Researches in the UK went undercover to check out some rental properties to see how they were treating prospective tenants and how well the process was going. When the researchers were inside the property with the agents, they found that questions about the condition of the property weren’t answered directly or they were just brushed aside, because they weren’t experts in that particular field. When smoke alarms were asked about, they were okay answering that, and disclosing all the fees that went with renting out a piece of property.
Key Takeaways:
- Some of the properties visited had problems with damp. None of the agents showing the properties were able to satisfactorily commit to fixing the problem.
- Many of the viewings were rated ‘poor’ for answers to questions on property maintenance and repairs.
- Agents brushed off questions about maintenance, stating that work would be carried out before the tenant moved in, or would need to be dealt with by the landlord.
“A consumer group which conducted 30 undercover viewings in five different UK cities claims letting agents are showing potential tenants around mouldy properties and not informing them about important safety details.”
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