Rental Property Standards Seem Low

TroubledTarts

i_like_cats said:

TroubledTarts said:

RHemmings said:

TroubledTarts said:

RHemmings said:

TroubledTarts said:

Maybe some of the reasons

40-50 applicants per rental property in high demand areas.

Lots of BTL Landlords selling up and leaving the market increasing demand further

Rents at an all time high and so far only going one way but then so are BTL rates so less profit so they don't bother with upkeep

None of these are excuses and I agree with comments above that a grotty property in poor repair should be avoided as it should sound alarm bells.

It's just the rental stock is decreasing and demand is increasing so some landlords will make the most out of this.

And this is precisely why the rental market can't be left to run itself. As, if supply and demand puts landlords in the driving seat, some landlords will rent out substandard (if not totally unfit for habitation) properties. 

And yet professionally run "council" properties are generally even worse and repairs even longer. 

What's your plan

There is no need for a new plan, just hhe enforcement of the laws we have. My point is that those laws are needed. 

Is this just tenants not knowing their rights and feeling trapped as if they annoy their landlord there aren't the properties on the market to move into?

Much bigger issues at play here and it will be interesting how this all goes.

I am not condoning any of this by the way but what are the laws regarding a landlord having an old kitchen or decor in a rental? An electrical test certificate, gas safe cert and service each year and up to date EPC yes but what are the "laws" regarding decor and shabbyness?

There’s no law against a rental having a 30 year old kitchen.  But no kitchen can last 30 years without maintenance.

Over time, the thin strip of kitchen counter between the sink and the wall often rots from years of water exposure.  (Yes I’ve experienced that in a rental).   Sealant around the kitchen counter goes, too.   Walls get filthy if the extractor fan isn’t serviced / replaced.   Tiles crack.

Kitchen cabinet doors come loose or fall off, and the laminate front chips away.  Sometimes the sides of the base units can collapse, too.

Cookers and hobs generally last 5-10 years but still require cleaning.   Some landlords ask for tenants to supply their own fridgefreezers as they can’t be bothered cleaning salad trays between tenants!

An interesting view I think ovens and hobs generally last 10-15 years in my experience.

It seems you also have a view that landlords have to provide a fully loaded kitchen where infact they don't have to supply ovens, hobs or fridge freezers.

I suspect the view from a tenant to landlord are very different as to what each other expect.

RHemmings

TroubledTarts said:

RHemmings said:

TroubledTarts said:

RHemmings said:

TroubledTarts said:

Maybe some of the reasons

40-50 applicants per rental property in high demand areas.

Lots of BTL Landlords selling up and leaving the market increasing demand further

Rents at an all time high and so far only going one way but then so are BTL rates so less profit so they don't bother with upkeep

None of these are excuses and I agree with comments above that a grotty property in poor repair should be avoided as it should sound alarm bells.

It's just the rental stock is decreasing and demand is increasing so some landlords will make the most out of this.

And this is precisely why the rental market can't be left to run itself. As, if supply and demand puts landlords in the driving seat, some landlords will rent out substandard (if not totally unfit for habitation) properties. 

And yet professionally run "council" properties are generally even worse and repairs even longer. 

What's your plan

There is no need for a new plan, just hhe enforcement of the laws we have. My point is that those laws are needed. 

Is this just tenants not knowing their rights and feeling trapped as if they annoy their landlord there aren't the properties on the market to move into?

Much bigger issues at play here and it will be interesting how this all goes.

I am not condoning any of this by the way but what are the laws regarding a landlord having an old kitchen or decor in a rental? An electrical test certificate, gas safe cert and service each year and up to date EPC yes but what are the "laws" regarding decor and shabbyness?

Tenants not knowing their rights and/or being intimidated by a minority of bad landlords is an example of a larger problem where people don't know rights in general (e.g. employment rights) and/or are intimidated (e.g. fearing for their job if they insist on their rights.) The Renters Rights Bill should go some way towards addressing this, with the removal of no-fault evictions. There will still be ways for that minority of landlords to get around things, e.g. evicting based on wishing to sell the property then 'changing their mind', but no law is perfect in every case.  In this case, I believe that the evicted tenant could sue the landlord and the reason for eviction might be seen as invalid.

