Landlords should be more open-minded to tenants’ requests to make home improvements to their rental properties, according to the Association of Independent Inventory Clerks (AIIC).
The inventory provider says that a growing number of private tenants are increasingly keen to personalise their rental homes, as reflected by a recent study undertaken by Plentific, which found that 73% of tenants have carried out DIY jobs at their own expense.
The research, which included a survey of more than 2,000 renters, found that almost a quarter - 23% - of participants had spent in excess of £500 on home improvements in their rental property.
“It's clear that tenants are increasingly willing to spend their own money on improving their rental property and this is certainly something landlords should think about,” said Patricia Barber, chair of the AIIC.
Barber believes that landlords who permit tenants to make reasonable home improvements could reap the rewards in the long-term.
She added: “We’re seeing more long-term tenants and they’re clearly committed to living in a higher standard of property.
“Landlords who cautiously allow tenants to put their own stamp on a property could benefit from a lower turnover of tenants and an improved and well-maintained property at the end of the contract.”
Understandably, Barber advises all landlords to ensure that they have an accurate schedule of condition in place to log the condition of the condition of the property before and after the tenancy.
As well as being used as evidence in a potential dispute, a detailed and precise inventory completed at the start of the tenancy, and again when the tenancy ends, also underlines exactly what is expected of the tenant, while it can also help landlords avoid a disagreement in the first place.
“If rental properties are noticeably changing over the course of a tenancy, it’s vitally important that there is an inventory which comprehensively details the condition and contents of the property at the start of the tenancy,” added Barber. “This way any fair deposit deductions can be made by the landlord and the chances of a [tenancy] deposit dispute are minimised.”
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This is quite wrong. the property is owned by the landlord. It is meant to be neutral and is rented as seen. Would you customise a rented car? Insane.
Stupid idea. It starts with 'can I paint that room a different colour' and ends with 'can I add a few walls'.
And when it all goes wrong who is going to pay to put it right again? The landlord.
I do agree, that with careful inventories and agreements, this should be allowed. I always make sure there are tenancy addendums in place to give authority to make changes and it is made clear structural changes are not allowed. I allow cosmetic decorating, pictures and pets. I take extra deposit for pets and agree there are few landlord that allow this and creates a niche.
With the market trending towards longer terms tenants, DIY and investment by the tenant can invest them to the property being their "home" and becoming attached.
Added to which is means your house gets painted more regularly!
i am one of very few landlords in my area that will take a pet, within reason, i also allow walls to be painted, but not until i have ok ed the colour, i find generally i get better tenants that stay longer.
idiot
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