Over half of tenants regret aspects of their property - survey

Nearly half of households in the private rental sector have regrets about their home according to a survey by the HomeOwners Alliance.

It says insufficient storage, maintenance issues and too much noise top the list of things they wish they considered more when they acquired the property. 

The HOA’s study - which also spoke with buyers in addition to renters - says that much of the attention of a prospective tenant goes on physical characteristics, such as whether the property has large enough rooms, enough bedrooms and good natural light.

But 52 per cent of renters and 42 per cent of buyers regret not giving more attention to other particular aspects.

These include the maintenance and repairs of the roof, electrics, boiler, plumbing, heating, damp and insulation - a concern for 21 per cent of those questioned.

A similar number were concerned about noise from neighbours or traffic which they failed to pick up on initial viewings. 

“If you have a problem with your roof, heating or have penetrating damp that can’t wait then you shouldn’t live with it - not even during lockdown” explains HOA chief executive Paula Higgins.

“The government has advised that work carried out in people’s homes, such as tradespeople carrying out repairs and maintenance, can continue, provided that the tradesperson is well and follows social distancing guidelines. Many plumbers and gas engineers are still operating but some have closed until further notice so be prepared to phone around.”