How to avoid “tenants from hell”

Landlords are facing rising numbers of “tenants from hell”, according to Balgores Property Group, an estate and lettings agency group in Essex.

The agency claims there is a plague of bad tenants who are causing unprecedented problems.  

Howard Lester, director of Balgores Property Group said: “We have seen a rise in the number of landlords contacting us to manage their properties, after experiencing difficult tenants. Recently, a landlord came to us for some help, after his tenants had stopped paying the rent after nine months and prevented any access to the property. It was not until bailiffs broke the locks after a court possession order, that it was discovered that the property had been completely stripped bare. The tenants had taken the central heating, light fittings, carpets, a shower cubicle, curtain and blinds, plus the all of the landlord’s furniture.

“While this is an extreme case, there has been a rise in the number of bad tenants. This is even more of a reason why landlords have to be careful to take all the necessary steps to protect their property.

“Landlords can take suitable measures to insure this does not happen to them. The most important thing to prevent damage is finding the right tenant. Of course you can only obtain certain amount of reference, but these won’t paint you the full picture of the tenant. However, if you can get a positive landlord or previous agent’s reference, this has been proven to reduce issues during tenancies.

“The next step is to maintain a consistent level of property inspections. If you can build a good relationship with your tenant and inspect the property on a quarterly basis, this will deter tenants from causing damage. Whilst inspecting properties, it is important that you make reports and take photos. Too many agents and landlords will only scribble notes on a small piece of paper, never giving you a full picture of the condition on a quarterly basis.

“Finally the best step is to have a fully detailed inventory of the property. Many landlords believe if a property is unfurnished an inventory is not needed. On a standard two-bedroom apartment which is unfurnished, the inventory consists of 50-55 pages. The detail shown on a professional inventory is everything from light fittings and light switches, to the insides of cupboards and draws. This is the best way to ensure you get money from the tenants deposit to cover any damage they might have caused. With an inventory, you are 51% more likely to obtain the full amount you are claiming for.”