There are duties that come along with renting a home. Avoid arguments by learning the responsibilities that are placed on both landlords and tenants.
Taking care of your home that you rent out
When you sign a lease agreement and move into a leased home, you instantly become responsible for a specific degree of property maintenance within the rented property. This responsibility continues even after the lease expires.
In spite of this, the laws and regulations are not always entirely clear, making it difficult to determine who is responsible for what in the event that something goes wrong.
Continue reading to learn about the fundamental guidelines that govern maintenance, deposits, bills, and decorations, as well as the conventional practises that the majority of landlords adhere to. Always keep in mind that it is of the utmost significance to study your individual tenancy agreement, as this document should specify the allocation of obligations in accordance with your specific circumstances.
Who is accountable for the property’s general upkeep as well as any necessary repairs?
Every landlord is legally obligated to uphold a duty of care toward their tenants by ensuring that the property they own and rent out is in habitable condition at all times. They are accountable for making repairs to the following:
walls, windows, external doors and stairs drainage, gutters, and external pipes basins, sinks, baths, and toilets the construction and outside of the property containing these elements:
heating and hot water provided by gas appliances, electric wiring, and electrical wiring.
If the residence is damaged in any way while the landlord is performing repairs, the tenant might hold the landlord responsible. In most cases, the landlord is the one who will be responsible for making repairs to your property if it has mould or dampness. However, this may depend on what led to the dampness in the first place.
The responsibility for routine household maintenance, such as cleaning the home, replacing lightbulbs and batteries in smoke alarms, is on the tenant. You are responsible for restoring any goods that you have brought into the residence as well as any damage that may have been caused to the property by you or your guests.Your specific lease agreement will detail the regulations that apply to matters such as the furniture, landscaping, and interior decorating that you are permitted to have. For instance, a landlord may consent to make repairs to the refrigerator but refuse to take responsibility for the garden.
It is essential that you read your lease thoroughly before signing it because the agreement that exists between a landlord and a tenant will be different for each property. This will allow you to be completely aware of the responsibilities that are shared by both parties.
When is the appropriate time to contact your
Landlord accountability
It is the responsibility of the tenant to inform the landlord of any issues that arise within the premises, especially if the landlord is the one responsible for making repairs. There is no obligation for the landlord to make any repairs if they are not alerted about the problem.
Talking to your landlord as soon as a problem develops is usually a good idea, but it’s especially important to do so if the issue involves your health or safety. If you choose to communicate with them via telephone instead of email, you should also make sure to send a formal notice in writing (often via email) that summarises your telephone conversation with them. Always be sure to maintain a copy of each correspondence that you send or receive; this will come in handy in the event that there is a disagreement in the future regarding whether or not the repairs were performed.
You should still report a flaw or problem that occurs, even if you aren’t overly concerned about it at the moment. If you fail to do so, you run the risk of having money removed from your security deposit when the tenancy comes to an end.
What is meant by “wear and tear”?
There may be a clause in your contract that refers to “wear and tear.” Tenants in a residential rental are not often responsible for “general wear and tear,” and as a result, they should not be charged for repairs related to this type of damage. In spite of this, a significant number of disagreements between landlords and tenants take place both throughout the term of a tenancy and at its conclusion because of diverging perspectives on what constitutes “general wear and tear.” Your landlord has the right to keep all or part of your security deposit in order to pay for repairing damages that do not fit under this category.
According to the legislation, normal wear and tear is defined as “fair use of the premises by the tenant and the typical action of natural forces.” This is the standard for what constitutes acceptable wear and tear. Unfortuitously, there is neither a set of standard rules nor a list of damages that can be followed.
When doing a damage assessment, a landlord will take into account a number of factors, including the following:
the number of occupants: a family of four will unavoidably cause more wear and tear on the property than a single person would.
the length of tenancy: if you have lived in the property for three years without making any repairs, then the general state of the home will be worse property condition: if the carpet was scuffed and the paint faded prior to moving in, then it can only have gotten worse property condition: if the carpet was scuffed and the paint faded prior to moving in, then it can only have gotten worse property condition: if the carpet was sc At the beginning of your tenancy, you should document and photograph any damage that is already there.
age and quality of the individual items: a table that is of poor quality and has been in use for a considerable amount of time is more likely to have damage.
