Inspections, how far do you go with repairs & cleaning?

[mrsaneperson]

I have just recently completed an inspection and was wondering the best way to tackle things I found needing attention and wanted to know what others are doing to get the tenant to remedy these matters as below:

1. Shower was quite filthy, all the glass and plastic tray. Remedy : tenant to clean and me to reinpect.

2. Certain areas of the garden needed weeding. Remedy : tenant to clear weeds from the sections I pointed out

3. Rusty stain mark on a plastic vanity
Remedy : have advised tenant to remove it. Not sure if it's able to, as I've seen these type of stains before which prove impervious to cleaning. Therefore this might be considered a deduction, exactly how does anyone deal with this, is it now or at the end of the tenancy?

4. Small hole dent in wooden panel door around 3cm wide, quite noticeable. How to deal with this again, maybe get tenant to repair or have tradesman do it and charge them?

5. Tenant has installed TV bracket ON bedroom wall.
Remedy :it says no to new fixtures on the TA unless consulted, which did not occur .
I presume at end of tenancy tenant will need to effect repair to gib wall holes and paint. What does anyone else do?

6. Bathroom ceiling has some slight build up of mildew. Remedy : suggest tenant to clean. If so what product do you recommend?

Overall the place was reasonably clean so these things above are quite minor

What are your thoughts on the remedys above? Do you have any techniques in dealing with these small things or do you put them to one side and remedy and charge them to the tenant at the end of the tenancy or during it?

[klauster]

In general a clean and well maintained property last longer with lower maintenance costs. The question is who does what when balancing the work. And here we have customised tenancy agreements in place.
It is under tenants' control moving the first fixed-term onto a periodic tenancy or leaving for good.

[jimO]

good luck getting a tradesman prepared to do a job and charge to the tenant, guaranteed never to be paid

[donna]

You may need to put some of down to wear and tear e.g. if your vanity allows stains to absorb easily then that's on you (I suggest). Bleach like Janola spray can work - spray on stain and leave for a couple of hours then wipe off excess - has been my experience of a quick fix.

Shower should be clean - so easy to do with the likes of that 30 seconds shower spray and there's water spot remover too so tenant has no excuse to leave it dirty.

Do you have an extractor fan connected to the light switch in the bathroom? And or shower dome - to prevent mildrew build up? We have both in one bathroom that did have mildew and they're working.

cheers,

Donna

[Bluecoat]

Interesting topic

I did my final inspections after Covid and was I in for a sunrise.
It came across that both set of tenants just didn't do anything, no cleaning, carpets stained, bathroom had mildew inside the shower and around vanity. New Kitchen stains everywhere.

I sucked it up - but people these days don't just care.
its almost certainly brought on about by all these regulations in favor of tenants. They see LL as rich pricks (thanks media) so think everything is wear and tear.

[PC]

Why would you "suck it up"?
The cleaning needs to be done.
It never pays to let the lazy & dumb get away with it - cause it'll be even worse next time.
Put on the "concerny face", tell them to clean it up and reinspect in a week.

[mrsaneperson]

I emailed the tenant saying I would followup on the above on the next inspection. I felt this was the best course of action since they were in the main, quite minor things.
Agree with Bluecoats comment that RTA are making it more difficult for landlords with new ill thought out socialist doctrine legislation, however in the end this boomerangs back on the tenant as more landlords sell up and/or rental prices are increased.