Government not doing enough to protect us, say tenants

A high proportion of tenants do not feel the government is doing enough to protect them from unscrupulous landlords. 

This is the finding from a study of 1,500 tenants and landlords carried out by insurance provider Endsleigh.

Some 78% of tenants surveyed said they don't feel protected from landlords who may put them at 'unnecessary risk' when it comes to things like unexpected costs or legal proceedings.

Despite this, the vast majority of tenant participants (83%) said they were happy with their current landlord. 

However, only half of the landlords surveyed indicated they were happy with their tenants. 

Almost all (90%) of the landlords taking part said they have gone out of their way to make tenants welcome and 41% said they would unreservedly 'go the extra mile' to keep them happy. 

Poor tenants and damages was ranked as landlords' biggest concern, followed by void periods and the rising cost of maintenance. 

Over two thirds of landlords taking part said they agree that the benefits of being a landlord outweigh the time and hassle involved in the rental process.

“It’s clear that Generation Rent has made a big impact on landlord decisions and that landlords are doing what they can to create the best accommodation possible,” says David Hadden, head of property at Endsleigh Insurance. 

“What’s most important is open communication, a clear understanding of who holds which responsibilities and a level of appreciation between each party so everyone can get along,” he adds.