Tenants have breached agreements, say 83% of landlords
- A complete of 83% of landlords have had tenants breach their tenancy settlement
- Most frequent breaches embody not holding the property sufficiently clear
- Other breaches embody holding a pet with out the owner’s permission
More than eight out of ten landlords say they’ve had a tenant breach their tenancy settlement, in response to new analysis.
Direct Line surveyed 500 landlords in October and November final 12 months and located that 83 per cent had skilled a tenancy breach.
The commonest breaches included not holding the property sufficiently clear and maintained – at 36 per cent – and failing to inform a landlord of required repairs at 29 per cent.
Direct Line surveyed 500 landlords final 12 months and located 83% had skilled a tenancy breach
Other breaches embody damaging or making alterations to the property, holding a pet within the property, smoking or vaping within the property and redecorating with out permission.
All of those different breaches have been reported by greater than 1 / 4 of the landlords surveyed.
The commonest sanction for damaged tenancy agreements is to have cash deducted from the tenant’s deposit, to situation the tenant with a written or verbal warning, or to ask the tenants to pay for the damages or work themselves.
Landlords are being urged by Direct Line to have their properties inspected often to assist verify for any breaches.
Left unaddressed, points equivalent to required repairs could price extra money to rectify if they’re left in the long term.
| Reason for breach | Proportion of breaches |
|---|---|
| Failing to pay lease on time (or by no means) | 38 per cent |
| Failing to maintain the property sufficiently clear and maintained | 36 per cent |
| Failure to inform the owner of issues that want repairing | 29 per cent |
| Damaging or making alterations to the property | 28 per cent |
| Keeping a pet within the property | 28 per cent |
| Smoking/vaping within the property | 27 per cent |
| Redecorating with out permission | 25 per cent |
| Causing a disturbance or nuisance to neighbouring properties | 23 per cent |
| Subletting or transferring in folks with out notifying the owner | 15 per cent |
| Changing locks | 15 per cent |
| Tampering with or overlaying smoke or carbon monoxide alarms | 10 per cent |
| Other | 1 per cent |
| landlords who haven’t skilled any breaches in tenancy agreements | 17 per cent |
| Source; Direct Line |
| Action Imposed | Proportion of actions |
|---|---|
| Money deducted from their deposit | 38 per cent |
| Gave them a written or verbal warning | 32 per cent |
| Made them pay for the damages or work | 28 per cent |
| Did not return the deposit | 26 per cent |
| Evicted the tenant | 23 per cent |
| Made them rectify the difficulty | 23 per cent |
| Other | 2 per cent |
| Landlords who didn’t take any motion | 6 per cent |
| Source: Direct Line |
Despite this, simply over half of landlords – at 55 per cent – conduct six-monthly property inspections, in response to the Direct Line analysis.
An additional 21 per cent make solely annual checks, whereas 10 per cent of landlords admit that they solely go to their properties at the beginning and finish of the tenancy.
Fourteen per cent of landlords go to their properties much less usually than that, or provided that they think there is a matter.
The commonest sanction for damaged tenancy agreements is to have cash deducted from the tenant’s deposit
Harriet Scanlan, of Richmond property company Antony Roberts, mentioned: ‘When it involves lettings, landlords usually discover themselves juggling quite a few tasks to make sure the seamless administration of their funding.
‘Many can have a full-time job, renting out a property or two to be able to complement their earnings.
‘From advertising and marketing the property to vetting tenants, making certain you safe the easiest provide on the market and get the most effective return in your funding, is a continuing juggle.
‘This is the place the experience of a lettings agent may be invaluable, serving as a invaluable information by the intricate net of laws and tasks, and maintaining a tally of your funding.’
Sarah Casey, of Direct Line, mentioned: ‘Property inspections should not really feel intrusive for tenants and are all about constructing good relationships and holding an eye fixed out for any rising points.
‘Early intervention can usually cease these from growing into an even bigger downside that requires landlords to take additional motion.
‘Landlords must also make it possible for tenancy deposits are held in a government-approved tenancy deposit scheme to assist cowl prices if, for instance, the tenant leaves the property in a grimy state, has damaged furnishings or eliminated property provided by the owner.’
