Old style conflicts between
tenants in rented properties and their private sector landlords are largely the
stuff of fading legend these days.
In the real world, no-one
achieves anything that old fashioned way, the modern approach is more about
tenants and landlords cultivating partnerships.
Both have interests to protect and they can both achieve that better by
working together. If they can’t, then something is wrong – and mismatches do
happen - but good relationships are more the order of today.
The truth is that a rented
property may be part of a landlord’s livelihood but it’s also home to the
tenant and the ideal situation is for them to work around each other. A
professional lettings and management agency, such as Belvoir, will always look
after the interests of both parties.
Methods of creating
perfect harmony include:
·
Agreeing on periodic visits
so the landlord can see how a property is being looked after. That also gives a
chance to see if there are any repair jobs or maintenance issues that need attention.
And it gives tenants an opportunity to discuss anything that is bothering them.
·
Tenants letting landlords,
or their agents, know if they are planning a holiday and the property is going
to be empty. Occasional visits can be made to ensure the property and the
tenant’s possessions are safe.
·
By mutual agreement
neighbours can have the agent’s or landlord’s phone number so they can get in
touch if anything seems wrong, e.g. a burglary, fire, flooding, intruders or
unusual behaviour.
·
Along with a tenancy
agreement Belvoir provides new occupiers and landlords with a comprehensive
inventory to record the state of decoration, furnishings and fittings. An
honest, upfront, practice like this creates a precise
record of contents and condition that is beyond dispute, And that can
save a lot of arguments later – especially over returning deposits.
·
Important communications should
be done by e-mail or letter - which creates a paper trail of any problem that
arises. This gives both tenant and landlord a firm record instead of trying to
rely on half-remembered conversations.
Past conflicts in
rented properties have swung from the serious to the comic. According to official statistics, two years
ago, the number of housing tenants growing commercial crops of cannabis was
sufficiently large to lead the national Crimestoppers charity trust to publish
an eight-page leaflet highlighting the issue. While another recorded case outlined how a
tenant caused irreparable damage to a washing machine at his furnished flat
because he put in a house brick to “stonewash” his denim jeans. Whether it’s a laughing matter or an
indictable criminal offence, the relationship between a tenant and a landlord
is at the heart of today’s private rented sector. Closer relationships
obviously work better for both parties and, thankfully, that’s the way things
are moving. With over the last 20 years experience and by carefully selecting
and managing tenancies we see relatively few cases of conflict or dispute.
The current housing
crisis has turned the private rented sector into a major home provider with
nearly two million landlords renting to some 10 million tenants and for them,
working together means making it work.
If you are one of the
hundreds of Buy to Let investors reading this blog daily and would like advice
about what to buy next, where to buy it and what to pay, then call us now on
01908 562582 or pop into our offices on London Road in Stony Stratford for
impartial and friendly advice, and speak to us about how we can keep you
appraised of the latest opportunities before the rest of the pack.
