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Hi,
Just had my landlord around today, who flipped at the sight of my mountain bike being kept inside my flat.
she's offered to put a cleat outside the back of my flat for me to keep it there instead.
Has anyone got any advice for safe outside storage/ ways of keeping it inside and landlord happy.
I did explain its not transport its my £2000 bike, but she was of the mindset that only students would keep bikes inside..
Any advice would be welcome, because her other idea was i rent a garage
Thanks
Tom
I would tell her to sod off. As long as you're not damaging anything you should be able to keep it anywhere you like.
Bike bag.
Should be up to you what you keep where as long is does no damage. Some landlords are arses though. Maybe keep it in a bike bag
I am a landlord and I couldn't care less what my tenants keep in the house as long as there is no damage. While they rent it it's their home!
Check your tenancy agreement before you get too animated about it...
Then hide it under the bed next time they come round if there is a problem. 😛
I saw a bike bag on a website the other day that looked something like an massive inverted shower cap.
Ideal for keeping landlords worried about muddy bikes off your back.
Can't remember what it was called or where is was from. Sorry...
I am a landlord and I couldn't care less what my tenants keep in the house as long as there is no damage. While they rent it it's their home!
Ditto.
Unless there's a specific clause in your rental agreement then you can do what you like within reason. I would bring that to the attention of your landlord if she wants to get antsy.
What they said.
Although having lived through bikegate with my landlord it really isn't worth the hastle and stress.
If it doesn't say anything in the contract then Id just be polite and firm. Remind them it's your home and you expect any further inspections to focus of the fabric of the building (ie the landlords property) not your private possessions.
And in the meantime get a bike bag. Duffbag do one, as do the CTC. Or a normal flight bag works with the wheels off (get wheel bags too) and just the bars poking out.
I checked the tenancy agreement, and the only thing she said no to was pets and calories gas heaters.
but she said if she known i had a bike to keep inside she wouldn't of let the flat to me and my GF. i didn't quite tell her she has one too.
I did find it strange how she couldn't grab people ride bikes a hobby, and no I'm not going to leave my bike in plain sight of a road outside all the time.
I had thought of that evoc bag thing, but she seems to think I'm going to obliterate the flat getting it in and out
I am a landlord and I couldn't care less what my tenants keep in the house as long as there is no damage. While they rent it it's their home!
This.
Is this a house she's bought to rent out or is it her old flat she's rented out as she's moved in with a new partner?
She sounds like she has too much attachment to the property. Renting out properties is a business. I've inspected some horrendous properties over the years. If keeping a bike in the house is the worst she has to complain about then it sounds like she's lucky to have you as a tenant.
As long as the tenants are paying the rent and looking after the place I wouldn't care.
If you damage the place I'll just keep your bond. After all that's what it's for.
As a sweetener and a compromise you could offer to increase the bond (I personally wouldn't) or just make sure it's not there next time she pops round. They have to give notice to make an inspection.
Or hang it on the wall and put a wooden frame round it and tell her it's modern art.
I rent out a house, I don't care if the tenants have bikes etc. They can do what they wish as long as its about the same state as I first let it out to them in.
On the other hand, myself and my girlfriend have absolutely wrecked the walls in my house with our road bikes, but there are two of them coming in and out multiple times daily.
When I moved into my current flat the landlord was fine about me having a bike in there. She wasn't too happy about 3!
We came to an agreement though, the bedroom carpet needed replacing after a year so I suggested she leave it in there, I put a rug over the main area to make it tidy and I keep the bikes in there. If the carpet gets stained it's no loss and she saves having to pay for a new carpet for a few years. Problem solved.
The landlord has had the house for over 20 years at which point it was literally four walls no roof or floors which they done up. she said my front room had mess on the floor (stanley knife and four banana plugs).
I think I'm going to suggest that there no viable way to store them elsewhere, outside simply isn't an option.
then try and agree that i will keep them inside however if it causes significant damage to the building fabric to a point where our deposit needs to be used to cover repairs so be it (hopefully won't)
calories gas heaters
Full fat gas?
Calor gas, of the auto correct variety
I suppose the obvious question is, how attached are you to the flat?
