5th
Dec 2014
Everybody knows that smoking in a property causes untold damage and is a major problem for landlords. However the extent of the damage has now been highlighted in recent research carried out by an association.
The major concern is obviously cigarette burns to carpets and furnishings and in some cases fire damage to the property itself.
Within the research it also highlights things that seem less important however can cost landlords hundreds of pounds. Smoking clearly damages emulsion walls and wallpaper that could mean having to redecorate the whole property which is extremely expensive.
The report shows that if a family lives in a property then, on average, emulsion walls would last for up to 3 years and with a single tenant as long as four to five years. However similarly, if tenant smokes inside the property then the property would have to be re-decorated within two years.
Properties that have a good quality wall paper its life expectancy should be between 6 to 8 years. This is cut by half if a tenant smokes inside the property, as it will have to be re-papered within three years.
Although some landlords will claim that the cost of redecorating will be less as they will carry it out themselves, the question has to be asked how much is one's time really worth ?
Of course the tenant will have to contribute as the damage caused by smoking is not covered under normal wear and tear, however sometimes the deposit may not always cover the whole clean up process.
Chair of the association, Pat Barber, said: ‘If a property has been let to smokers and the landlord has given permission for smoking inside the property, then the landlord should allow for additional wear and tear from the beginning. Usually, an increase in the rent will be agreed to cover any washing down of nicotine stained walls at a later date. The tenancy agreement will contain a special clause stating that the tenants are allowed to smoke inside the property, but will be required to have all soft furnishings, including curtains and carpets professionally cleaned and deodorised.'
‘Landlords and agents will have to redecorate properties that have had smoking tenants, sooner than those that had non-smoking tenants. The life expectancy of walls exposed to smoking is up to five years less than walls that are not exposed to smoking. It is important that landlords and agents consider taking a higher deposit and rent to cover the inevitable damage caused by tenants that smoke.’
News Archive »