Tenants face losing deposit as 83% of landlords report tenancy agreements being breached

More than eight out of ten landlords say they have had a tenant breach their tenancy agreement, according to new research.

Direct Line surveyed 500 landlords in October and November last year and found that 83 per cent had experienced a tenancy breach.

The most common breaches included not keeping the property sufficiently clean and maintained – at 36 per cent – and failing to notify a landlord of required repairs at 29 per cent.

Direct Line surveyed 500 landlords last year and found 83% had experienced a tenancy breach

Other breaches include damaging or making alterations to the property, keeping a pet in the property, smoking or vaping in the property and redecorating without permission.

All of these other breaches were reported by more than a quarter of the landlords surveyed.

The most common sanction for broken tenancy agreements is to have money deducted from the tenant’s deposit, to issue the tenant with a written or verbal warning, or to ask the tenants to pay for the damages or work themselves.

Landlords are being urged by Direct Line to have their properties inspected regularly to help check for any breaches.

Left unaddressed, issues such as required repairs may cost more money to rectify if they are left in the long run.

Despite this, just over half of landlords – at 55 per cent – conduct six-monthly property inspections, according to the Direct Line research.

A further 21 per cent make only annual checks, while 10 per cent of landlords admit that they only visit their properties at the start and end of the tenancy.

Fourteen per cent of landlords visit their properties less often than that, or only if they suspect there is an issue.

The most common sanction for broken tenancy agreements is to have money deducted from the tenant’s deposit

Harriet Scanlan, of Richmond estate agency Antony Roberts, said: ‘When it comes to lettings, landlords often find themselves juggling numerous responsibilities to ensure the seamless management of their investment.

‘Many will have a full-time job, renting out a property or two in order to supplement their income.

‘From marketing the property to vetting tenants, ensuring you secure the very best offer out there and get the best return on your investment, is a constant juggle.

‘This is where the expertise of a lettings agent can be invaluable, serving as a valuable guide through the intricate web of regulations and responsibilities, and keeping an eye on your investment.’

Sarah Casey, of Direct Line, said: ‘Property inspections shouldn’t feel intrusive for tenants and are all about building good relationships and keeping an eye out for any emerging issues.

Can a tenant keep pets? 

A new model tenancy agreement was published by the Government in 2021, which tried to make life easier for animal lovers.

A main change in the Government’s template tenancy agreement is the removal of restrictions on tenants with pets.

The Government introduced this to encourage landlords to accept tenants with pets. However, in reality the template is just that – and landlords are not compelled to use the template.

‘Early intervention can often stop these from developing into a bigger problem that requires landlords to take further action.

‘Landlords should also make sure that tenancy deposits are held in a government-approved tenancy deposit scheme to help cover costs if, for example, the tenant leaves the property in a filthy state, has broken furniture or removed property supplied by the landlord.’