The growth of the property letting market is reaching new heights. The relationship between landlords and tenants is under scrutiny, with the latter concerned about exactly what their rights are once they have signed the lease.
The pressure on the market is increasing as the age of property buyers rises and with increasing property prices.
Once a dispute arises, particular concerns come into play for the tenant.
One way of protecting a deposit or resolving other issues can be Property Inventory Software such as that found at https://inventorybase.co.uk/, which is designed to protect both parties.
Storage
Belongings left in a property, particularly after an eviction, come into play. A landlord must take care of the goods after a tenant has moved out or been evicted. They must inform the tenant within three months if monies are owed and explain how they can be collected. Storage charges may be charged with any balance going to the tenant.
Change
Property is often shared among tenants, and joint tenants are individually liable to pay the whole rent. If one leaves, the other(s) may be pursued for that share of the rent. Joint tenants should have an agreement amongst themselves to cover this eventuality. The landlord will have to agree to any change to a joint tenancy.
Acces
Students make up a large part of the rental market, and losing their keys is a common occurrence – believe it or not. Landlords may charge a fee to replace keys. Otherwise, if you choose to change the lock via a locksmith, you may need the landlords permission and to pay the costs and any repairs needed.
A landlords access to the property is a regular issue between the parties to the lease. The former is allowed reasonable access to carry out an inspection or repairs, but usually notice of 24 hours must be given in writing. In most cases the parties will have a relationship where such formality is not required.
The terms of most leases mean the landlord cannot demand access without the tenants permission. In Northern Ireland any notice can be verbal rather than written.
Credits
Not all landlords allow tenants who receive Universal Credit or housing benefit. Make this clear when enquiring about the property, and check with the local council for lists of landlords happy to accept such tenants.
