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TODAY'S OTHER NEWS

Tenants turn to Google to provide relevant information and advice

Private renters naturally have rights and responsibilities,  but it would appear that uncertainty presented by the outbreak of Covid-19 has left many tenants looking online for guidance. 

Fresh research shows that many people, including renters, are using the internet to gain relevant knowledge and information during the existing crisis. 

Boiler Plan assessed search engine data to discover the most common questions private-renters are asking Google in this uncertain climate. 

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The number of searches are from the full month of April 2020:

  1. ‘Can landlords increase rent’ - 3,200 Google searches

  2. ‘Can landlord evict me’ – 1,880 Google searches

  3. ‘Responsibilities as a tenant’ – 1,600 Google searches

  4. ‘Can letting agents charge fees’ – 760 Google searches

  5. ‘Can landlord keep deposit’ – 550 Google searches

  6. What are tenancy fees’ – 250 Google searches

  7. ‘Can you paint a rented house’ – 220 Google searches

  8. ‘Does landlord have to fix boiler’ – 130 Google searches

  9. What is landlord responsible to repair’ – 110 Google searches

Want to comment on this story? If so...if any post is considered to victimise, harass, degrade or intimidate an individual or group of individuals on any basis, then the post may be deleted and the individual immediately banned from posting in future.

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    I don't think Google has a copy of my tenancy agreements. Tenants should check these first and if still unclear ask their landlord.

    In fact they should ask their landlord in any case otherwise they might find out what happens as a result of failure to communicate or adhere to the terms of their agreement.

    In my experience agreements are most needed when there isn't agreement.

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    How many tenants ever read their tenancy agreement either before signing or after, many tenant copies get filed in the bin as soon as they move in.

     
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    How right both RB and AT are. Tenants should know the terms of their agreement in any event. I used to insist that ALL tenants signing up read the agreement first and if they didn't have the time then they had to return when they did have the time. I would just take the agreement off the desk and say come back when you have the time to read this legally binding agreement. Had a few raised eyebrows but they all without exception read before signing. Never had any complaints after that.

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    I have used Oyez Tenancy agreements in the past, no problem to read only 4 pages so everyone could cope with that, now more pages been added making it difficult because of rubbish regulations.
    DCLG has what they call a modern simple Tenancy Agreement, 45 pages on its own how mad is that, what Planet are those guys on ? are they for real, how can any potential tenant be expected to read that, the people that produced this in this format must be simple themselves.
    Do they not know that we have already 50 other pages imposed on us in recent years to deal with as well / never ending. I know it doesn't matter for the Tenant whether they read it or not, Statute makes sure that there if nothing adverse in there to worry about for the Tenant or if they conform or not so why bother.

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    I use a tenancy agreement from Eastern Landlords Assoc, 4 pages, simple, straight forward and says all it needs to.

     
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    The SNP "model agreement" in Scotland runs to nearly 40 pages with the same again of explanatory notes. I have read it and am pretty conversant with it as I am bound by its terms. I'm happy to advise any tenants who can't or don't read it, but I doubt Google can provide such advice.

     
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