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In the UK, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics, around 5.4 million households are rented privately. If you’re in this situation, then you’ll want to take steps to ensure that the property is fit to live in – and, ideally, that it meets all of your personal requirements.
Understanding Your Rights as a Tenant in London
In the UK, tenants are protected by a number of special regulations. For example, you have the right to request maintenance. While tenants are responsible for any damage that they themselves cause, and ordinary wear and tear does not count as damage, a landlord still has a duty to take corrective action when, say, the boiler breaks down.
At the start of any tenancy, the landlord and tenant sign an agreement that outlines their responsibilities. This helps prevent misunderstandings, resolve disputes more easily, and avoid unnecessary charges.
The impending passing of the Renter’s Rights Bill is sure to change the landscape even further, granting special protections for tenants against things like no-fault evictions. It’s worth paying attention to the progress of the bill, since it will bolster your rights as a tenant, and the protections you enjoy.
Proper Maintenance: The Key to Avoiding Costs at the End of Your Tenancy
The owner of the property will usually expect the home to be returned in the same condition that it was let out in. In order to make this happen, they will almost always insist that you pay a deposit at the outset of the tenancy. This will cover any extra costs that might be incurred in the process of returning the property to its previous state. If the property is in exactly the same condition as at the start of the tenancy, then no changes will be necessary, and the tenant’s deposit will be returned. It’s usually easy to avoid disputes and other issues.
Keep the property clean, and stay on top of small bits of wear and tear. If you do make any changes to the property, make sure that you remain within the terms of your tenancy agreement. It might be possible to adapt a property to suit your needs, but, if this is your intention, you might seek the explicit written permission of the landlord. For most renters, redecorating, or even hanging up a few pictures, is more trouble than it’s worth. Fortunately, there are ways to decorate a property that don’t involve wielding a hammer and nails, or a paint roller. Use command strips and other non-damaging adhesive products, and make creative use of lighting to get the look you’re after. Cleaning, damage and redecorating are among the most common reasons for a deposit to be withheld. But other problems related to gardening, missing appliances, outstanding bills, and rent arrears, might also be cited.
You might avoid unwanted charges when moving out of your rental property by understanding maintenance and management. This is particularly important when renting out in London, where house prices are much higher than they are elsewhere in the country.
As a tenant, you should use the inventory of the property, written at the start of the tenancy, as a reference point. If there’s a mismatch between the state of the property, and what’s described in the inventory, then you risk losing your deposit. After all, your landlord will probably be assessing the condition of the property on exactly the same basis.
The Impact of the Tenant Fees Act 2019 on Moving Out
There’s a particular piece of legislation worth paying attention to. The Tenant Fees Act 2019 explicitly bans letting fees in the private sector. It effectively bans letting fees, and puts a cap on deposits paid by tenants in the private sector. You can’t be charged for viewing a property, for ‘administration’, or for checking inventory on the way in or out.
This piece of law is there to offer protection from unscrupulous landlords. However, this protection is not entirely bulletproof. If you don’t stand up for your rights as a tenant, then the law cannot protect you. Fortunately, there exist plenty of organisations that will help to support you when you go through the process of raising a complaint. In some cases, you might take your landlord to court in order to get your money back. In others, it’s enough to simply advise them of the situation in a letter. Recording evidence at every stage of the rental process will help you to resolve disputes faster, and minimise the cost and stress.
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