{"id":6348,"date":"2022-05-04T14:07:02","date_gmt":"2022-05-04T14:07:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.citylets.co.uk\/blog\/?p=6348"},"modified":"2022-05-04T14:07:03","modified_gmt":"2022-05-04T14:07:03","slug":"unexpected-damage-how-to-tackle-rental-property-repairs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.citylets.co.uk\/blog\/unexpected-damage-how-to-tackle-rental-property-repairs\/","title":{"rendered":"Unexpected Damage: How to Tackle Rental Property Repairs"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>You can\u2019t plan for everything, and when unexpected damage happens to your property, it can have serious effects \u2013 especially if you have tenants living in the property. However, knowing what to do post-damage (whether it\u2019s caused by poor weather, vandalism or an accident) can help considerably with factors such as your insurance claims and whether your tenants can remain in the property. Whether malicious in nature or not, there are a few top tips for handling rental property repairs when you\u2019re faced with unexpected damage.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>Accidental or malicious?<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>The first step you should take is determining whether the damage is accidental or malicious. This is important to avoid misunderstandings between you and your tenant. Accidental damage can take various forms (from spillages on carpets to broken windows) and is caused unintentionally, whereas malicious damage is usually caused out of spite.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>Assess the damage<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Before you can consider repair work, you need to know what you\u2019re dealing with and the extent of the damage. Identify the scope of the damage and whether it\u2019s something you can resolve yourself, or if you\u2019ll need professional assistance. For example, storm damage may have resulted in broken tiles or damaged guttering, but also fractured windows, flooding in certain areas or damaged furniture or structures in the garden. Don\u2019t assume that the initial damage you\u2019ve spotted is all that you have to contend with \u2013 make sure you do a thorough assessment of the property and any outdoor spaces you\u2019re responsible for.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citylets.co.uk\/blog\/unexpected-damage-how-to-tackle-rental-property-repairs\/damage-2\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-6352\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-6352\" src=\"https:\/\/www.citylets.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/damage-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1066\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.citylets.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/damage-2.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/www.citylets.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/damage-2-700x466.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.citylets.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/damage-2-1100x733.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/www.citylets.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/damage-2-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.citylets.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/damage-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.citylets.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/damage-2-1536x1023.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h4><strong>Check for hazards<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>As a landlord, you have a<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mygov.scot\/renting-your-property-out\/your-responsibilities#:~:text=respect%20the%20tenant's%20peace%20and,monoxide%20and%20other%20safety%20requirements\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> duty of care to your tenants<\/a> and that means keeping the property they live in as safe as possible. While accidents can happen, you need to be checking the property for any potential hazards that could make the home unsafe. It\u2019s important to check the situation yourself, rather than simply accept the tenant\u2019s word on these matters, as they may not be aware of the severity of the situation and underplay a big problem, or similarly overplay something that can wait.<\/p>\n<p>Minor damage may not require them to move out, but if the damage incurred poses a health and safety risk, you\u2019ll need to alert the tenants and advise them to vacate the property until it has been made safe again, and if the damage relates to water or electricity, respond to it immediately.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>Research local contractors<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Now that you know what repairs are needed, it\u2019s time to contact local contractors to get the work scheduled in. Make sure you do your research here before you sign any contracts or pay deposits, as you want to be sure that you\u2019re working with competent, qualified individuals who have a good reputation. Ask your friends and family for recommendations of contractors they\u2019ve worked with in the past, or speak to local estate agencies or property management firms for their advice, and check online reviews and testimonials too.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>Consider neighbouring and listed properties<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Depending on the scope of the damage and the property repairs needed, you may need to seek planning permission or speak to your neighbours prior to the work taking place to get their approval. Discussing matters with your neighbours beforehand can help to prepare them for any noise or disruption and increases the chances of them agreeing to the work taking place.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.citylets.co.uk\/mobile\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"attachment noopener wp-att-2791\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2791\" src=\"https:\/\/www.citylets.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/latest-apps.png\" alt=\"latest-apps\" width=\"618\" height=\"85\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.citylets.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/latest-apps.png 618w, https:\/\/www.citylets.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/latest-apps-400x55.png 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 618px) 100vw, 618px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Professional advice might be required if you need to carry out<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mygov.scot\/traditional-property\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> repairs on a property that is listed<\/a> or located in a conservation area. It is worth consulting an expert if you\u2019re unclear whether you need permission to make structural changes, or want clarity on the extent of repair work you are allowed to carry out without inflicting further<a href=\"https:\/\/www.squarepointsurveyors.co.uk\/blog\/listed-building-renovations-what-you-need-to-know\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> damage to a protected building<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>Have clear agreements in the lease for handling damage<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Take time to make sure that there are clear agreements in the lease for how the damage will be handled when it occurs. It helps to reduce the risk of any misunderstandings and ensures you\u2019re compliant as a landlord for protecting tenants and adhering to the requirements necessary for your insurance.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s also important that you speak with tenants to make sure they\u2019re completely clear of what\u2019s in the lease and their rights and responsibilities. It also highlights to anyone living in the property that you\u2019re paying attention, reducing the risk of malicious damage occurring. A clear lease agreement won\u2019t prevent damage necessarily, but it does protect all parties in the event of an accident or unexpected damage.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>Be prepared for all eventualities<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>Accidents are so-called for a reason, and you can\u2019t always know when a repair will be needed, but if you\u2019re managing a rental property, you need to stay on top of disrepair and damage in order to deal with it quickly and safely. Finding excellent tradespeople you can rely on, making sure your tenants are safe and keeping neighbours on side (if you need to carry out larger property repairs) can all help to make the repair process run smoothly. This, in turn, can help you to maintain a positive reputation as a landlord.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You can\u2019t plan for everything, and when unexpected damage happens to your property, it can have serious effects \u2013 especially if you have tenants living in the property. However, knowing what to do post-damage (whether it\u2019s caused by poor weather, vandalism or an accident) can help considerably with factors such as your insurance claims and &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6351,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1],"tags":[784],"class_list":["post-6348","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-property","tag-property-damage","property"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.2 - 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