Most tenants say they have been deterred from renting a property because of misleading property adverts or having a bad experiencing when viewing one, according to research.
The findings from online letting agency Upad reveal that 80% of tenants say the landlord’s advert put them off a property.
The firm questioned 33,000 tenants and they say tenants prefer honest adverts rather than landlords and agents overselling a property’s appeal.
Tenants are also:
- Put off by the property’s unappealing photographs
- Advertisements where the home’s size and bedrooms are overstated
- Advertised ensuite bathrooms turn out to be a bath, toilet and basin in the bedroom.
The researchers also found one tenant who was invited to view a ‘very private property’ to find it was located in the landlord’s garden - and the landlord wanted to carry out weekly inspections.
‘Elements of downright misleading and overbearing salesmanship going on’
Upad's chief executive, James Davis, said: “The results show there are elements of downright misleading and overbearing salesmanship but tenants aren’t buying it.
“It's frightening that 20% of tenants will move into a home having had a bad experience but they may believe there's no choice.”
He added: “By doing the basics and offering for what tenants look for could make a big difference. Any business not working to meet its customer’s demands will fail and it’s no different being a landlord.”
Mr Davies said there are lots of landlords and letting agents doing exceptional work but by overselling a property the agent and landlord runs the risk of keeping their rental property empty for a longer period.
Landlords face banning orders from April
Meanwhile, it's been revealed that the government plans to implement a law that will bring in banning orders from next April for landlords.
The order will see landlords being barred from managing or letting property indefinitely.
The final hurdle for the law will take place early in 2018 with a view for the law being introduced from April 6.
The banning orders are part of the new Housing and Planning Act 2016 which is aimed at rooting out criminal landlords and will see the creation of a database of rogue agents and landlords.
The Residential Landlords’ Association is among those that have welcomed the banning orders in principle and also the creation of a database of rogue landlords.
However, the RLA is calling for those landlords who are included in the database by mistake to have a formal route to be released from it. |
