Letting agents 'must maintain property repairs'

News Category: Management

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Properties owned by letting agents must be repaired to an acceptable standard or tenants could be able to claim financial compensation, an industry official has said.

Landlord could be forced to go to court if they fail to carry out necessary repairs on their homes, commented Neil Marsden, environmental health consultant at the Residential Landlords Association.

Rental property owners are expected to maintain a suitable level of repairs on both the internal and external structure of the house, as well as on sinks, baths, sanitary facilities and heating installation.

A tenant could claim compensation for damage caused to their health or possessions by inadequate property repairs, Mr Marsden said.

"If a tenant notifies us of a necessary repair and we chose to do nothing and are given reminders then, at the end of the day, the tenant is entitled to have the repairs carried out and deduct it from the rent," he added.

The average cost of home repairs and improvements has increased by 20 per cent over the last two years, reported a Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors study published in June.

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