With no specific exclusions, LL does not have a leg to stand on. If you want to give her a present, it's your money, but I wouldn't.
Nod politely and continue to keep it inside. Remove for the planned inspections. She should have no business seeing inside.
Yep just make sure they are not on show for inspections. No clause in contract, no damage to property, no issues. Though plan to move at some point as she will probably become a PITA.
Bike bags, sheets, tarp etc to keep all dirt contained though. Make sure it's spotless for inspections.
Move out and buy a house, terraced houses are reasonably cheap, under 100k in most cities.
😆
What's the deal if there's no mention of bikes in the contract but the move in inventory says no bikes? I had already signed everything and paid a deposit before I saw this after all. It's a shame as the entrance hall is perfect for bike storage in my new flat (and will be used as such)
yeah buy houses..... solves every problem
Move out and buy a house, terraced houses are reasonably cheap, under 100k in most cities.
I wish they were! Lucky to get a shed for that price.
Rsl1, the inventory is a list of the current state/fittings of the property. If it's not in the contract I'd just carry on (I'd also ignore the inventory).
In our last rental flat I modified a large built in cupboard to store two bikes, had 3 in the landing on a bike rack (1st floor not old Victorian house) and stored 2 commuters in the hall.
I've a few of these https://velosock.com which keep the dirt contained and help prevent tyre marks.
In the ops situation I'd be politely telling the landlord to jog on, though if pushed would agree not to work on them in the house.
I have been through the bike inside battle previously. Some landlords just have no idea about the "value" of bikes and assume that leaving it outside, even out the front, is perfectly fine as long as its locked. In the end I gave up and lowered it on and off the balcony, which was a real pain in the ar*e! Since moved on from that one and now my landlord is fine with bikes - she can tell that there is no damage from my "nice one" being inside, which is all that counts. I would try some kind of bag to store it or point out to her that there is no damage anywhere and if you cause any you will fix it. Good luck, I feel your pain!
Any also
Move out and buy a house, terraced houses are reasonably cheap, under 100k in most cities.
Not in london....cant even buy a shoe box for that 🙁
If the bike was clean when seen it seems a bit of an overreaction.
Assuming there's not tyre tracks on the carpet or dented walls where it's been propped up I can't see why they would care, but they obviously do.
But in the interests of an easy life maybe some diplomacy is called for, could you have another conversation, maybe explain it's value and stealabiliy if outside, and offer to keep it on a mat with a cover when inside?
Ha. Wait till you forgot they were coming round 2 days after the strathpuffer....and sees all your cycling gear soaking in muddy water in the bath....
Landlord was about on he celing until I asked if she would rather I stuck them straight into washing machine as was and ruined it.....
Tell them to do one. I have my bikes in a 1st floor flat, drilled holes in the walls for hooks to hang them from too. I did make sure I'd covered the floor with rugs and things in the bike room to stop the carpet getting ruined though.
My lanlords has been round and didn't show any interest tbh.
As long as you rectify any damages or sacrifice some of your deposit to make it good at the end (within reason obvs) it's up to you how you live in your flat. Unless otherwise stated in your letting agreement.
Assuming your BB can accommodate it
Keeps the bike upright and away from walls, furniture etc
she said my front room had mess on the floor (stanley knife and four banana plugs).
Does she not grasp the concept that you paying her money = your home?
If there is nothing in the contract then she can go whistle, though I'd think about looking for another place, as she sounds like an idiot.
I had a landlord once who used to let himself in and help himself to tea and biscuits. Complaining was just water off a ducks back. Finally my 6'6" housemate gave him a 'talking to' and he never came round again the rest of the time we were there! We even got our full deposit back.
All covered already, pretty much. None of my landlords were bothered. If a wall needs painting or a carpet needs cleaning when you move out, then it doesn't really matter whether you were the archetypal professional couple who spilt a glass of wine one night, or if you're a teetotal mountainbiker who scuffed the wall.
If you feel like it, see if you can get her past the student associations - try and be nice, take her along with you: it's a piece of sporting equipment. How would she feel about football boots? Skis? A kite? a surfboard? Would she expect any of those to be locked up outside the house? Why?
