Our Ultimate Guide to Avoid Tenant Mistakes

In the United Kingdom, there are around 9 million tenants. According to a recent study from PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers), London will become a metropolis of renters by 2025, with only 40% owning their own property.

This is a major difference to the scenario in 2000, when 60% of Londoners owned a home outright or with a mortgage. With rising demand for rented houses, competition is strong, with ten renters competing for one property in London.

Renting a home is a big decision that requires a lot of consideration. The process can be exhausting, and people occasionally make mistakes that cost them time, effort, and money. There are a few mistakes to avoid when renting a home in order to get off on the right foot as a tenant. Remember that preparation and research can go a long way.

Many people live in rental homes for the rest of their lives. When you rent a property, you want to feel at ease and confident in your surroundings. To do so, you must avoid making certain mistakes that can ruin your renting experience. This guide will highlight some of the most common mistakes tenants make while renting a home.

Relying on a verbal agreement

They said that it is better to be safe than sorry. It’s great to have trust in your landlord, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t sign a tenancy agreement. The truth is that a verbal contract is impossible to prove, which could be a problem should any issues arise. Having a written contract might help you avoid any misunderstandings. Why? Because if something goes wrong, it’s difficult to prove that you and your landlord agreed upon certain terms, especially when there’s no paper trail. But a well-written contract can serve as proof of your agreement.

It’s not uncommon for a landlord to request a tenant make an offer verbally, especially if they are new to renting. Tenants should be aware that verbal agreements can be difficult to enforce. If you find yourself in this situation, you may want to consider asking the landlord for something in writing before moving in or signing an agreement. The lack of a written tenancy agreement between a landlord and a tenant has little impact on either statutory legal rights. Both parties are still protected by statutory and common law protections.

A tenant who does not have a written contract has the same statutory rights as a regular tenant who does have a contract, such as water, heating, and a safe environment. In a similar vein, the tenant is still responsible for paying rent on time and maintaining the property in a reasonable manner. However a written contract is much more advisable, especially as additional terms may have been discussed, so should you have to go to court for any reason, a written tenancy agreement which clearly states rights and responsibilities for both the tenant and the landlord will definitely assist the judge in making a decision.

Failure to read tenancy agreement

If you haven’t read your tenancy agreement in its entirety, now is the time to do so. The agreement outlines the terms of your tenancy arrangement and will be legally binding upon you and your landlord. This means that if something goes wrong, for example, if the agreement contains any unfair terms, such as clauses saying:

• that the landlord has the right to amend the terms of the agreement at any time
• that you are responsible for structural repairs, which are the landlord’s obligation
• that your landlord is free to visit whenever he or she wants without notice (this might be classed as harassment)

Unfair terms aren’t legally binding. If you believe your tenancy agreement has unfair terms or that your landlord is holding you to something you don’t believe is fair, have an adviser review it for you. Worst case scenario is it could be up to the court, to decide what happened and what should happen next.

Signing a tenancy agreement without first reading it can cause major problems. You should be aware that this contract is more important than the digital agreements you e-sign before starting to use software from the Internet. While it is allowed to click the ‘I agree’ button without even reading the text, doing so with tenancy agreements is generally a bad idea. If you don’t read the entire document before signing, be prepared for some surprises. Unexpected things might happen with your monthly rent and so on.

Before signing any agreement, take some time to read through all of its terms carefully. If there are any clauses that confuse or concern you, ask for clarification from both yourself (the tenant) and your landlord.

Not inspecting the home’s condition

It’s perfectly fine to be happy about your home, but keep your eyes open. If you’re looking for long-term rent, you’ll want to be sure the home will meet your needs. Here are some ideas to check:

• What is important to you and your family? Are there certain things that need to be in good working order before you move in? For example, if you have small children or elderly people living with you, are there stairs they might accidentally slip on and potentially get hurt? You may want to check the condition of stairways and handrails when inspecting a new home so that you can be sure this won’t happen. A letting agent also conducts periodic inspections. The agent visits the property and provides the landlord with a report. Most agents keep track of the property’s condition and any issues. A check in inventory is also generally carried out by the landlord/agent before the tenancy commences to ensure you are not liable for any disrepair or damages, no matter how minor, which existed before your tenancy had begun.
  
