It happens at times that, as a tenant, you may clash on certain subjects with your landlord, or as a landlord, you may be unhappy with the behaviour of your tenants. As a leading letting agent in Sutton Coldfield, we’re aware that spats between landlord and tenant have the potential to threaten your rental deposit. We have certain methods in place to help protect you from such conflicts in our tenant insurance, but keeping a record of everything in your home can help too.
Written Records
A lot of the time- in rented accommodation- you will be given an inventory of the house and a time frame to complete it by. If, for whatever reason, you have found yourself without one of these, the best way to ensure all faults are recorded on time before moving in, is to tackle one room at a time. For tenants, it’s important to traverse your house with a note pad and pen and jot down any scratches, stains, marks or faults, which room they’re in and where.
Having a written, dated record with a copy for yourself and another sent to your agent ensures you are not responsible for these minor blemishes. Your written contract may state that the landlord would prefer it if you did not alter the decor of the house, though that doesn’t mean that the tenants before you paid any attention. Keeping yourself covered is always a good idea when it comes to avoiding any unnecessary arguments.
Dated Photos
It may seem like an obvious way of keeping a record, but dated photos never lie. They have the potential to visually prove the state of a window sill or of a carpet corner which written records may not be able to express. Again, keeping copies is always a sure way to prevent anybody from pointing the finger. Both the agent and the tenant should keep track of any issues which arise, particularly in the first week of the property being occupied.
Though it’s a good idea to keep a record for your own reference, it is our duty to provide you with the very best service and point of communication between yourself and your landlord, so if you do find a scratch behind a door or a stain on the kitchen counter, you can be sure that we’ll be on the job straight away. To find out more about how we can look after you in your rented accommodation, contact us via our website and we’ll be happy to answer all of your questions.