She's wrong, it's your house and provided you aren't damaging anything it's none of her business what you keep in there (cannabis farms excepted). Ours was in a fit about how many cobwebs we had during an inspection but since we live in the countryside and no spider's web has ever caused structural damage to a house it's nothing to do with her.
To make life easier, though, I'd just keep them out the way when there's an inspection. Maybe stick it in the car for the afternoon.
when we were renting in London, the bikes would be going in the car for mtb rides, so would have front wheel and saddle off anyway. they pack away small like that, and you can put a rug over the top to make you living room more living room-y, if you're my wife.
Definitely tell her to do one! She sounds like a right pain in the ass. I rent a house and have 7 bikes in the 2nd living room.
I lodged with someone for a couple of years, had 7 bikes by the time I left, 3 in the hallway, 4 in my bedroom.
Does your landlord not have to give you 24 hours notice when popping in? Time to hide it somewhere?
My tenant can do what he likes in my/his flat, as long as he gives it back in broadly the same condition as he got it.
An old landlady got herself in a tiz and kicked off because there was a load of washing up left out to be done when she came round and demanded the letting agent do something about it. The reason she was in the flat, she'd come in (unannounced) with the fella who was replacing the knackered dishwasher...
In our contract it states no cycles to be kept in the house. When we had an inspection once before, my bike was sitting in the corner on my turbo trainer as i had not long torn a ligament in my ankle and it was there to help strengthen it through exercise.
Landlady was fine with that.
I had thought before of putting some strategically placed hooks/rails in a double wardrobe and the bike (wheels off) hanging inside. Something like this an option maybe?
See she came in short notice to look at a problem with moisture below window sill otherwise i would of had bit more time to prepare and maybe take it to work with me. The bike is spotless. I specifically cleaned the tyres etc so would have that problem.
funny you should say about damages because she did have the last tenant who was a middle aged professional who actually burnt a patch on the carpet. although a spotless bike is more of an issue 🙄
I think maybe ill explain to her the value, not viable to keep anywhere else. and say that i will keep it clean, off her carpets then if there is any damages to the property i will accept full responsibility (pretty sure won't be though) even though not in tenancy agreement it will keep the peace hopefully somewhat as a compromise. the fact she refers to it as not living like an adult and like a student seems irrelevant (although I'm only 22 so its expected the house will look like a relatively young person lives there due to the possessions in it).
One cheap solution is a extra thick super king plastic mattress cover. Used by removal companies and for storage. Got mine on eBay for about 10 quid. Leave by the front door when you go out. Roll mid bike in once you get back. Won't last for ever.
tpoles95 - Member
See she came in short notice to look at a problem with moisture below window sill otherwise i would of had bit more time to prepare and maybe take it to work with me. The bike is spotless. I specifically cleaned the tyres etc so would have that problem.funny you should say about damages because she did have the last tenant who was a middle aged professional who actually burnt a patch on the carpet. although a spotless bike is more of an issue
I think maybe ill explain to her the value, not viable to keep anywhere else. and say that i will keep it clean, off her carpets then if there is any damages to the property i will accept full responsibility (pretty sure won't be though) even though not in tenancy agreement it will keep the peace hopefully somewhat as a compromise. the fact she refers to it as not living like an adult and like a student seems irrelevant (although I'm only 22 so its expected the house will look like a relatively young person lives there due to the possessions in it).
One thing I've learnt in contracts (both in and out of work) is offer NOTHING and say the very least you can get away with.
If you offer to keep it clean - she'll have a stricter definition
You offer to keep it off the carpet - any mark on the carpet and you'll be paying for a new one.
You offer to keep it in a bag - she'll have to come round at some point to fix a leak and it won't be, and you'll now be in breach of your contract because you added a pointless clause to it about bikes in bags which you didn't have to.
Unless she brings it up again in the future, say nothing (but I'd put it in a bag anyway), be polite but firm if she does say anything.
You have a flat, a bike, and a contract that says nothing about the interaction of the two. You've won, arguing with her will only result in something closer to losing. A negotiation at this point would be "I'll keep it in a bag in return for £50 a month off my rent for the inconvenience". I'm being facetious and you'll get nowhere with that, but it's less daft than giving away what you've already got.