Don't let a deposit go up in a puff of smoke!

Expensive, unattractive and unhealthy. No-one can argue that smoking is good for you but millions of people continue to puff away on cigarettes. It's inevitable that some tenants will be smokers. A few might attempt to give up the habit if a tenancy agreement stipulates non-smokers only but there will be others that flout any no-smoking covenants behind your back. More worryingly, the smoking of illegal drugs that render tenants more than a little 'laid back', can lead to carelessness and more serious damage.

If sneaky smokers are a cause for concern, then a detailed Inventory at the start of each tenancy will provide you with vital evidence should a tenant deny they have been smoking in a property.  Inventories Everywhere will record the state of the carpets and soft furnishings; note the colour and freshness of painted surfaces; sniff for lingering cigarette smells and be vigilant for burn marks. Our Inventory Clerks will also record if a property smelt heavily of air freshener, or if the windows were wide open during their visit, as these strategies are commonly used to mask the smell of cigarette smoke.

As well as an inventory, a polite note to accompany the tenancy agreement on just why deposit deductions are justified when a smoking ban has been broken is useful. If you clearly point out that nicotine-stained walls and ceilings will have to be repainted; soft furnishings professionally deep cleaned to eradicate stale smoke smells and deductions made for burnt items, there can be little argument at Check Out stage.

Other useful action points include:-

·         Instructing regular Property Inspections

·         The provision of an outside cigarette butt bin

·         The inclusion of 'non smoking tenants only' in all marketing materials

·         Including a smoking question in your referencing process

·         A covenant in your tenancy agreement stating there is no smoking inside the property

·         Verbal no smoking reinforcement when speaking to tenants

To book an Inventory with Inventories Everywhere, contact us today.

Tel 0844 682 2100 or email info@inventorieseverywhere.co.uk. www.inventorieseverywhere.co.uk