- fish4homes research reveals typical landlord gripes
For most Brits in the Naughties, ever-increasing property prices can mean only one thing – delay the financial strain and tension of getting onto the property ladder and keep on renting. Yet research out today from property website fish4homes.co.uk reveals a staggering half of British tenants (48%) admit to getting stressed out by dealing with UK landlords.
The fish4homes.co.uk survey highlights that we rate dealing with a difficult landlord (10%) as more traumatic than starting a new job (7%) and also just as stressful as visiting the dreaded dentist (10%)! Difficult landlord dealings were only rated marginally less stressful than some of life’s biggest challenges; divorce (25%), moving house (19%) and fear of getting the sack from a job (15%).
From loveable landlords to pesky property owners, Britain’s tenants have seen it all. The fish4homes survey reveals the top five typical UK landlord personality types:
1) The Perfect Landlord – Honest and open and always plays by the book when it comes to general maintenance…even happy to pop round with spare lightbulbs for tenants!
2) The Scatty Landlord – Seems to be on the ball but then repeatedly forgets to make arrangements for the property…needs constant reminding of tasks
3) The Cowboy Landlord – Good at ‘talking the talk’ but guilty of dodgy DIY around the property e.g. filling cracks around light fittings in with toothpaste!
4) The Lonely Landlord – Seems to always turn up unannounced at the property at any hour of the day
5) The Disastrous Landlord – Guilty of leaving tenants stranded when the house gets repossessed due to non payment of the mortgage!
Joe Slavin, CEO of fish4, comments, “The survey highlights the difficulties people have experienced with their landlords, yet it’s also worth remembering tenants can be just as difficult! Keeping stress at a minimum is all about carefully managing your relationship with your landlord and vice versa. Hence to help our customers live stress free in a happy home, we at fish4homes have devised the ‘Guide To A Happy Tenancy’:
1) Always use a specialist lettings agent or estate agent rather than going through private landlords
2) Read your contract thoroughly before signing anything
3) Be aware of your rights as a tenant
4) Speak to the previous tenants to find out about your landlord
5) Keep everything above board - don’t enter into any agreements that suggest paying your rent in cash
6) Don’t enter into a verbal contract with a landlord, ensure everything is in writing to protect yourself against any discrepancies
7) Ensure your landlord has a tenancy deposit protection scheme; compulsory to most landlords from 6th April 2007. For more information visit www.citizensadvice.org.uk
8) Replace damaged property (with the approval from your landlord) before moving out to ensure you get your full deposit back
9) Pay your rent on time to avoid upsetting the landlord
10) Don’t suffer in silence, visit your local Citizens Advice Bureau if you feel your rights as a tenant are being breached
11) Ensure all electrical equipment has suitably been checked by the landlord and is safe before you move
|
Article Source