Do Letting agents have to disclose if property has been burgled

gordbart

Hi

Does anyone know if a letting agent is legally obliged to inform prospective tennants if the property that they are going to rent has recently been burgled. ???

The reason for my question is that my son has just been burgled in his flat that he has been in for 4 months and he has now found out that the previous 3 tennants were also burgled whilst they lived there. There was no mention of these burglaries when he took out the tennancy. His girlfriend has now decided that she can no longer stay in the property and they have been in touch with the agent. The agent are saying that they have to pay £150 to end the contract and that they must still pay the rent until a new tennant is found or that the 6 months lease expires, which ever is soonest. I know that when you sell a property, it must be disclosed if the property has been burgled and I was wondering if the same applied to rented properties.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Rgds
Gordbart

PasturesNew

Was the question asked?

It is only disclosed even in the selling process because the question is asked.

I do sympathise. It's my one big fear too!

cherry_blossom_6

I don't see why they would need to disclose it. I certainly have never thought to ask when renting. Nobody can say whether a house will be burgled or not, surely it depends more on the area, which most people check up on more than the house.

m00m00

a house which has been burgled once, is statistically more likely to be burgled again.

It will not however be something that has to be disclosed, and I'm pretty sure there is no legal obligation for them to actually tell you, even if you ask.

real1314

Having to pay £150 to end the contract early AND having to pay the rent until re-let or the end of the tenancy doesn't make much sense. They could just leave it empty until the end and save £150.

Why don't they just look at fitting some window locks and new door locks, after asking for the ok from the landlord?

Generali

m00m00 wrote: »

a house which has been burgled once, is statistically more likely to be burgled again.

It will not however be something that has to be disclosed, and I'm pretty sure there is no legal obligation for them to actually tell you, even if you ask.

Presumably if you asked and stated that you were only renting the place on the basis that there hadn't been a burglary there to the knowledge of the LL/LA and they replied that it had not then that would form a part of the contract. If they lied then they would be in breach of contract and could be sued.

PayDay

real1314 wrote: »

Why don't they just look at fitting some window locks and new door locks, after asking for the ok from the landlord?

For the 2 months left on the tenancy? Why don't they ask the LL to fit window locks and new doors to HIS property, as he has had all those burglaries at that property. It's the LLs asset, so why wouldn't he want to look after it? If word gets around about his property (neighbours talk) he may end up with a void.

GarethK

If security is lax the landlord needs to improve it, i've never had a house burgled but i rent a property too and wouldnt want to stay at a place once it had been broken into, but i would sleep alot better knowing that security was improved.

real1314

PayDay wrote: »

For the 2 months left on the tenancy? Why don't they ask the LL to fit window locks and new doors to HIS property, as he has had all those burglaries at that property. It's the LLs asset, so why wouldn't he want to look after it? If word gets around about his property (neighbours talk) he may end up with a void.

I'm guessing here but I think this LL might not be prepared to pay for extra locks given that they want to charge £150 AND the rent to end the tenancy early?

It then becomes a question of what's best for the OP; to stay as it is OR to leave and pay 2 months rent + £150 (and have to pay rent on a new place) OR to pay for some extra locks.
Window locks are not hugely expensive, so that might be the cheapest/best option.

greenmoneysaver_2

With a history like that it sounds dubious...

Did they do much damage? If the LL was having to insure after so many burglaries it would affect insurance if there were claims going through at least every 6 months for damage...

So it may be someone linked to the property?? I would change the door locks on any rental property (chubbs cost about 15 and take about 10 mins to fix) and make sure there are window locks, especially if ground floor.

And if you don't ask they won't tell!