What's a reasonable rental increase to install fly screens?

I wouldn't charge extra, makes the tenant feel like you're a good landlord and that your place is a good spot to stick around at. When renewal time comes around; however, I would put the extra on. That way the price hike doesn't seem related to the fly screens but rather inflation and the routine annual increase.

 

Yes, I would do it this way.

 

If the tenant wanted a non opening window to become an opening window and a garden tap to be installed where there wasn't one, yes, I would be charging them. Both of those jobs would be expensive.

 

Anyone else think $1100 is expensive for fly screens? and $0 increase in my opinion, I mean just factor it in during renewal time, why make it a whole separate issue which could give you a bad look to your tenants.

 

Subjective.

 

I vote for no increase on the grounds of fly screens being an essential inclusion.

 

The issue isn't whether having fly screens is nice or considered normal. The question is about installing something they never had when they agreed to the rental 12 months ago and whether that should warrant a price increase.

Simple question but im surprised people comment like I'm a some form slum lord for not upgrading the property. I'm gonna go buy some nasty stuff next to housos in slacks creek now so I feel more the part.

For the record it was fully renovated including new kitchen, bathroom, paint and new carpet just before they moved in. But I skimped on the fly screens cause I'm a a**hole.... And I didn't notice it had none.

 

I think they're a standard inclusion - I'd only seek extra for things like air cons, dishwashers, etc

If it's really an annoyance you could hold out til they're willing to pay extra to resolve, but sometimes doing right by people pays dividends.

 

Cheers @D.T. - it's not an annoyance at all. I just wanted an opinion on what people would do given i viewed it as an upgrade of what was never there in the first place. I've already organized for installation and no increase in cost.

 

To flip that around, were the tenants advised specifically that there were no fly screens before leasing it and that installing them would alter the rental price? Its a reasonable assumption that in most houses, windows have fly screens, and most tenants in a 5-15 min inspection would not think to check for them as they are busy looking at important things like room sizes and bathroom and kitchen and storage.

 

I look at it this way - tenants will see the flyscreens daily as a constant reminder they're costing them an extra $5, $10, $15 or whatever a week, and would probably feel more "entitled" i.e. making a fuss out of every minor fault, damage, chipped tile etc. They'd also take things more for granted knowing they're "paying" for that privelege and will take less general care with common problem items like taps, plumbing, doors, stoves, wall scuffs etc....which in my opinion is worse than getting new tenants and will cost you more than doing so

Make it a point that you are a great caring loving landlord by providing this luxury/upgrade for free and the rent increase you impose at the next lease renewal will be much better received

 

To expand further on the flipping around concept - if the home had flyscreens and they were damaged/missing, they'd be on here asking for how much discount per week they should be offered.

 

LOL, such a greedy jerk!

 

Well, here is my 01c...... if it has a traditional QLD look, I would not be doing this on the whole place, but I would discuss doing some that were not on the front of the building or on a selected few windows, would probably just include cost in a general increase, or ask them to fund it, it would depend on the property income and lease length, how easy it is to re lease etc etc

 

Let us know how you go
Our QLD IP's (past and present) don't have screens in most windows so I think it's less of a deal up there. It does depend on the window type as casements are expensive to fit out!

Our current PPOR has mainly french doors - lovely to look at but impractical to let breezes in and keep bugs out so we chose to install fully fitted double screen doors on every single one.... some $6K later problem is fixed and I'm making sure when I sell the joint to point these out as a value-add feature

 

Yeah, heaps of houses in Brisbane have older style windows that don't even accommodate fly screens easily.

 

Are these insects included on the lease? Has the tenant requested to keep them as pets? Why have they now changed their minds about keeping them indoors and now prefer to keep them outside?

 

I am so surprised that people are so anti linking the installation of an improvement to the lease to a rent increase...

Comments like they will take the place for granted and feel entitled if they pay more for them don't make any sense to me.

Admittedly I live in Melb so maybe it's different, but to me they are not a necessity rather a nice have. Either way though doesn't change my thought process.

What are people's thoughts to a request for a security screen door being fitted to the front door? Should this be fitted free? Shoul the landlord just say no? Or fit it for free for fear that the tenant may feel entitled to dent walls?

Where do people draw the line to free for tenant?

For me it's simple repair=free, improvement=contribution.

Otherwise the requests won't stop there.

 

It really depends on how large the improvement is. If you're spending thousands, fair enough to increase the rent. Couple of hundred bucks, not so much.

There has to be some level of goodwill between landlord and tenant, and of course you need to make sure that isn't abused.

In the OP's situation I would agree on a $5 increase at the next lease renewal.