord's didn't give a toss who stayed as long as their rent was being paid.

Anything for a quick buck now,selfishness,poor me, nobody's taking advantage of me....and greed is rife now in this country.

Society is so sick now, 3 day's FFS

Maybe her boyfriend might have had time off and needed a week off.

Year's ago a land Lord was a person of class and integrity,a person who minds their own business.

As long as rent was being paid that was it.

3 days stay lol that's nothing.....

So should the land lord raise the rent when the kids cousin's decide to come for a week ?

Addle

If you're receiving social welfare payments as a single person, then the amount of overnights matter afaik.
He's probably referencing that.

jlm29

Addle wrote: »

If you're receiving social welfare payments as a single person, then the amount of overnights matter afaik.
He's probably referencing that.

But she has said he doesn't stay overnight at all. The landlord still said he couldn't visit more than 3 times day or night, which sounds a bit bizarre to me. Does this mean her mother can't call more than three times? Or her sister?

Jayop

That has to be rubbish. If you're next door neighbour called in for a cuppa 4 days in one week or three days in a row could she be chucked out? he sounds like a right pain.

testaccount123

Its none of your landlords business if you have guests. Tell him to mind his own business.

Ginger83

testaccount123 wrote: »

Its none of your landlords business if you have guests. Tell him to mind his own business.

There's a difference between a guest and someone unnamed and unagreed on the rental contract living at his property.

testaccount123

Ginger83 wrote: »

There's a difference between a guest and someone unnamed and unagreed on the rental contract living at his property.

Yes, thats right.

foggy_lad

Shadylou wrote: »

When I told him my boyfriend does not stay overnight he said it doesn't matter, he cannot visit more than 3 times per week day or night?

He is mostly wrong there, the overnight thing is the difference between him renting to a single person or a couple, but if the boyfriend is there a lot during the day as well as a few nights a week then it could be taken that he lives there more than anywhere else and it then becomes his principle residence.

@Stealthfins: As for the children's cousins staying during holidays the tenants should seek permission or at least inform the landlord that the extra people will be there for a week during the holidays just as if the tenant is vacating the property for any length of time to go on holidays or visit friends for a week they should be informing the landlord.

@Addle: It has nothing to do with social welfare payments but all about the landlord being entitled to know who is living and staying in his property.

A few days here and there are nothing to be worried about and neither are the kids cousins staying for a week or two during holidays but prolonged overnights as well as being there daytime too makes a girl/boyfriend a tenant in the property

testaccount123

foggy_lad wrote: »

As for the children's cousins staying during holidays the tenants should seek permission or at least inform the landlord that the extra people will be there for a week during the holidays just as if the tenant is vacating the property for any length of time to go on holidays or visit friends for a week they should be informing the landlord.

Where are you getting this guff? Its no business of the landlord if the tenant has guests in her home.

Kings Inns or bust

While I'd have an opinion on whether such a clause in a lease was enforceable I'll express it only if requested over in Legal Discussions. If the lease is silent on the issue Section 16(n) of the RTA 2004 seems to imply only notification is required and only then if the person is ordinarily resident.

As a landlord myself I find it baffling a LL would care.

foggy_lad

testaccount123 wrote: »

Where are you getting this guff? Its no business of the landlord if the tenant has guests in her home.

http://www.rtb.ie/tenants/rights-responsibilities-obligations

You Obligations as a Tenant:

Pay your rent in full and on time.
Maintain the property in good order and inform the landlord when repairs are needed, allowing him/her or others access for this.
Do not engage in any activities that may harm the property e.g. drying clothes inside the accommodation without proper ventilation, as this may cause damp to spread.
Allow the landlord to do routine inspections of the property.
Inform the landlord of who is living in the property.
Avoid causing damage, nuisance or breaking the law.
Comply with the terms of the tenancy agreement whether written or verbal.
Give the landlord valid notice before termination of the tenancy.
Keep a record of all repairs, payments and dealings with the landlord.
Not to do anything that could affect the landlord’s insurance premium on the dwelling.

If a guest is there for longer than 3 days the tenant should inform the landlord that this and/or other guests will be visiting and/or staying regularly, if the tenant is leaving the property unattended for more than a few days they should inform the landlord.

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/housing/renting_a_home/tenants_rights_and_obligations.html

testaccount123

foggy_lad wrote: »

http://www.rtb.ie/tenants/rights-responsibilities-obligations
If a guest is there for longer than 3 days the tenant should inform the landlord that this and/or other guests will be visiting and/or staying regularly, if the tenant is leaving the property unattended for more than a few days they should inform the landlord.

Rubbish. You seem to be confusing a legal professional tenancy agreement with the rules for a schoolgirl living in a dormitory.

L1011

testaccount123 wrote: »

Rubbish. You seem to be confusing a legal professional tenancy agreement with the rules for a schoolgirl living in a dormitory.

You seem to be confusing "ah sure it'll be grand" with complying with your lease.

