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In an ideal world, tenants and landlords appreciate one another and work hard to make each other’s lives simpler. Landlords are fast to assist if an issue arises, such as a broken refrigerator or washing machine or a pest infestation, and refund the whole deposit with a grin at the conclusion of the rental.
Tenants are responsible for keeping the property clean and neat, keeping noise levels to a low, not breaking appliances or furniture, and cleaning up properly when the rental agreement ends. London, in particular, is an illustration of how this is not always the case. Tenants might be tough and make errors, but landlords can also intentionally abuse, extort money, or engage in scandalous behaviour.
Things that are actually illegal
A number of illegally concealed cameras have been detected in landlords’ residences in recent years, put in bedrooms and toilets with the intention of photographing tenants, particularly young ladies. Unfortunately, such events might go undiscovered for lengthy periods of time, but when they are discovered, the landlords involved are arrested and barred from acting in the film. These horrifying and humiliating breaches of trust are extreme examples of bad landlords, but they do happen, and you should always be on watch as a renter, no matter how protected you feel.
One of the most prevalent tenant complaints is that their landlords access their rented homes without their consent. It’s normal for landlords to want a key to get in and out of their property, and renters don’t want someone strolling about their apartment or house while they’re gone or trespassing after they’ve just come out of the shower. To avoid such scenarios, it is best to read the rental agreement carefully to determine whether there are any restrictions on access to the property. If not by legal requirement but by respect for the tenant, the landlord should provide advance notice when access to the property is necessary.
Poor communication
Poor communication is another major issue that tenants face. In most cases, the temporary residents of the property cannot make significant or even minor changes to the premises without the owner’s agreement. This works great when it protects the landlord’s property from unwanted changes, but tenants are often stuck with problems they are not allowed to fix for weeks and even months without getting any type of response.
Living in a rental property means that when a maintenance issue arises, contacting the landlord is enough to start the repair or replacement process. However, if the landlord is not very caring and does not respond in a timely manner, this can cause a great deal of stress and anxiety. Complaints often ignored include mould and pest problems that pose a health hazard and leaks that can significantly damage personal belongings. Often, in addition to all these, disputes arise when it is time for the end of tenancy cleaning when a tenant just wants to end their lease.
Bad tenant-landlord relationship
Another notorious issue when it comes to tenant-landlord relationships is the plumbing and electricity. Any issues the tenants may face need to be addressed to the homeowner and for him to take action to rectify the issue unless stated otherwise in the lease agreement. Hiring a professional plumber or electrician usually means a rather expensive bill will accompany them. Many homeowners either don’t want to spend such big amounts, especially at once, so they either try to resolve the issue by hiring less capable tradesmen or prolong the resolution. And let’s be honest, how long can a tenant live without water or power?
Higher rents
In recent years, many tenants have complained about landlords suddenly increasing the rent without prior notice or explanation. And while in some cases, one can expect an increase in rent, the change is often significantly bigger than anticipated. When it comes to rent, transparency and advance notice go a long way toward keeping the tenants happy, but many homeowners don’t do it.
Lease agreements
Disputes about the lease agreement are way more common than they should be, especially towards the end of the contract. Many landlords add conditions into the lease that are often entirely in their favour, making it hard for tenants to either renew or continue the lease, depending on the situation. While this is done according to the law, many tenants believe the homeowners take full advantage of the situation.
Neighbours from Hell
The trouble with the neighbours is one of the most uncomfortable circumstances a renter may find themselves in. If the other inhabitants of the apartment complex are loud, suspicious, or endanger your safety, it is the landlord’s responsibility to address the situation. Of course, talking to your neighbours can help, but in the worst-case situation, having to rely on your landlord to speak to them and file a formal complaint may strain your relationship.
Evictions
Last but not least on our list is a difficulty that many tenants have experienced. The unfair eviction practices of the landlord. Whether insufficient notice is given or the homeowner tries to evict you without proper cause, fighting this is an uphill battle. Tenants share that, even when they are in their complete right, they still have difficulties keeping their residence, and even then, this usually leads to retaliation from the owner.
Final thoughts
The internet’s openness is one of the greatest benefits of the digital era when it comes to uncomfortable property search procedures. People who have had a particularly unpleasant encounter with a terrible landlord or real estate agent might vent on message boards and social media. As a result, doing some research before entering into a rental agreement is always a good idea to ensure that you are dealing with a respectable and professional individual or firm with whom you are making such an essential deal.
On the other hand, to be fair, there are sometimes unwanted tenants that honest and reputable landlords have to put up with. Stories of problem tenants include packing up and leaving in the middle of the night, never to be seen or heard from again; letting large quantities of food rot in disconnected fridges and freezers; dismantling and selling household appliances; and breaking into carpeted living rooms to fix them.