Tenants want to personalise their properties

According to the AIIC, the UK's private tenants are increasingly keen to personalise their rental properties and landlords should facilitate this trend.

Related topics:  Landlords
Warren Lewis
23rd March 2017
DIY 5
"Tenants must be up-front with their landlords about home improvements"

The Association of Independent Inventory Clerks says that landlords should be open-minded to tenants' requests to make home improvements.

The growing trend is reflected by a study recently undertaken by Plentific, which found that 73% of tenants have carried out DIY jobs at their own expense. According to the research, which included a survey of over 2,000 renters, 23% of participants said they have spent over £500 on home improvements in their rental property.

Patricia Barber, Chair of the AIIC, had this to say: "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."

She says that landlords who allow tenants to make home improvements - within reason - could benefit in the long-term.

"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."

The AIIC warns, however, that communication between landlords and tenants is all-important.

Barber advises: "Tenants must be up-front with their landlords about home improvements. Particularly if they are thinking about spending hundreds of pounds of their own money."

Barber also stresses that the home improvement trend once again highlights the importance of retaining an independently compiled inventory.

"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," adds Barber.

This way any fair deposit deductions can be made by the landlord and the chances of a deposit dispute are minimised."

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