Inventory Clerks Record A Sharp Rise In Safety Problems
The reports being made by inventory clerks are increasingly reporting and showing compliance and safety issues in rental properties, research reveals.
The Association of Independent Inventory Clerks (AIIC) highlights that clerks are identifying and then reporting issues that could be a potential criminal offence in the UK's rental homes.
The organisation says that the recent implementation of the Fitness for Human Habitation Act has seen a big increase in safety and compliance issues being picked up by the clerks for landlords and agents to be aware of.
The AIIC's chair, Danny Zane, said: "Over the last decade, the level of mandatory checks in housing has increased greatly from smoke detectors to gas safety being present in the right places.
‘Lawful and habitation responsibilities’
"However, clerks are finding properties that do not tick all the required boxes when it comes to lawful and habitation responsibilities.
"Thankfully, agents and landlords are grateful we are on site and can help these issues get resolved."
He said that an independent inventory report helps to keep landlords and tenants safe and it's not just about recording the cosmetic aspects of a rental property.
MPs pledge to fix property repossession system
Meanwhile, the Residential Landlords' Association (RLA) has welcomed a pledge to fix the ability for landlords repossess a property legitimately.
Ministry of Justice data highlights that the average time it takes for a private landlord to make a claim to repossess a property with the courts is now 17.3 weeks in the first three months of this year - which is a week more than the same period last year.
Since the government has pledged to abolish Section 21 ‘no fault’ repossessions, the RLA says that the court process needs fixing first to ensure landlords can reclaim their property should tenants be committing antisocial behaviour or not paying rent.
Concerns from landlords over tenancy reform
Now, the housing minister, Heather Wheeler has revealed that the law and the court process will be changed and resourcing for this will be improved to meet the concerns from landlords over tenancy reform.
The RLA's policy director, David Smith, welcomed the commitment from the Minister and said: "We have argued that landlords are left frustrated when wanting to repossess a property through the courts. This process makes it difficult to address the problem of bad tenants who cause misery for neighbours."
