Tenants – How to avert ID theft when you move home

Tenants run a risk of falling prey to identity fraudsters through failing to alter their details when they move property warns Kevin Cox of Ingloolets in Bristol, who's found a growth in the amount  of tenants saying they on a regular basis have post for past occupiers of the property. Of the UK’s 16m renters, one-third don't leave a forwarding address, when vacating  a property. Kevin states the tendency is especially disturbing due to the growth in identity thefts.

The United Kingdoms fraud prevention service CIFAS announced a gain of 32 per cent in the amount of identity thefts carried out during the recession. Among the more common types of fraud is criminals adopting the running of a victim’s bank or building society account.

Although this tendency can be a pain for tenants or people who experience piles of post intended for former tenants, more worryingly, documents left behind can be used to perpetrate identity fraud.

When moving out, tenants should be advised to redirect post at the very least for a month and once moving out at the end of the end of their  occupancy, to avoid the impulse to throw out individual documents with the rubbish as criminals often use this data and information to steal their identity. Instead, all documents that are needed no more needed should be shredded or even better burnt.

Almost 25% of people who move properties in the UK fail or forget to redirect their mail  (which can be from only £7.64 a month check out the royal mail site on http://bit.ly/3kQu4) and over one in ten leave personal documents behind when they move property. 70% of new occupiers receive post addressed to previous occupants. When it is so cheap to redirect your mail why wouldn’t you arrange it compared the th other cost attached to moving and the possible costs and difficulties incurred if someone does steal you identity! especially the time and inconvenience of making calls and cancelling card, the list goes on. You know it makes sense. REDIRECT YOUR MAIL WHEN MOVING HOME.  You can also notify numerous services, such as banks and phone providers all at once by a useful site called www.iammoving.com/

Why are rents rising for tenants

Many letting agents at the moment are experiencing a dire shortage of stock, this time two years ago there was I would estimate twice as much stock available.

Due to lack of buoyancy in the sales sector, there is in real terms very restricted choice to tenants, landlords in this market place are in the enviable position of often having more than one offer on the property. Now bearing in mind this is the rental sector not the sales, this is almost unprecedented.

                                                                                           

With the squeeze on available property to rent, gives rise to fuelling rent rises, for tenants a rent increase is always going to be unpalatable, but what you have to realise is that the market  rent for that property could have potentially risen by 15%.

If your settled into a place, and don’t really want to move negotiate with your Landlord, he sure will incur costs if you choose to move, and no doubt so will you. Negotiation is the order of the day, even on a property of £650 per month you are going to have to pay like £200 plus in agency fees, if you decide to move. Depending on your circumstances, offer to meet the Landlord half way, but be willing to sign a twelve month contract. Not only will you have security the landlord will also.

Avoid the frustration of moving, as you know it takes time and energy and in this current market properties in the really popular areas can be let within a matter of hours.

Whilst for all the first time buyers its can be deemed to be frustrating, that investors are buying up all the reasonably priced property stock, if you look at the positive side of things, it does mean that as more stock begins to enter the market place, it will drive down the rents for tenants as the tide turns against landlords once more.

Tenant Tip: Just what is a guarantor, and why do I need one.

Sometimes, when you have been referenced, and financial matters don’t, quite stack up, or as a student you have no apparent means of income, or have never rented before, you will be asked to provide a guarantor.

A guarantor is someone (normally a parent or next of kin) who agrees (Guarantees) to pay the rent on your behalf, if you fail to do so.

A guarantor will have to satisfy a landlord or letting agent that they are who they say they are and capable of covering the rent and also it’s usual that a guarantor will be a homeowner. The guarantor will have to provide documentary evidence of their status and also sign an agreement to cover the rent.

As a Bristol letting agent who has rented property to students for numerous years I would never recommend that you rent to a student without a guarantee in place. Not particularly that they might or would cause more damage, or fail to pay the rent, any more than a professional person.

One alternative to having a guarantor, and before you say anything  whilst  I know students and young professionals  like some form of independence, the alternative is to have your parents pay your rent directly to the Landlord. 

If you have any tenant issues or problems, feel free to get in touch, I am  more than happy to help and give you advice and assistance 

“fair wear and tear” What does that mean?

Because the place you are renting is considered your home, you can cause what is called “fair wear and tear”. Damage caused deliberately or through your own negligence isn’t “fair wear and tear” so that stain on the lounge carpet caused through the spilt glass of wine is not “fair wear and tear” But scuff marks and dings could well be justifiably said to have been caused by the tenant going about their day to day routine daily life.

Even if you have genuinely damaged something, beyond what can be seen as “fair wear and tear” the  landlord is not necessarily entitled to the total cost of replacement.

Lets go back to the nice light coloured carpet in the lounge that you spilt the red wine on. You could legitimately be charged for a proper and professional cleaning job, which hopefully would remove the stain. But if the carpet has already been in situ for several years and had already seen wear and tear before you even took up residence, you wouldn’t be liable for the total cost of a replacement carpet.

For those of you where you might just have been guilty of the above, you might be too late for your existing tenancy, however if it happens again try this method of stain removal, its great for synthetic fibres (nylon or polyester) But you will need some elbow grease

 

How to fix carpet stains:

Step 1: Fill half a cup with really warm water.
Step 2: Add fiftypence-sized amount of dish soap.
Step 3: Add a splash of white vinegar (distilled works best but others work too).
Step 4: Add half a teaspoon of baking soda.
Step 5: Mix together and scrub the mix into the carpet using a rag or scrub brush.
Step 6: Let it sit for five minutes.
Step 7: Use a dry rag to dab out the mixture.

Try to always use a white cotton towel when cleaning carpet and also remember to test this solution in an out of the way place before the middle of the room. If you have wool carpet, check out the Wools of New Zealand , as its website has listed a way to clean everything. Remember, most Persian and oriental rugs are wool, so these instructions will work for those too. Also, the stain is usually in the carpet cushion or pad. This is why stains that appear clean often comeback.

Happy cleaning!!