The ability of tenants to report issues to Environmental Health, and for there to be enforcement orders, is already a strong basis for ensuring properties are safe and fit for habitation. These could be used more - which is what I mean by more enforcement. If the Renters Rights Bill will make revenge evictions even harder, then this is a good change to my eyes. As you point out, getting things enforced requires both authorities to act effectively, and for victims to also be aware of their rights and to feel safe pursuing them. 

I don't believe the laws will make it illegal to rent out a property with, for example, an old and/or shabby kitchen provided it is usable, safe, and hygenic. Nor do I think that laws should prevent that. The same for decor in the house. Something which is cosmetically unattractive but clean, safe and usable isn't, to my eyes, a problem. (And, cleanliness becomes the responsibility of the tenant after renting out. 'Usable' includes that it can be cleaned properly). 

theartfullodger

The benefits of free enterprise.  Neither free nor enterprising.

RHemmings

I just wish to point out that I was a long term renter. I spent 15 years in a house that was shabby when we moved in and nothing was redecorated in that entire time. But, the rent was cheap and the landlord did what was needed for safety. 

TroubledTarts

RHemmings said:

I just wish to point out that I was a long term renter. I spent 15 years in a house that was shabby when we moved in and nothing was redecorated in that entire time. But, the rent was cheap and the landlord did what was needed for safety. 

That's an interesting point do renters expect landlords to redecorate for them every (x) amount of years and replace carpets every (x) amount of years.

RHemmings

TroubledTarts said:

RHemmings said:

I just wish to point out that I was a long term renter. I spent 15 years in a house that was shabby when we moved in and nothing was redecorated in that entire time. But, the rent was cheap and the landlord did what was needed for safety. 

That's an interesting point do renters expect landlords to redecorate for them every (x) amount of years and replace carpets every (x) amount of years.

I didn't. I would have expected that if I was paying more rent. 

gazfocus

TroubledTarts said:

RHemmings said:

I just wish to point out that I was a long term renter. I spent 15 years in a house that was shabby when we moved in and nothing was redecorated in that entire time. But, the rent was cheap and the landlord did what was needed for safety. 

That's an interesting point do renters expect landlords to redecorate for them every (x) amount of years and replace carpets every (x) amount of years.

Depends…one property we rented, the landlord would not allow us to decorate at all. In that scenario, I would expect them to decorate every few years to freshen the place (or allow us to get it done). 

TroubledTarts

RHemmings said:

TroubledTarts said:

RHemmings said:

I just wish to point out that I was a long term renter. I spent 15 years in a house that was shabby when we moved in and nothing was redecorated in that entire time. But, the rent was cheap and the landlord did what was needed for safety. 

That's an interesting point do renters expect landlords to redecorate for them every (x) amount of years and replace carpets every (x) amount of years.

I didn't. I would have expected that if I was paying more rent. 

What does that equate to £100-£200 cheaper per month than the average rent an ld you would crack on and do things yourself?

TroubledTarts

gazfocus said:

TroubledTarts said:

RHemmings said:

I just wish to point out that I was a long term renter. I spent 15 years in a house that was shabby when we moved in and nothing was redecorated in that entire time. But, the rent was cheap and the landlord did what was needed for safety. 

That's an interesting point do renters expect landlords to redecorate for them every (x) amount of years and replace carpets every (x) amount of years.

Depends…one property we rented, the landlord would not allow us to decorate at all. In that scenario, I would expect them to decorate every few years to freshen the place (or allow us to get it done). 

That seems reasonablez I don't think we do our own home more than every 5 years but I think it's clear from this thread everyone's expectations would be different.

I wonder if this sort of things needs to go into tenancy documents.

Herzlos

TroubledTarts said:

RHemmings said:

I just wish to point out that I was a long term renter. I spent 15 years in a house that was shabby when we moved in and nothing was redecorated in that entire time. But, the rent was cheap and the landlord did what was needed for safety. 

That's an interesting point do renters expect landlords to redecorate for them every (x) amount of years and replace carpets every (x) amount of years.

I'd expect it to be in decent condition when I move in and then come up again if I've been there long enough. How that works would be down to an agreement with the landlord and tenant.

A good landlord would presumably want to arrange the work themselves to ensure the quality for future rentals.