Cigarette smoking brings a host of damage problems such as nicotine and tar staining and cigarette burns to carpets, furniture and window sills and frames. These are common problems with smokers and will incur additional charges to a tenant. It falls outside of any allowances for wear and tear, no matter what is in the tenancy agreement.
If the property is specifically designated as a non-smoking one and at the end of the tenancy signs of smoking are detected, this will be in direct breach of the tenancy agreement. The tenants will be liable for not only deep cleaning and deodorising, but cleaning or making good any décor affected by nicotine staining – with an allowance for what would be considered normal wear and tear.
Pat Barber, Chair of the AIIC comments: “If a property has been let to smokers and the landlord has given permission for smoking inside the property, then the landlord should allow for additional wear and tear from the beginning. Usually, an increase in the rent will be agreed to cover any washing down of nicotine stained walls at a later date. The tenancy agreement will contain a special clause stating that the tenants are allowed to smoke inside the property, but will be required to have all soft furnishings, including curtains and carpets professionally cleaned and deodorised.
One recent case concerned a property let to four sharers. The check-out inspection noted walls, ceilings and paintwork heavily discoloured with nicotine. The whole house smelled strongly of cigarette smoke. The tenancy agreement stated that this was a non-smoking property. The tenants were charged not only with cleaning and deodorising of all curtains, carpets and soft furnishings, but also the costs relating to additional work required prior to redecorating.
Landlords and agents will have to redecorate properties that have had smoking tenants, sooner that non-smoking tenants. The life expectancy of walls exposed to smoking is up to five years less than walls that are not exposed to smoking. It is important that landlords and agents consider taking a higher deposit and rent to cover the inevitable damage caused by tenants that smoke.”
