Old style conflicts between
tenants in rented properties and their private sector landlords are largely the
stuff of fading legend these days – according to the country’s largest property
franchise Belvoir.
 |
| Delia Thing - Lettings Manager |
“Both have interests to
protect and they can both achieve that better by working together. If they
can’t, then something is wrong – and mis-matches 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 video 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,” says Delia. “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.
 |
| Phil Pinkney - Belvoir Andover Co Owner |
Past conflicts in
rented properties have swung from the serious to the comic.
According to official
statistics, two years ago, the numbers 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,” says Phil Pinkney, co owner of Belvoir Andover.
“Closer relationships
obviously work better for both parties and, thankfully, that’s the way things
are moving. The 170 branches throughout our UK network are reporting fewer and
fewer cases of serious conflict.
“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 would like advise on buy to let or renting your property out, please contact Belvoir Andover on 01264 366611 or email us at info@belvoirandover.com
