The Tenancy Deposit Scheme recently published its Annual Review, revealing which tenancy issues account for most disputes. Cleaning has again topped the list of complaints.
Many HMO landlords focus on the condition of the room at the end of the tenancy rather than maintaining the room to a consistent standard throughout the tenancy. As HMO letting agents, we carry out quarterly inspections of all rooms and act promptly to resolve any maintenance issues that arise. These are generally easy fixes, such as re-sealing ensuite showers or ensuring trickle vents are used to minimise damp. We always explain to the housemates in our HMO rental properties the maintenance issues we have rectified so the housemates know how to prevent the problem from occurring again. Our HMO advice regarding maintenance helps to keep our HMO landlord's properties in good condition.
As part of our HMO Management, we conduct a detailed photo inventory at the beginning of each tenancy. The inventory explains that the room was professionally cleaned after the last housemate left. When the tenancy ends, we conduct another detailed photo inventory. Our inventory software compares both sets of photos, enabling our lettings managers to resolve any issues with the housemate at checkout.
Often a housemate at the end of a tenancy will ask us to arrange for the room to be professionally cleaned at their cost. We rarely have cleaning disputes, but our photo inventories ensure the lettings manager and housemate have a comprehensive record of the condition of the room when necessary.