Property damage – it’s costly, and responsibility for it can be a grey area especially after the incident has occurred.
When drafting up your agreements with tenants, be aware to build in clauses that clarify whose responsibility it is to repair broken or damaged items – ranging from the smallest utensil to the roof on the house. Certain elements will fall under general maintenance, so be clear with what stops at maintenance and becomes a repair.
Fires for example can be one of the largest problems to occur in a rented property, as they affect both the tenant’s possessions and the landlord’s property. Both parties should have separate insurance policies, which can make it more complicated to sort out.
If providing part or fully furnished rented space, one important regulation to adhere to is The Furniture and Furnishings Fire Safety Regulations where all items such as pillows, sofas, beds, chairs, mattresses and such forth should have all been tested and labelled to certify they have met the regulation requirements.
Failure to do so will create problems when either tenant of landlord come to claim. Prevention is by far the best policy to take.
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