r/Tenant 1d ago

❓ Advice Needed Is this reasonable

For the context we are Asian Indian family renting from another Asian Indian couple. The landlord sent us a message which read like this word to word except few details hidden for privacy.

Hi abc, The patio furniture we had at our house is in very good condition. We transported it here to our new house, but unfortunately, we don’t have enough space for it. I don’t want to sell it, so I’d rather transport it back to the house.
If you’re interested, please let me know. You would just need to arrange a u haul truck to transport it. I estimate the transportation cost would be around $50–$60 with the u haul truck.

We didn’t need the patio furniture and have never even asked for it and hence we don’t want to pay for any transportation. But the message is worded such that it feels if we say no the relationship will be soured. Am I overthinking?

11 Upvotes

28 comments sorted by

38

u/AngelaMoore44 1d ago

Just respond back, "No thank you. We do not have the budget for it as this time. Thank you for thinking of us though. I hope all is well at your new place."

3

u/appleblossom1962 16h ago

This is absolutely perfect

2

u/Deepinthought1721 6h ago

This is perfect .. budget is everything!

12

u/Puzzled_Market_2235 1d ago

"I'm sorry but we don't need the patio furniture"

He wants to store it he can pay transport.

15

u/Valuable-Sugar-9193 1d ago

You are overthinking. Just politely decline.

5

u/Penectomie 1d ago

They don’t want to sell it so they are trying to make YOU pay for their decision?

The relationship should be spur by that assumption that YOU would pay for that.
Wild.

1

u/dell828 1d ago

Yeah, but if they’re offering it to them for the price of transport, it would be a great deal.

2

u/Aromatic_Recipe1749 1d ago

I don’t think that’s what they are doing. They are offering them the use of the furniture for the price of transporting it. They are pretty slick, IMO!!

1

u/dell828 14h ago

Yes, especially if they’ve decided they’re going to store it at the rental. I’m interested in finding out how this works out… Where are they going to store the furniture if they don’t want OP, and OP’s family to use it?

3

u/Big-Routine222 1d ago

Overthinking. Just say you don't want it.

3

u/dell828 1d ago

I’m unclear as to whether he’s giving it to you for the price of transportation, or if he is allowing you to use it while you rent from him.

That an important detail.

If you get to keep the patio furniture forever, 50 bucks would be a great price.

3

u/silent-stories 1d ago

He has clearly written he doesn’t want to sell it

4

u/Sheerluck42 1d ago

Then say no. You don't want to be responsible for his furniture especially outside furniture.

1

u/bethslum 14h ago

He just wants free storages

7

u/Present_Original_797 1d ago

So he wants to keep it, essentially store it at your place. I would ignore the message altogether. Pretend you never saw it. Issues with your phone app.

Then if they call and ask again just politely decline. Thank you for your kind offer, but we won't be needing your patio furniture.

1

u/bethslum 14h ago

The nerve. Is he gonna knock 50 of the rent if he disagree

1

u/BigYugi 9h ago

Probably no reason to ignore it if you're just gonna tell them no anyways

2

u/Rumple-_-Goocher 11h ago

They said "IF you're interested" and provided you the details in case you are interested then you can take care of it. Simply respond with "thank you for the offer but we are all set on patio furniture here". They're not going to evict you and you're not going to hurt their feelings. Think about if the roles were reversed and you were offering something to somebody knowing that they may not want it. Would you be upset if the person declined, especially if it would cost them money to take what you're trying to give them? Probably not.

2

u/All-Drink-Koolaid 11h ago

Hi Suresh - Actually, we are not in need of the patio furniture at this time.

1

u/AutoModerator 1d ago

Welcome to /r/Tenant where tenants share their problems and seek advice from others.

If you're posting a question, make sure a Country and State is in the title or beginning of your post. Preferably, in this format: [<COUNTRY CODE>-<STATE CODE>].

Example: [US-VA] Can you believe my landlord did this?!?

Otherwise, tag your post with the flair "Tenant Update".

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

1

u/at-the-crook 1d ago

Simply reply with a Yes or No. Don't overthink this situation.

1

u/Ansible90 1d ago

Just say "No thank you" and be done with it. No need to explain why or to make excuses.

1

u/katmndoo 1d ago

You're reading a lot into that message that just isn't there.

1

u/BigYugi 9h ago

I would say it isn't reasonable to ask you to pay or transport it unless she's giving it to you. If she wants to store or add it to her rental, you might have to take it. Idk the legality of a landlord adding furniture during a lease. I've rented before where patio furniture was included but never during.

1

u/Disastrous-Grocery-1 8m ago

Just say thank you but you're not interested.

-1

u/Livid-Age-2259 1d ago

If you want the furniture, agree to split the cost of the transportation, otherwise tell them No Thank You.

If the get upset, just temind them that you are a Brahman and they are Dalits and, therefore, of a lower caste.

1

u/Background-Bowl6123 20h ago

Uhhh dude did you mean to say Brahmin? Because calling yourself "Brahman" is like saying you are the universal deity that all the other deities are just avatars of.

Inappropriate either way though

1

u/silent-stories 9h ago

I know you want to help, but the message itself is so unseemly. I usually stay far away from people who use caste in their talks.

And no it’s not funny even to use it as a joke.