Bannon Posted September 21, 2008 Share Posted September 21, 2008 A good friend of ours has asked to rent our gite from us for a year - but we are worried about entering into a landlord/tenant relationship with him - a bit like mixing business with pleasure I suppose. Has anybody had a good or bad experience of such an arrangement? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jotty Posted September 21, 2008 Share Posted September 21, 2008 I rent to a friend who gets housing benefit.The problem is that this is not the full rent, and he is very bad about making up the difference.It's only a small amount (about 80 euros a month) but it stays at the back of my mind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BJSLIV Posted September 21, 2008 Share Posted September 21, 2008 Have you ever noticed how frequently people raise querstions which run something like; I employed / rented to / loaned to an ex friend Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Coeur de Lion Posted September 21, 2008 Share Posted September 21, 2008 I would only rent to a friend I no longer would want as a friend.Never mix money and friendship is really the key. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulT Posted September 22, 2008 Share Posted September 22, 2008 Totally agree - do not mix business and pleasure.Great potential for being taken advantage of and, with the way that French law supports the tenant great chance for things not being done right and ending up with a sitting tenant.Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bannon Posted September 22, 2008 Author Share Posted September 22, 2008 Thanks for your replies guys.It does see a shame that human nature takes over when money and obligation are involved. If I do let him rent (and I'm leaning towards it) I can't say I've not been told... so a bit more thought perhaps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Coeur de Lion Posted September 22, 2008 Share Posted September 22, 2008 One way of handling it if you decide not to rent to them is to say that you value your friendship too much and that you feel by renting to them there is always a chance that it could place that relationship in jeopardy if anything was to go wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joffan Posted September 24, 2008 Share Posted September 24, 2008 If he really is a good friend - nothing should stand in the way of helping him out. If things go wrong you will always work it out, especially if he is the good friend you think he is - go for it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Coeur de Lion Posted September 24, 2008 Share Posted September 24, 2008 Are you the good friend by any chance?[:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nectarine Posted September 25, 2008 Share Posted September 25, 2008 I've been renting a house to a good friend for the last five years with no problems. However, we both made it clear that, for the sake of our friendship, we should have a water-tight contract which detailed everything (who's responsible for what, landlord's obligations, tenant's obligations, etc.) and we wrote it up at the start of the tenancy and included it in the contract. There were no disagreements at all there and it is good to know that if there are any problems then we can both refer to the contract that we jointly prepared and use that as the 'referee'./ But it hasn't come to that.So good luck. I think the secret of keeping your friend as a tenant, and vice-vers, is making sure that EVERYTHING is down in writing at the start! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bannon Posted September 25, 2008 Author Share Posted September 25, 2008 No, he really is a friend of ours :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suze01 Posted September 25, 2008 Share Posted September 25, 2008 After reading the first page I was going to post exactly what Nectarine has written at the top of the second page! Have a contract drawn up if you really want to rent to a friend.Another thing (for your friend) to bear in mind, is that if he isn't already, after 6 months he will be officially resident in France and will need to complete tax returns etc. What about his health cover? Has he thought all this through? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bannon Posted September 25, 2008 Author Share Posted September 25, 2008 I had thought of a contract but it did seem a bit formal so something else to think about and probably do now. There are lots of threads on this forum so that will be a big help.As regards to being in the country over six months, he's actually been here for a couple of years and is now retired. The reason for the rental request is that his house here in France has to be sold for personal reasons and he needs a long let before 'downsizing' to smaller place. Give the market at the moment this could take some months and a long let with us would ease the pressure on him quite a bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joffan Posted September 25, 2008 Share Posted September 25, 2008 I am a good friend but not the good friend and if I was in this situation I would like to be treated as a good friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jotty Posted September 25, 2008 Share Posted September 25, 2008 You can buy a standard contract form at a ¨Papeterie"see here I would suggest that it is an essential precaution.My friend had been attacked in his flat and injured, so I gave him immediate access to the house, and helped him get himself together.That doesn't mean that I didn't get him to sign a contract (which in any case he needed to produce later for other things) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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