So many areas of dispute between landlords and tenants arise because of simple misunderstandings. Although much of this has been covered in bits elsewhere, this is a chance to take the concept of being a tenant down in one big gulp. Tenants are often genuinely unsure about their areas of responsibility.
This section is designed to help you understand your status as a tenant better, by explaining in simple terms what you can expect from your landlord/agent, and what he/she can expect from you. Living as a tenant is quite different from, say, living at home. It is also very different from living in any property as an owner-occupier. You have a formal contract, which governs your behaviour and the manner in which you live, and you really do have to abide by it if you want your tenancy to be trouble-free – let alone be extended.
Here, there’s no one else to clean up after you, and you will be charged if you leave a mess behind when you leave. In this arrangement, no one will good-humouredly accept a broken chair-leg, or a burn mark from the iron on the dining-room table. Whatever damage is caused by you, however small, you will be billed the full commercial rate for its repair. The cost of these repairs can be very surprising, especially to those of you with ‘handy’ parents.
Responsibility For Damages
From The BeginningLet us start with simple things first. If you break anything, you will need to pay for its replacement. You may alternatively be asked to
replace it yourself. Do make sure that you are replacing like with like. Do not replace a beautiful mirror with a cheap alternative, or a couple of mirror tiles. It will not be accepted on final inspection. Conversely, dispute demands for a beautiful mirror, if the one you broke was a mottled old thing. It is also best not to throw away the broken bits of anything away, until you are sure that your landlord or agent is satisfied with the replacement you are suggesting, because you will have a terrible problem proving the likely value of anything you tossed in the bin.
When Things Get Trickier
The fundamental requirement of your lease is that you return the property to the landlord in the same condition as when you moved in. With a broken item, it is relatively easy to sort out. Things can get a bit more complicated when responsibility is a little blurred. If for example the main drain blocks, and sewage is seeping odiously around the back door, the landlord or agent needs to be informed so that they can initiate repairs. If it is a problem with the condition of the drains, that is the landlord’s responsibility. If however you have blocked the pipe by stuffing disposable nappies down it all week, the cost of unblocking and clean-up will be yours, even if the landlord or agent insists on making all the necessary arrangements.
Insurance
Never assume that your landlord’s insurance will cover your own negligence. Many insurers will pay out to the landlord, and then seek to recover their costs from the responsible party. It is no good therefore setting the chip pan alight, and expecting someone else to pay for your own carelessness. Landlords will only insure their building and their own contents. Tenants must insure their own personal belongings. This can sometimes be harder than it should be. If you really can’t find an insurer willing to cover your things, try adding them as additional cover to your parents’ or any responsible adult’s policy on a declared ‘away from home’ status – that sometimes works. Students can always get cover via their student union.