Landlords urged to guard themselves against deposit disputes
Owners of buy-to-let properties have been advised to take steps to ensure they do not get into an argument with their tenants over the issue of deposits.
With thousands of landlords up and down the country currently filling their properties with new student tenants for the start of the academic year, mydeposits has noted that there are several ways the savvy landlord can take to guard themselves against possible disputes further down the line.
Above all, landlords should make sure both they and their tenants sign an AST (Assured Shorthold Tenancy) agreement, laying out in print what is expected in terms of keeping the property in good shape, while also setting out their own commitments to their tenants, for instance agreeing to carry out timely repairs if necessary.
Additionally, it is also a good idea to keep all receipts for rents and deposits, as well as for any repairs, up-to-date, while carrying out a check-out inspection can also guard against future stress, explains Eddie Hooker, chief executive of the tenancy deposit protection scheme.
"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," he says.
"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."
Highlighting the importance of taking such proactive steps, the organisation also cited its own recent research, which found that around half of all landlords are now turning to photographic evidence to solve disputes with tenants.
Meanwhile, landlords making use of residential letting agents in popular university cities could be set to benefit as the Independent reports that some institutions are struggling to find room for newcomers in their own halls.
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