20th Aug 2016
A couple of tenants, who had passed referencing were about to rent a property. Everything was ready for the move date, so in preparation I informed the landlord of the cost of an inventory and check in at the property. “How much??? There’s nothing in there, it is unfurnished” was the landlord’s response. Despite me informing him the importance of having such a document for deductions at the end of the tenancy his attitude was “I’ll do it myself, it can`t be that hard.” So he did! He conducted an inventory and check in “report” on half of an A4 sheet of paper!
The tenants moved in, the rent came in on time and things went well. Although the landlord was getting frustrated because the tenants seemed to be reporting every little issue they found to him and making a mountain out of a mole hill. Despite this the tenancy continued for a further few months until the tenants gave notice to leave in one months’ time. After notice was given the relationship between the landlord and tenant soured due to the dramatisation of every dripping tap or missing light bulb and the landlord being pestered all times of the day and night by them, it came to the point that I had to relay messages between them as neither would take each other’s calls (not a standard part of the service but I’m always happy to help). The landlord advised that the tenants should leave the property on the agreed date and hand the keys back to me at the office so I could conduct a free of charge check out (again not part of the standard service but I made an exception as it would take me about 30 seconds, seeing as I only had half an A4 page to go by).
The day soon arrived, and I headed to the property. Upon visiting the property I found that the tenants had left the property clean and tidy and that everything that was listed on the inventory was in fact still there. However the landlord had forgotten to list a few keys areas of the property which I had to inform him were no longer at the property! The tenants had removed the…toilet, sink, bath, cooker, fridge, washing machine, and the kitchen units!
As the landlord had left out these areas on the inventory, he could not make any claim from the deposit, the police classed this as a civil matter, and the insurance he had was that of occupier not as a landlord, so he had no way of receiving funds from any of these avenues.
Cost of the inventory: £300 inc vat
Cost of new bathroom and kitchen: £7,000
Landlord saving: -£6,700
This situation could happen to any landlord, however with our service and helpful advice we will make sure that you are provided with all the facts and options that could affect your investment from beginning to end! Feel free to contact me at the office for a property health check, or just a chat regardless of whether we handle your investment or not!
Richard Bond
Lettings Manager
