What clauses might tenants like to see in their Tenancy Agreement ?

clutton_2

Just what it says really.. i am reviewing my AST and just wondered what tenants might want to see that they dont see already ?

sensible legal ideas please !

Mind_the_Gap

clutton wrote: »

Just what it says really.. i am reviewing my AST and just wondered what tenants might want to see that they dont see already ?

sensible legal ideas please !

Well, I'm sure most tenants would like it to say that the LL won't chase unpaid rent, or any other breaches...but that would be a bit optimistic!

What kinds of rights could be ensured which Ts don't already have?

On behalf of my student children, I would perhaps have a clause which says that if property is dirty/damaged at the start of the tenancy the rent will be waived until it is remedied.

clutton_2

Thank you for your response - that would be a very good one to force poor landlords to clean up their act... unfortunately there is no standard legal AST and LLs can put in their agreements pretty much what they want - although some "iffy" clauses are definitely unenforceable.

I have seen a half page AST and a 20 page AST. Which is why i am interested in what tenants would like to see.....

Callie22

Personally, I'd just like to see a contract that is as clear and unambiguous as possible. I know what I don't like - made up charges, unfair clauses etc etc. I'd like LLs and LAs to be honest - if the property isn't clean, then it's annoying to see 'professional cleaning' demanded as part of the contract - ditto things like 'you must get the windows cleaned' and 'the garden must be tidy and weed free'. Fair enough if they are that way at the start of the tenancy, but it leaves a bit of a bad taste when they're not. Locally, there seems to be a trend towards adding clauses demanding that tenants have contents insurance that covers the LLs property - again, possibly a good idea if you're renting furnished, but weird if you're not.

theartfullodger

a) Agreement should be error-free and have no unenforceable clauses: I've never seen such an agreement - including one's I thought I'd got right...
b) Bonus at tenancy end for having paid on time..
c) Formal right (with copies.- maybe suitably redacted-.) to see consent2let (if needed), insurance policy, proof of registration (where required), credit-check of landlord, proof of ownership of property and HMO licence (where required).

Cheers!

clutton_2

Thank you Callie - artful are you a tenant as well as a LL then ?

erdd2

theartfullodger wrote: »

b) Bonus at tenancy end for having paid on time..

A bonus for paying ones due may be an incentive, but is it not a LL right to expect this level of responsibility. Are there penalties for not paying on time?

As you can read, I have little knowledge of LL and tenancy agreements, however applying the principle of a bonus for paying bills on time to other service providers, I wish this was reasonably profitably worth it

Sharon87

One that doesn't contradict the law would be good! Mine says the tenant is required to give 2 months notice to leave. Even though legally it's 1 month! Although I have just given 5-6 weeks notice and he didn't say anything about it. To be honest I don't the LA knows what's in the tenancy agreement lol.

theartfullodger

clutton wrote: »

........ artful are you a tenant as well as a LL then ?

Not really but sort of... I live in my own home in bonnie Scotland for some of the time and with the wife in her house in Engerland for most of the time.. She's visiting me in Scotland later this year..

Details of this scheme are available to serious enquirers... along with an outline of the advantages..

Cheers!

slopemaster

theartfullodger wrote: »

Bonus at tenancy end for having paid on time..

That's a very interesting idea...
I'll shortly be becoming a LL for the first time
Perhaps if potential tenants want to negotiate on the rent, I could offer this instead

DVardysShadow

Clauses?

"Deposit to be lodged with XX scheme, or any other authorised scheme as specified by the tenant at the time of signing the contract"

LL required to notify guarantor of arrears exceeding 1 months rent, Guarantor authorised to give notice on behalf of the tenant where there are arrears and authorised to undertake eviction proceedings in the name of the Landlord.