Majority of landlords cover property damage caused by tenants

Majority of landlords cover property damage caused by tenants

0:02 AM, 21st October 2024, About 10 hours ago 1

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Landlords end up covering property damage 90% of the time, even when it’s the tenant’s fault, according to a new survey.

Research by Property Inventory Base reveals a lack of inventory process means only 10% of tenants are being charged for property damage.

If an end-of-tenancy inspection uncovers damage that wasn’t there during the initial inspection, the landlord can successfully claim repair costs from the tenant, typically deducted from the security deposit.

Landlords have no choice but to foot the bill

The firm claims landlords and letting agents need to show greater diligence when it comes to primary and secondary inspections.

Siân Hemming-Metcalfe operations director at Inventory Base, said: “Without a proper inventory process in place – one which ensures a high standard of inspections at the start and end of a tenancy – landlords have no idea whether a tenant is lying to them about the cause of damage to their property.

“Even if they do suspect the tenant is lying, they don’t have a leg to stand on because they failed to conduct a proper inventory inspection. The end result: the landlord has no choice but to foot the bill.”

Huge financial risk

The survey reveals that 56% of tenancies don’t have secondary inventory inspections.

Only 19% of tenants say they’ve had a situation where a final inspection found an issue that wasn’t in the original inventory.

Ms Hemming-Metcalfe says failing to do an inventory can leave at risk.

She said: “A good inventory practice is central to the successful management of a buy-to-let investment. It’s a landlord’s strongest defence against damage and poor tenant behaviour because it’s a record of proof that the tenant directly agrees to the report by adding their signature.

“To fail in doing inventories properly is to accept a huge financial risk, and given the ease and efficiency with which app-based inventories can now be completed, this risk is completely unnecessary.”


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david porter

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11:05 AM, 21st October 2024, Less than a minute ago

We do have effective inventories but the realistic position is that very few tenants accept responsibility for the damage they caused.
It was never the case that children climbing on a garden wall caused it to have bricks missing, or windows broken by a football in the garden, It must have been “storm damage”
The bath overflowed and flooded the kitchen below?
Oh no it was a leaky tap- we didn't let the bath run and forget?

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