10 tips for avoiding tenancy disputes.
May 26, 2015
- Contract a fully regulated, independent Inventory Clerk.
The main causes of landlord / tenant disputes in rented accommodation are damage and cleaning, therefore without a thorough inventory in place (at check-in and check-out) landlords have much less chance of winning a dispute if they have no detailed evidence of the original condition of the property. - Ensure your Agreements are correct.
Double check dates and rental amounts.
Be able to provide up to date Gas Safety Certificates, along with EPC’s & PAT testing (where necessary) to prove that your property and its contents is safe. - Deposit Protection.
If you take deposits, register them with one of the three government-backed Tenancy Deposit Schemes;
– Deposit Protection Service (DPS)
– MyDeposits
– Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS)
- Tenants need to be made aware of their contractual obligations.
Ask them if there’s anything they don’t understand in the tenancy agreement. And don’t forget to make them aware of the utility bills and any other costs that they are liable for. - Make it clear what costs are involved e.g. administration fees, referencing, etc.
- Pre-tenancy.
Conduct thorough tenant referencing procedures, making sure that you obtain references from the tenants’ previous landlord(s). Speaking to someone first hand can tell you so much more than a simple credit report can, and can sometimes reveal whether the tenant has ever had a dispute in a previous tenancy, therefore helping you to gauge their character. - Maintenance.
Ensure that your property is in good repair and fit for rental.
Encourage tenants to report any problems with the property as soon as they occur, thus avoiding more costly problems in the future. - Inspections.
Regular inspections not only flag up maintenance issues but can also tell you whether there are unauthorised individuals living in the property, that are not listed on the tenancy agreement. Subletting is not usually allowed within residential tenancies, and unchecked tenants could also cause disputes with neighbouring properties e.g. noise. - Establish a good line of communication with your tenant and try to remain calm and professional at all times.
If things do start to escalate make sure that you record all interactions with the tenant (texts, emails, etc) and where possible have a witness present if you are dealing with them face-to-face. - Always give tenants the required notice before entering the property, as then there can be no dispute over unauthorised entry.
Landlords want a happy tenant who pays their rent consistently and looks after the property. So it is always best to do your utmost to avoid disputes, as they can be extremely stressful, tiresome and expensive.
This post was originally published by Yellow Oak Inventories on January 19 2015 http://bit.ly/1cfLhL5
You May Also Enjoy
Homebuyers face longer buying timelines
The latest research from Lyons Bowe suggests the homebuying process could become even slower in 2026: as the number of conveyancers operating across the UK is thought to have fallen by almost -13% while transaction volumes rise, placing further pressure on completion timelines. Lyons Bowe has analysed data on the number of active conveyancers in…
Read More 
Breaking Property News 1/4/26
Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X. Winning the AI Era: A Playbook for UK Estate Agencies The AI-Driven Rewiring of UK Estate Agency Thought Leadership by Andrew Stanton CEO Proptech-PR Real estate has historically been conservative, fragmented, and inefficient. A surge of startups, is introducing automation, data-driven decision-making, and better customer experiences. This…
Read More 
What renters and landlords need to know ahead of major rental law changes
With just one month to go until the first phase of the Renters’ Rights Act comes into force, the leading professional body, Propertymark, is urging renters and landlords across England to understand how the changes could affect them. From 1 May 2026, the legislation will introduce some of the biggest changes to the private rented…
Read More 
Tackling Empty Properties
A UK Perspective on Best Practice and Recommendations for Reform Propertymark, the UK’s leading professional body for property agents, has today published a comprehensive new position paper highlighting the urgent need for coordinated, practical and properly resourced action to bring long-term empty properties back into use. With over 359,000 homes sitting empty for more than…
Read More 
Pet-friendly rentals plunge 39%
New research from Inventory Base reveals that the number of pet-friendly rental homes in England has fallen by -39% since the start of 2026, as landlords appear to be reducing the number of homes openly marketed as allowing pets ahead of the Renters’ Rights Act taking effect from 1st May. The Renters’ Rights Act (RRA)…
Read More 
Latest Nationwide house price data showing a 2.2% increase
Industry reaction to Nationwide house price data showing UK annual house price growth picked up to 2.2% in March, from 1.0% in February. Nathan Emerson, CEO of Propertymark, comments: “An uplift in house prices will be welcomed by the market and suggests that buyer demand remains resilient despite ongoing economic headwinds. Improved sentiment, coupled with…
Read More