Articles by Sandy Bastin
Uninvited guests: Dealing with ants, wasps and rats in rental properties
From ants invading the kitchen, to wasps setting up camp in the loft, to rats making the most of overflowing bins, summer brings its fair share of unwanted visitors. And when tenants start reporting creepy crawlies or furry intruders, the big question landlords often face is: “Who’s responsible for sorting this out?”. In this blog, the Tenancy Deposit Scheme shares what landlords need to know about handling summer pest issues, who is responsible, and how to avoid things escalating into a deposit dispute.
Prepare your rental property for summer: A spring maintenance checklist
As the warm weather approaches, spring presents the perfect opportunity for landlords to give their rental properties a thorough check-up. Seasonal maintenance in spring addresses any damage from winter, and prepares the home for the summer months. By tackling a spring maintenance checklist, you can spot problems early, ensure your property meets legal standards, and keep your tenants happy. Here, the Tenancy Deposit Scheme provides a comprehensive checklist to help you spring into action!
How can property inspections help avoid deposit disputes?
At the Tenancy Deposit Scheme, we know how essential regular inspections are in safeguarding properties, preventing disputes, and ensuring compliance with tenancy agreements. Here, we share practical advice for landlords to carry out effective property inspections as part of their spring preparations, answer Q&As, and reveal how inspections can help to avoid deposit disputes later down the line.
Who is responsible for damage from a burst pipe when a tenant leaves the property unattended?
As we settle into the new year, some landlords might find themselves dealing with a tricky situation; tenants returning to a property left unattended over the December break, only to find a burst pipe has caused damage to their belongings and the property itself. It’s a tricky situation and raises an important question: who is responsible for fixing the damage? Drawing on years of experience handling similar disputes, the Tenancy Deposit Scheme offers advice to help you navigate these murky waters.
Saving energy and reducing disputes for landlords
As energy efficiency remains an increasingly pressing issue in the private rented sector, landlords face the challenge of managing further energy cost increases, while ensuring compliance with EPC regulations. At the Tenancy Deposit Scheme, we’ve seen how energy-related disputes can arise, particularly when tenants feel bills are excessive or properties are poorly insulated. Here, we offer practical energy-saving tips for landlords and guidance on how to avoid disputes linked to energy use.
TDS tricks and treats to help tackle spider infestations in rented homes
Spiders are most commonly seen in homes in the UK during the autumn months of September and October, and while spiders can often be harmless, their presence in large numbers can lead to concerns about cleanliness and comfort. Here, the Tenancy Deposit Scheme addresses the responsibility for dealing with spider infestations in rented homes and provides tips on handling it to avoid disputes and maintain a smooth tenancy.
Five actions to take when a tenant reports a problem at the rental property
As a landlord, getting a report of a problem from your tenant can be worrying, and you'll probably want to fix it right away. Here, Sandy Bastin, Head of Adjudication Services at the Tenancy Deposit Scheme, looks at what to do when your tenant reports a problem and how fast it needs to be dealt with; examples of common problems and, how to handle them; and advice on handling repair deposit disputes.
What to do if a tenant leaves belongings behind, can you make a claim from the deposit?
When a tenant moves out, landlords expect the property to be empty and ready for the next occupants. However, occasionally tenants may leave behind belongings. Here, NRLA partner, the Tenancy Deposit Scheme will look at how to handle this situation, whether you can claim from the tenancy deposit, and steps to prevent it from happening in the future.
Avoiding garden maintenance disputes in rental properties
Gardening is one of the top 5 reasons for deposit deductions claimed by landlords using the Tenancy Deposit Scheme for their deposit protection. Therefore, landlords need to take steps to avoid disputes at the end of the tenancy. Here, The Tenancy Deposit Scheme examines the responsibility for maintaining the outside space, what falls on the tenants or the landlords, and tips to help avoid deposit disputes.
The landlords' guide to property inventories
In collaboration with the NRLA, the Tenancy Deposit Scheme has created an informative guide to property inventories. In this guide, we explore the vital elements of inventories, check-in and check-out reports, shedding light on crucial aspects such as the opportune time for inventory creation, and the key components that make an inventory robust.