Comparing normal wear and tear with damage
After renting a home for a year to a family of four, there should be visible signs of fair wear such as scuff marks on the carpet and paint that has faded. However, if there was a significant stain on the carpeting, there was a hole in the wall, or the door handle was broken, these would all be considered chargeable damages.
After two years of renting a home to a single tenant, normal wear and tear could include weeds growing in the garden, a worn countertop, and draperies that have lost their colour. However, a damaged property would be defined as having a broken lock, an iron burn on the carpet, or a fractured windowpane.
As soon as you move into the property, take pictures and make notes of any specific stains, marks, or cracks. Then, as soon as possible, submit copies of these to your landlord or agent to guarantee that you will not be unfairly blamed for any damage at the conclusion of the rental.
Your agreement will specify if you are required to clean the property or tidy the garden before quitting your home. Many real estate agents may charge you for a professional clean if the house is left in a messy condition, so be sure to read your agreement carefully.
Check out our consumer rights guide to learning how to handle a dispute over a deposit if you are having trouble with your deposit.
I would like to remove some products from the inventory
Inventory
Is that possible?
You should make every effort not to damage, replace, or remove any of the objects that are currently in the inventory. This may result in additional fees being assessed at the conclusion of your tenancy.
Please let us know as soon as possible if any of our products break. Keep a record of any agreed-upon repairs or replacements, as well as any and all conversations with your landlord.It is in your best interest to make a request to have any item of furniture that you do not like to have in the home removed before you move in. In the event that you have a change of heart after moving in, you are required to discuss the matter with your landlord. Don’t just toss it out like that.
As a tenant, are you responsible for any particular utility bills?
The majority of leases stipulate that the renter is responsible for paying all utility costs, which may include the following:
the cost of water, gas, and electricity, the council tax, and the television licence fee.
In some instances, the cost of the rental will already include some bills; nevertheless, this is becoming an increasingly uncommon practise. Always make sure to check your contract so that you are aware of what expenses are anticipated of you.
As soon as you move in, you need to immediately contact all of your utility providers as well as the local government to have the accounts transferred into your name. If you read and submitted metre readings as soon as you arrive and make sure to tell the suppliers the date that you moved in, this should ensure that you don’t pay for any electricity or water that you haven’t used.
Always shop around before agreeing to any terms before signing a contract. If you’ve just started a new tenancy, it’s likely that your electricity is already on the basic tariff of the company providing it, which is typically the most expensive option.
Be sure to investigate whether or not your current rental agreement requires you to work with a particular provider before making any changes.
Most of your other bills, including your internet service, are probably on a contract with a set period. Check for any exit or transfer costs before you sign up for anything, especially if you know your tenancy will be brief. If your utility contract lasts longer than your rental agreement, you may be charged a price to cancel the package when you move out of the apartment.
Do you allow tenants to decorate rental property
Rental property
It is crucial to make a rental property feel like home, especially if you plan on living there for an extended amount of time. However, there are some things that you won’t be permitted to perform at all, let alone without the approval of your landlord. These items include specific renovations and alterations to the property.
Many landlords will not let permanent changes to be made to the property, but some of them may be okay with you painting the walls or making other minor adjustments as long as they can be put back to the way they were before you moved in. It never hurts to inquire about it.
It is possible that it will not be worthwhile for rentals that are shorter in duration, but if the tenancy agreement is for a longer period of time, it may be to the advantage of both the tenant and the landlord. You won’t only be able to personalise your space, but you’ll also be saving your landlord the trouble of having to do it themselves by keeping the property clean and up to date.
Always get permission from your landlord before making any changes to the decor. It is in your best interest to adhere to light paint colours that will be easier to cover up at the conclusion of your tenancy because it is likely that you will need to paint it back to white or cream at the end of your lease. When you finally make the decision to move out, the last thing you want to do is be stuck trying to hide the red paint.