• If appliances are included but don’t work well, who will pay for them? In some cases landlords will cover repairs or replacements but only if they break down within a certain time period, for example, six months after moving in. If an appliance breaks down after that time period has passed then tenants often have no choice but to pay out-of-pocket or replace them themselves if possible, otherwise their rent checks will go toward paying off debt instead of covering basic necessities like food or shelter. This is why it’s important for all tenants signing and reading tenancy agreements.

If you notice any problems that require immediate attention, you should tell your landlord straight away. It’s also a good idea to take pictures of any damage you find. You should also show them to your landlord immediately and mention them in your move-in checklist. Create a checklist if your landlord does not have one and share it with them.

Skipping Tenants Liability Insurance

If you are a first-time tenant, it is likely that you are unaware of the importance of tenants liability insurance. The most important thing to remember is that this insurance protects your personal belongings from theft or damage caused by fire or flooding, ensuring that you are not left footing the bill in the incident of a disaster. To put it another way, if you want your possessions or belongings to be financially protected, you must get your own tenants liability insurance. It is true that force majeure events such as floods do not happen regularly, but when they do, everything you own can be destroyed. Purchase a policy immediately after you sign a contract to avoid getting into problems. The good news is that this type of insurance is reasonably priced. The price ranges from £5 per month and they are well worth it.

The amount of tenants liability insurance you require is determined by the amount of belongings you have and the worth of your savings and other assets. The more you stand to lose, the more insurance you’ll need.

Take stock of your belongings before buying tenants liability insurance to determine how much personal property coverage to get. There are several home inventory apps available to assist you in cataloguing your belongings. This will come in handy if you ever need to file a claim.

Forget to report damage and repairs

The world isn’t perfect, and it’s perfectly fine when things go bad. As a tenant, you must report any issues with the home to your landlord or letting agent as soon as possible. You should give them a written statement and save a copy of the email or letter for your records. When reporting disrepair by letter, send it by recorded delivery to the landlord or hand deliver it to your letting agent and keep track of when you did so. This will come in useful if there are any disagreements about when the repairs were made. The council has produced a form letter for reporting repairs, and you may download a sample letter to get you started.

Record repair details as follows:

• Take pictures of the items that need to be repaired as well as any harm caused by the disrepair.
• Keep copies of any doctor’s notes or hospital reports that suggest the condition has an impact on your health.
• Do not attempt any repairs yourself; you may cause additional damage for which your landlord may charge you later.
• After you’ve reported the problem, your landlord should respond in writing to let you know who is responsible for the repair and what will be done to fix it right. They should also inform you how long the repairs will take if they are responsible.

Do not stop paying your rent if you have a dispute with your landlord over repairs or maintenance. If you don’t pay your rent, your landlord may serve a notice, and you may lose your home and become “intentionally homeless” which may affect applications for social housing. To recover the money owed, your landlord may take civil action against you.

Being late on rent payments

Life is unexpected, even if you are the most responsible person on the earth. No matter how punctual you are, you may find yourself behind on your monthly rent payments one day.

The first step to avoiding this mistake is to pay your rent on time, every month. Paying late or missing a payment can result in legal action. It can also damage your credit rating and make future renting difficult.

If you don’t have money to pay the rent, talk to your landlord about other options. Your landlord is probably depending on the money you pay, and your delay could cause him troubles. Remember that being a landlord is a business and could be their only form of income, and both parties have responsibilities. Make sure to deliver on time or notify the other party if something goes wrong.

Paying too much rent

Although most tenants are unaware of it, there are ways to save money on long-term rent. First and foremost, looking for property in the middle of the month is highly recommended. According to statistics, there are fewer individuals looking for homes during this time of the month, so you can save money by going against the mainstream. Before you sign a tenant agreement, it’s important to check the rent is in line with the market rate. If it isn’t, consider negotiating with your landlord or looking for another property to rent.

If you have friends or family who live in the area, ask them if they know of any property to rent available nearby that are either cheaper or more expensive than yours. If so, talk to your current landlord about lowering your rent accordingly. This way you can stay in an area that works for you but still save money on rent.

