Landlords left to clean up tenants’ mess

Concerning new research has indicated that a growing number of landlords are facing dirty property damage come the end of some tenancy agreements.

Filthy

A study conducted by PropertyLetByUs shows that nearly a third of landlords were faced by dirty ovens at check-out time. This was followed by unclean baths and sinks (23%), stained carpets and floorcoverings (22%), grubby showers (10%) and dirty kitchen cupboards (9%).[1]

The research also shows that over 60% of landlords are left with rubbish left by their previous tenants in lofts, sheds, garages and gardens. This said, muck and grime are not the only problems faced by landlords.[1]

In excess of 40% of landlords said that tenant redecorated their homes without permission, with one in six saying they had experienced pet damage. 7% said damage from children, such as scrawling on walls, was present, with 4% recording broken curtain poles and blinds.[1]

Landlords left to clean up tenants’ mess

Problem

Jane Morris, Managing Director of Property Let By Us, said, ‘according to recent figures from the NLA, around 400,000 landlords in the UK have had their property damaged by tenants in the last 12 months. Our research shows that the problem is much bigger than this. So many landlords face expensive cleaning and repair bills at check-out, which are often contested by the tenant.’[1]

‘It’s so important for landlords to carry out thorough reference checks before taking on a new tenant.  They should also ensure there is an inventory and make regular visits to their property to check its condition – ideally every 3-4 months.  This will give landlords the opportunity to engage with the tenant and discuss any issues, so they can be resolved, well before check-out,’ Morris concluded.[1]

[1] http://www.propertyreporter.co.uk/landlords/landlords-facing-increasingly-dirty-properties-at-end-of-tenancies.html