By asking for a deposit, it gives landlords a sense of security and something to the fall back on should something go wrong. Wear and tear are part and parcel of living anywhere but should significant damage be made to parts of the property, deductions can be made from the deposit so long as there is evidence to go alongside the claim.
Property damage, poor cleanliness and not paying rent on time can be easily identified by an inventory management report. If one is in place, it enables the landlord to justly use a deposit as compensation for any wrong-doings.
Should a tenancy go smoothly and the tenant follow the terms of the tenancy agreement, there will be no need to deduct from the deposit. But there are a number of reasons why a tenant might receive a deduction.
A recent survey of over 2,500 tenants revealed the main reasons why part of their deposits were taken.
Most common cause of deposit deductions:
- Broken furniture 29%
- Marks on the walls 24%
- Carpet stains 21%
- Redecorations 12%
- Mould 9%
What landlords can do to ensure they are protected
An extensive property inventory is vital in supporting claims of damage made by tenants, especially as a recent YouGov survey found that 33 per cent of tenants aren’t willing to confess and would not inform the landlord of damage made.
It’s rarely a tenant’s intention to damage a property, so landlords need to assess whether it’s right to charge the tenant for any accidental damage in favour of keeping a good relationship. Generally, if a tenant has a good relationship with their landlord, they are more inclined to stay for a longer period of time.
Skribes is Birmingham’s leading independent inventory and property services specialists, providing landlords with inventory reports, check-in reports, interim reports, check-out reports and legionella reports.
To find out how we can help make it easier to justify any breaches of tenancy agreements by your tenants, call us today on 07891 551 905 or email info@skribes.co.uk.