Its probably a surreal/controlling request but without knowing far more details we don't know.

foggy_lad

OP is there a section in your lease referring to Guests and visitors adn how long they can stay?

testaccount123

L1011 wrote: »

You seem to be confusing "ah sure it'll be grand" with complying with your lease.

Its probably a surreal/controlling request but without knowing far more details we don't know.

I wouldnt sign a lease that says I need to ask my landlords permission to have a guest. I pay fifteen grand a year for the service, the idea of having to ask if I can have someone over is laughable.

L1011

testaccount123 wrote: »

I wouldnt sign a lease that says I need to ask my landlords permission to have a guest. I pay fifteen grand a year for the service, the idea of having to ask if I can have someone over is laughable.

What lease you would or wouldn't sign and what the OP has signed (and its contents) are two completely different things.

You are making assumptions that the scenario matches your idealised one.

Water John

LL was marking OP's card, simply. Don't agree with these type of rules, but if they are in the lease, they apply.
His language may have been loose in saying day or night.

testaccount123

Water John wrote: »

LL was marking OP's card, simply. Don't agree with these type of rules, but if they are in the lease, they apply.

Nobody in their right mind would sign such a lease. This is an adult with children in a private rental.

Ginger83

testaccount123 wrote: »

I wouldnt sign a lease that says I need to ask my landlords permission to have a guest. I pay fifteen grand a year for the service, the idea of having to ask if I can have someone over is laughable.

I think we are arguing guest v extra tenant.
I had a tenant sublet 2 rooms without my knowledge before.

Sleeper12

jlm29 wrote:

But she has said he doesn't stay overnight at all. The landlord still said he couldn't visit more than 3 times day or night, which sounds a bit bizarre to me. Does this mean her mother can't call more than three times? Or her sister?

"Visit" is staying the night. Perfectly normal question from the landlord. He wanted to know if op was breaking the lease. Op told him no she wasn't. This should be the end of it.
It's really not a big deal.

L1011

testaccount123 wrote: »

Nobody in their right mind would sign such a lease. This is an adult with children in a private rental.

They're in basically every boilerplate lease so I suspect that vast quantities of people have signed them.

testaccount123

Ginger83 wrote: »

I think we are arguing guest v extra tenant.
I had a tenant sublet 2 rooms without my knowledge before.

What has that got to do with this topic? The thread is about guests.

testaccount123

L1011 wrote: »

They're in basically every boilerplate lease so I suspect that vast quantities of people have signed them.

No they arent.

Water John

So now, we have established the OP checks the detail of her lease agreement.
No point in arguing here whether it is in it or not.

Ginger83

testaccount123 wrote: »

What has that got to do with this topic? The thread is about guests.

My point being the LL was obviously sussing out if the womans boyfriend was living at his property which as he said would have been breaking the lease.

L1011

testaccount123 wrote: »

No they arent.

Go find me some that don't include it.

Every boilerplate lease I have ever seen has a limitation on when a guest becomes someone living there and requires the landlords permission for same. The two on the first page of Google results seem to be based on the same core text (let.ie / topfloor.ie) and have such a clause. I suspect most don't search much further.

I suspect you are being pointlessly argumentative for the hell of it here. You don't know the contents of the OPs lease but you've gone off on random (insulting) tangents regardless.

05eaftqbrs9jlh

Ginger83 wrote:

I think we are arguing guest v extra tenant. I had a tenant sublet 2 rooms without my knowledge before.

But if the partner is staying the odd day without paying rent, that makes him a visitor. Three visits per week isn't something that was in the lease, it's just nonsense the landlord has imposed. Sort of surveillance, how will he enforce that condition? It's such a bizarre request.

athtrasna

Mod note

Testaccount123 you seem determined to stir. Please post in such a way as contributes to the thread in a positive manner or not at all. Also please leave the moderation to the mods. Thanks

testaccount123

L1011 wrote: »

Go find me some that don't include it.

Every boilerplate lease I have ever seen has a limitation on when a guest becomes someone living there and requires the landlords permission for same.

I suspect you are being pointlessly argumentative for the hell of it here. You don't know the contents of the OPs lease but you've gone off on random (insulting) tangents regardless.

http://www.topfloor.ie/freebies/lease
http://www.let.ie/files/part4.pdf

No mention of this ridiculous notion of having to ask a landlords permission to have a guest in a private rental.

This forum is full of misinformation from people who dont know what they are talking about.

the_syco

testaccount123 wrote: »

Nobody in their right mind would sign such a lease. This is an adult with children in a private rental.

With the market such as it is, if the house was near a school they may not have had much choice.

L1011

testaccount123 wrote: »

http://www.topfloor.ie/freebies/lease
http://www.let.ie/files/part4.pdf

No mention of this ridiculous notion of having to ask a landlords permission to have a guest in a private rental.

This forum is full of misinformation from people who dont know what they are talking about.

Did you actually read either of those? They're the ones I referenced and are near identical.

