Call to penalise rogue tenants

The Housing and Planning Bill threatens to come down hard on rogue landlords, but provides little protection against tenants who behave badly

Housing Minister Brandon Lewis claims that the Housing and Planning Bill will promote the “professionalisation” of the private rental sector by introducing greater penalties for rogue landlords.

But a growing number of organisations involved in the rental sector are calling for the introduction of clauses in the new legislation to highlight the issue of problem tenants, says Denhan Guaranteed Rent.

The London-based company, which offers private landlords guaranteed rental payments for up to five years, says the Housing and Planning Bill only has to pass through a Third Reading and Consideration of Amendments stage before reaching Royal Assent, which is when it becomes law.

The Bill contains proposals to

  • Ban and fine criminal landlords and letting agents;
  • Introduce rent repayment orders; and
  • Give local housing authorities the power to establish and maintain a database of blacklisted landlords and agents.

Construction industry partner Proskips notes, however, that landlords have upped their game when it comes to bringing their buy-to-let properties up to scratch.

And while reputable letting agents say they welcome measures that stamp out the minority of criminal operators letting property to tenants, more could be done to highlight the issue of problem tenants.

Avoid problem tenants

The best defence against problem tenants is in-depth screening before issuing an Assured Shorthold Tenancy agreement, advises Brixton and Battersea estate and letting agent Eden Harper.

A spokesman advises landlords that they may be keen to let their property in the shortest space of time, but the loss of a few week’s rental income can save time, money and distress in the long run by ensuring the right tenant moves in from the start.

And any potential tenant not prepared to assist a landlord by providing the details needed for full background checks should be considered as a potential source of trouble.

The tenant screening process should also include a face-to-face interview with every person who will be living in the property. Not every tenant will be a mirror image of yourself, so remember to consider whether the individual or family will take care of the property, not whether they have the same taste in clothes, music or other interests.

But do bear in mind that the new Housing and Planning Bill places a moral obligation on landlords and letting agents to consider the safety of residents in neighbouring properties, particularly if the rental home is part of a block of flats.

When good tenants turn bad

But even if a landlord or letting agent carries out the most detailed background checks – and they do not arouse suspicion – good tenants can turn bad.

If complaints about property damage or antisocial behaviour come back to a letting agent or landlord, these issues can often be resolved by issuing a politely-worded verbal warning or written request.

And if that does not do the trick, it can be followed up with a mild warning backed up by an official letter.

Difficulties can arise if annoying behaviour escalates into criminal acts, such as breaching noise regulations or even local parking regulations. These can be dealt with by referring the matter to the police or local authority, which in most cases will issue a fine or Police Caution.

The shortage of good homes available for rent in London and south-east England, in particular, means the majority of tenants treat rental properties as if they were their own. Keeping lines of communication open and displaying a little understanding can usually resolve the majority of problems that a landlord can experience when running a rental property.

You May Also Enjoy

Breaking News

Breaking Property News – 28/03/24

Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X.   tlyfe the tenant App gets huge marketing boost from national team tour from the Openbrix team As many will know tlyfe, powered by OpenBrix, is the UK’s most innovative tenant lifecycle app, taking the stress out of the move in process and helping to…
Read More
Breaking News

Over Four Out Of Five Tenants Unaware Of The Renters Reform Bill

OVER four out of five tenants remain unaware of the Renters (Reform) Bill and its contents, according to new research. The data comes from a representative survey of over 2,000 private renters conducted by the TDS Charitable Foundation, which works to advance education about housing rights and obligations in the private rented sector. The Bill…
Read More
Estate Agent Talk

What is Property Damage in a Personal Injury Case?

Property damage refers to any damage that affects things instead of a person. This might include damage to your car, house, etc. As such, it is not regarded as a personal injury case. However, when an individual is injured when the accident occurs, the affected person can file a personal injury claim. A typical example…
Read More
Love or Hate Rightmove
Breaking News

Rightmove comment on new 99% first-time buyer mortgage product

Matt Smith, Rightmove’s mortgage expert said: “It’s encouraging to see lenders continuing to try to innovate in the mortgage market, even after the government abandoned its own plans to encourage lower deposit mortgages in the Spring Budget. This new product has the potential to help some first-time buyers who fit the affordability criteria, but are struggling…
Read More
Breaking News

Breaking Property News – 27/03/24

Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X.   Coadjute ahead of the game as they are already licensed to provide digital TA6 Forms to property stakeholders This week, the Law Society announced its TA6 Form will now include Material Information as per the the National Trading Standards Estate and Letting Agency Team…
Read More
Breaking News

Breaking Property News – 26/03/24

Daily bite-sized proptech and property news in partnership with Proptech-X.   Sharing Success: The Guild Conference and Awards celebrate Member achievements The QEII Centre in Westminster, London, was abuzz with excitement on Friday, 22 March 2024, as The Guild of Property Professionals hosted its highly anticipated annual Guild Conference and Awards. Under the theme ‘Sharing…
Read More