Landlords foot the bill for tenants’ abandoned belongings

Landlords are spending hundreds of pounds disposing of items left behind by tenants, according to a survey by Direct Line Insurance.

From a full aquarium with live fish to 50 tubs of ice cream left in a freezer, some tenants have abandoned unusual possessions that landlords must remove at their own expense.

The survey found that nearly nine in ten landlords have discovered belongings left behind in their properties.

Rubbish and general clutter are the most commonly abandoned items

According to Direct Line Insurance, rubbish (56%) and general clutter (52%) are the most commonly abandoned items, but personal and valuable items are also frequently left behind.

These include clothes and shoes (45%), bedroom furniture (37%), kids’ toys and equipment such as bikes or trampolines (35%), living room or garden furniture (both 33%), food (32%), and even electricals like TVs and laptops (28%).

Even unusual items such as a vial described as containing ‘bubonic plague’, a glass slipper, and a toilet not attached to the wall have been left behind by tenants.

Landlords are left hundreds of pounds out of pocket

More than half of landlords (53%) find themselves disposing of items personally, often with a financial cost. On average, landlords are left £258 out of pocket due to the need to store or dispose of abandoned items, with some losses reaching as high as £5,000.

For over a third (35%) of landlords, abandoned belongings have led to delays in welcoming new tenants, while the same percentage of landlords report they had difficulty finding previous tenants in an effort to clear out their properties

Three in ten landlords (30%) have had to store left items while arrangements are made for collection or disposal.

More than a third of landlords (34%) have faced situations where ex-tenants have returned seeking their belongings after they have already been disposed of, with Direct Line urging landlords to communicate with tenants to dispose of items correctly.

Clear communication and robust tenancy agreements are essential

Jonny McHugh, head of landlord at Direct Line business insurance, said: “Our findings shine a light on an often-overlooked problem faced by landlords across the UK. Not only do abandoned belongings cause logistical headaches, but they can also result in significant costs and delays.”

“Clear communication and robust tenancy agreements are essential to safeguard both landlords and tenants. It’s important to ensure tenancy agreements clearly outline the procedures for handling abandoned belongings.

“These terms not only help safeguard landlords legally but also provide transparency and reassurance for tenants about what will happen to any possessions they may intentionally or accidentally leave behind at the end of a tenancy, helping to avoid disputes.”

The survey reveals  63% of landlords have a clause in their tenancy agreement specifically relating to the disposal of left belongings.

While 46% of landlords are aware they must make efforts to contact the tenant to arrange collection or get confirmation that these can be disposed of, 29% believe that it is up to landlords to do whatever they want with the belongings.