Both of those require you to inform the landlord if you add an extra person living there. More than 3 days a week (annualised) would be living there under Revenue's generally accepted concept of residency.

jlm29

Sleeper12 wrote: »

"Visit" is staying the night. Perfectly normal question from the landlord. He wanted to know if op was breaking the lease. Op told him no she wasn't. This should be the end of it.
It's really not a big deal.

"When I told him my boyfriend does not stay overnight, he said it doesn't matter, he can only visit three times a week, day or night".
That's what her post days. Her landlord doesn't seem to agree with you.

Ginger83

Leon Damaged Tick wrote: »

But if the partner is staying the odd day without paying rent, that makes him a visitor. Three visits per week isn't something that was in the lease, it's just nonsense the landlord has imposed. Sort of surveillance, how will he enforce that condition? It's such a bizarre request.

Yes I agree with you, I wouldn't be that sticky either, an overnight visit is far from arguing about, we can only assume the LL suspected something when he witnessed his tenant washing someone else's clothes.

Ginger83

L1011 wrote: »

Did you actually read either of those? They're the ones I referenced and are near identical.

Both of those require you to inform the landlord if you add an extra person living there. More than 3 days a week (annualised) would be living there under Revenue's generally accepted concept of residency.

Most leases would state that for obvious reasons, insurance, wear and tear, etc

Shadylou

I don't get any rent allowance for the house, I pay the full rent myself but I just wanted to get a few thoughts on whether my landlord can dictate to me who can visit my home during the day.
I'd completely understand if my boyfriend was staying over a lot but he owns his own home so doesn't need to be staying in mine

Water John

Certainly not. His language was loose there and should he imply some thing in future make it very clear that you abide by your lease.

Giacomo McGubbin

neither a tenant nor a landlord be

Water John

WTF its a whole essential section of the housing in any city. It just needs to be regulated correctly.

Kings Inns or bust

Shadylou wrote: »

I don't get any rent allowance for the house, I pay the full rent myself but I just wanted to get a few thoughts on whether my landlord can dictate to me who can visit my home during the day.
I'd completely understand if my boyfriend was staying over a lot but he owns his own home so doesn't need to be staying in mine

OP you need to read your lease.

If it delimits the issue then I would be guided by it for now. If it does not then carry on and if your LL starts to become a problem simply use the RTB's dispute resolution service.

Shadylou

All it says in my lease is that there is a limit in occupation which my landlord has my name and the kids names under, it says I may not sublet but it doesnt say anything about visitors.
He does not occupy the house, he visits maybe 4 times a week for a few hours

Water John

Visiting is not an issue. Staying over night on a regular basis is the only item in question.

Kings Inns or bust

We're potentially straying into the realms of legal advice here; but I'd personally read that as someone in occupation of the property. If he's ordinarily resident somewhere else I'd personally tell the landlord, politely, to go forth and multiply.

If you're worried and want more advice threshold or FLAC will give you some proper advice.

Mena

Shadylou wrote: »

All it says in my lease is that there is a limit in occupation which my landlord has my name and the kids names under, it says I may not sublet but it doesnt say anything about visitors.
He does not occupy the house, he visits maybe 4 times a week for a few hours

4 times a week for a few hours? Seriously? I'd argue the LL is staying with you.

We saw our landlord once every two years at most when we were renting, while that's probably also not normal, what you're describing is madness. On top of that, who visits youband when, in your home, really should be nobody's business but your own.

Speedwell

My last apartment lease in America had such a provision, but my house lease here in Ireland does not. I don't have to tell my letting agent here if I leave for a week, and I don't have to tell them, but I may mention, if I have a house guest for a few weeks.

I did ask my apartment manager in America, purely out of curiosity, why the lease said I had to inform them and get their permission if I had a guest stay longer than three days (not three separate occasions in a week, just three days in a row). She said, to paraphrase, "Oh, we don't usually enforce that unless the visitor causes trouble while they're here. But if you are having someone stay a lot or for a week or two at a time, especially if you are away while they are in the apartment, for the safety of the others in the complex we might ask to run a criminal history on them. Or, for their own safety and yours, and for our insurance reasons, we might ask you to add them as a named secondary resident, who is not responsible for the rent and bills, and whose rights are subordinate to yours. Then they can stay permanently until you request they be removed from the lease."

otwb1

Mena wrote:

4 times a week for a few hours? Seriously? I'd argue the LL is staying with you.

think the Op means that the boyfriend is there for times a week for a few hours...not the landlord.

OP, I strongly suspect that the landlord doesn't care as long as your boyfriend isn't living in the house. Obviously seeing someone else's washing raises the suspicion that they are living there.

Stealthfins

foggy_lad wrote:

@Stealthfins: As for the children's cousins staying during holidays the tenants should seek permission or at least inform the landlord that the extra people will be there for a week during the holidays just as if the tenant is vacating the property for any length of time to go on holidays or visit friends for a week they should be informing the landlord.

Sounds like a very insecure post to me.