Landlords told to act now to avoid disputes

Friday, 23 September 2011 3:17 PM

Landlords are being urged to “dispute-proof” their new tenancies by taking key steps to
avoid disputes over the deposit when they come to an end.

Mydeposits, the tenancy deposit protection scheme, says September is one of the
busiest months for new tenancies, especially for student landlords preparing for the start
of the new university term.

It says an assured shorthold tenancy signed by both landlord and tenant should
state clearly all the terms of the tenancy, including what is expected in terms of the
cleanliness of the property, allowing for fair wear and tear.

And landlords should produce an inventory signed and dated by both parties when the
tenant moves in and meet their tenant for a check-out inspection when they move out
so that they can come to an agreement over the return of the deposit.

Eddie Hooker, chief executive of Mydeposits, said: "Landlords can take steps
to ‘dispute-proof’ themselves before the tenancy begins, to ensure they have all the
necessary evidence in the unlikely event of a dispute at the end of the tenancy.

"By taking some simple precautions, landlords can minimise the risk of being left out
of pocket in the event of damage to the property or unpaid rent.”

Tags: