Landlords could be out of pocket if they're unprepared for tenancy turnovers

When tenancies end, a high proportion of renters can leave behind items or property damage and so landlords must make sure they're covered for this eventuality.

The AIIC warns property owners that they could be left significantly out of pocket if they don't prepare for tenancy turnovers.

According to a study of almost 3,000 landlords - carried out by a national interiors firm - 89% of property owners indicated that tenants always leave something unwanted behind when moving out of a rental property.

What's more, 72% said their property had been left in an unhygienic or dirty state and 57% said it had been left with obvious damage.

Some of the most bizarre items left behind by tenants included a jewellery box of nail clippings, an urn full of pet ashes and a taxidermy beaver.

Danny Zane, Joint Chair of the AIIC, explains: "Our members often find bizarre items in rental properties when carrying out check-out inspections at the end of tenancies. And while it is mildly amusing on the surface, there is a serious issue at play here."

Danny says that landlords who do not have a water-tight inventory compiled at the start and the end of a tenancy could be leaving themselves open to unnecessary removal costs.

He says: "A lot of the narrative surrounding inventories focuses on landlords' items and what could go missing or get damaged. However, people must remember that an inventory covers items left at the property too."

Danny adds that in the instance a tenant leaves a large item behind, the inventory can prove that it does not belong to the landlord and therefore the tenant can be charged for the removal cost.

The AIIC warns that landlords who do not have the required documentation in place could find themselves shelling out hundreds of pounds on removal or cleaning bills at the end of a contract.

Emma Glencross, AIIC Joint Chair, adds: "Landlords who let properties over a sustained period of time will always have to deal with tenants leaving things behind as well as property damage and cleaning, so making sure they have an independently compiled third party inventory to hand will provide them with the peace of mind and security they need to ensure they're not left out of pocket on a regular basis.”