Some tips on tenancy deposit and sharing of rental property

Posted under Advice by Alan

Moving into a rented property some times turns out to be a nightmare if certain precautions are not taken at the time of signing a tenancy contract.

Content inventory and condition of property

The foremost thing you must ask from the landlord is the inventory of contents and a report on the condition of the flat. It is your responsibility to check everything before signing the relevant document. Confirm and report any missing items or damage. Report those items which are present but missed out by the landlord in the inventory list. This will eliminate issues which normally crop up when the landlord is supposed to return your deposit amount. Landlords accept deposit at the beginning of the tenancy contract to cover any damages to contents or the property during tenancy. Charges for unreported damages will have to be borne by you if you fail to list them at the start of tenancy.

Property Sharing

If you decide to share rented property with more people, ensure that all of them sign the tenancy contract. Otherwise, you will be responsible to pay the full rent even if somebody sharing the property decides to leave. It is advisable to allow sharing only with those whom you can trust.

The landlord is not supposed to disturb your privacy and interfere in matters not related with tenancy. During tenancy period, he cannot enter the property without your permission. He is solely responsible for the maintenance of the structure and exteriors of the property. As a good tenant, you are expected to take proper care of landlord’s property contents and interiors.