Landlords can potentially have to deal with a number of contentious issues, especially when it comes to a departing tenant. Not only does the landlord have to worry about finding a new tenant but also they have to take care of the condition of the property when it comes to the outgoing tenant. This aspect can cause arguments over what the tenant should be responsible for and what the landlord should pay for, depending on the damage; as a result, it is important for both parties to be familiar with the processes that take place so that neither side is surprised by the outcome.
Deposit protection
With every rental, the tenant must pay the landlord a deposit before they move into a property. The tenant can rest assured that their deposit is safe as long as the property is well taken care of. In England and Wales, the landlord can choose to hold the funds in one of three deposit services: the Deposit Protection Service (DPS), MyDeposits, and the Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS). These are all excellent providers, backed by the UK government, that will protect any security deposit.
Get an inventory clerk
Any damage to and the cleanliness of the property are two of the main sources of tenant and landlord disputes; therefore, it is a good idea for landlords to ask an inventory clerk to provide detailed reports on the condition of the property before the tenant has started their tenancy and again after they have left. This involves inspecting the property and taking pictures of the condition and any items included in the rental agreement.
For more information on what an inventory clerk does – or how to become one if this line of work appeals to you – contact a specialist such as https://inventorybase.co.uk/academy/. Such specialists often provide property inventory training courses and other courses to enhance your existing skills.
Respect the tenant’s privacy
An occasional issue of contention between the tenant and the landlord is when the landlord or a workman tries to enter the tenant’s property without their permission. In this case, the landlord should let the tenant know that they or a handyman will be entering the property several days in advance so that the tenant can prepare and/or leave the property for the necessary amount of time.
