Should we get a lease that covers maintenance or will that put renters off?

GS..

My wife rents a brand new house and over the last three years she's had to maintain it and anticipating new carpets and decorating in the next year or so. Should we get a lease that covers maintenance or will that put renters off?

[Deleted User]

GS.. said:

My wife rents a brand new house and over the last three years she's had to maintain it and anticipating new carpets and decorating in the next year or so. Should we get a lease that covers maintenance or will that put renters off?

Do you mean that your wife lets a house? She’s the landlord and therefore responsible for maintaining the property.  What you’re talking about is decorating and there’s no way as a tenant I’d pay to decorate or carpet a private rental property. I’m not going to get the benefit of those carpets over their full life span. 

davidmcn

What minimum term will she be offering tenants, and by how much will she be discounting the rent? 

GS..

Well she rents minimum one year and I guess she'll have to eat the maintainance although I heard of some leases that retain the deposit to help towards maintainance so I'll consider that next time. Hell we'll probably just increase the rent. The first tenant screwed a load of child proof catches in the outside of every single "brand new"  kitchen cabinet, looks dreadful, but luckily the next tenant also has kids, but who does that?

Thrugelmir

You should be building up and putting a reserve aside towards future maintenance from the rent charged. 

AdrianC

There's a world of difference between maintenance and repairs to damage above wear and tear.

davidmcn

GS.. said:

I heard of some leases that retain the deposit to help towards maintainance 

How, exactly? You can't charge the tenants for wear and tear. 

[Deleted User]

GS.. said:

Well she rents minimum one year and I guess she'll have to eat the maintainance although I heard of some leases that retain the deposit to help towards maintainance so I'll consider that next time. Hell we'll probably just increase the rent. The first tenant screwed a load of child proof catches in the outside of every single "brand new"  kitchen cabinet, looks dreadful, but luckily the next tenant also has kids, but who does that?

Maybe your wife should sell the rental property because it doesn't sound as if she is cut out to be a landlord.  Yes, she has to "eat" the maintenance and I have never heard of an AST that allows the landlord to keep the deposit to pay for the maintenance.

theartfullodger

Maintenance is an expense to be expected as a Landlord and I think cannot be excluded for leases under 7 years.

If Landlord is not making enough from the investment suggest they find some other business area they'll be happy in instead

greatcrested

The tenant is liable for damage they cause, not 'fair wear and tear'. No clause you put in the tenancy agreement can change that. And why should a tenant pay for a new carpet that will last perhaps 5, 8 or more years (depending on quality, number of occupants etc) when all they have is a 1 year contract??!!

The property belongs to your wife. She must re-fix the tiles on the roof, mend/replace the boiler, and periodially redecorate her property.

dimbo61

All the expenses of replacing carpets and getting the place decorated are tax deductible