You should also research what kind of amenities are included in the price of your new apartment as well as factors like parking, transport and utilities (such as water) which may not be included in your monthly payments but could add up over time if left unchecked.

Being unaware of your rights as a tenant

There are numerous ways in which your relationship with your landlord might go wrong. They may ignore your maintenance request, try to drastically increase your monthly rent, or visit your property without notice. There’s no point in listing all of the possible problems because it’s long and full of sadness. However, there is no reason to be worried. A number of laws and acts provide legal protection to tenants. So, if any problems occur, feel free to consult the Citizens Advice Bureau. Keep in mind that tenants’ rights vary from state to state, so double-check the ones that apply to you.

As a tenant, you have numerous rights under your tenancy agreement, which should be co-signed by you and your landlord when you move in:

• The right to live in a home that is both safe and well-maintained.
• You have the right to get your deposit refunded at the end of your tenancy if you follow the terms of your agreement. If you also have an assured shorthold tenancy agreement, then your deposit should also be protected by the landlord for the duration of the tenancy.
• The right to know your landlord’s identity.
• The right to live with quiet enjoyment.
• The right to inspect the property’s energy performance certificate (EPC), which should be rated at least E unless there are exceptional circumstances.
• The right to be protected from unfair rents and evictions

Keeping your pets hidden

If you plan on having a pet, be sure to tell your landlord before signing the agreement. Some landlords will allow pets, but many others won’t. If your landlord doesn’t allow pets, don’t get one. This is especially true if you’re living in an apartment, landlords have rules about tenants with pets because pet hair can make their property look run-down and unprofessional.

You should also keep in mind that even if your landlord does allow pets, they may have some rules about what types of animals or how many animals are allowed in the property. For example, some landlords may require small dogs only or no large breeds or any other breed deemed dangerous.

If you decide to break these rules by bringing an unapproved animal into a no-pet property anyway and get caught later on by who comes around on regular checks for things like this, please note you will be in breach of contract and the landlord may have grounds to evict you.

In the best-case scenario, an increase in your monthly rent will occur. In the worst-case scenario, you’ll move out. Do you know what you may do to avoid such issues? First and foremost, look for a pet-friendly property, and have the conversation about pets with the landlord or agent beforehand.

Expecting your landlord to handle all maintenance

It’s important to know what your landlord is responsible for, and what you should take care of yourself.

When it comes to repairs, don’t expect your landlord to fix everything on their own. They have a lot on their plate already, and if you need something done even if it’s something simple, you need to take care of it yourself if you can’t get the landlord’s attention in other ways.

If there’s an issue with the property that needs to be addressed by the landlord, contact them immediately. This will ensure that they can send someone out as soon as possible so that no damage is done by leaving things unresolved for too long. Please ensure you look after the property properly, as if there are issues which arise due to tenant negligence, such as a blocked shower drain with hair, or mould due to lack of ventilation, the landlord may be liable to reclaim monies spent from the tenant.

There are many good landlords out there who want tenants to be able to live comfortably in their property without having major issues pop up all the time. So if something happens while living somewhere new, maybe a leaky shower head, let them know right away so they can fix it quickly instead of waiting until after moving in has passed which could cost both parties money and time spent fixing certain items later down the road.

Conclusion

Look, we aren’t trying to scare you, but the reality is that tenants make mistakes, and how you deal with them can be a key part of your relationship with a landlord. We’re hoping that this guide will help you avoid as many of them as possible. Try not to make any mistakes when you’re renting a property. It will make your life easier, that’s for sure! Of course, that’s easier said than done. But before you end up making a big mistake, it might be a good idea to review this guide. Reading through it may just save you lots of time, money, and stress down the line. Good luck!

If you have any questions or queries about the housing market, it is best to call on experts for support. We are still available to help you, while following social distancing guidelines, so feel free to contact us if you need to. We can arrange a free valuation for you, and if this is of interest, contact Highcastle Estates today. You can call us on 0203 026 4420 or email us on info@hceuk.com.

Note: This does not constitute advice. This content is intended for information purposes only

Get in touch if you have any questions by calling us on 0203 026 4420 or email us on info@hceuk.com if you’re a landlord in Stratford, Ilford, Goodmayes, Seven Kings, Plaistow, Chadwell Heath, Barking, East Ham or beyond.