Dead pets, adult toys and a coffin – some of the shocking items left behind by tenants

Dead pets, adult toys and a coffin – some of the shocking items left behind by tenants

0:08 AM, 31st January 2024, About 3 months ago 11

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When landlords were asked to share the most unusual items that had been left behind by tenants, the most bizarre included adult toys, the ashes of a relative, bottles of urine, a coffin, underwear, a BMW and pets – but only ‘some’ of were alive.

Research from Direct Line business insurance reveals that 72% of landlords have had to deal with belongings left by tenants after a tenancy has ended.

Rubbish was the main headache (63%), followed by general junk (56%), clothes (42%) and kitchenware (38%).

Two-thirds (66%) of landlords say they’ve needed to dispose of an old tenant’s belongings, 25% have had to store belongings and a third (32%) have had to chase down ex-tenants to collect their items.

‘Trying to reunite ex-tenants with their belongings’

Direct Line’s landlord product manager, Sarah Casey, said: “Landlords often face the grim task of clearing up and trying to reunite ex-tenants with their belongings after they’ve moved out, a task which can be both time consuming and costly.

“Ensuring that your tenancy agreement has a clause relating to the disposal of items left behind by tenants is a great first step to ensuring that everyone is on the same page.

“Trying to track down ex-tenants after they have moved out can be tricky, so make sure that you have their contact details should you need to contact them after the tenancy has ended.”

She added: “As with most things in life, prevention is better than cure.

“Make sure that you use a good tenant referencing system to help prevent problems and ensure that you or a representative attend the check-out inspection on the day tenants move out.”

Clearing up isn’t cheap

Tidying up after tenants have moved out is not cheap and it costs, on average, landlords £209 to clear up their tenants’ mess.

Also, 12% of landlords said they’d had to fork out more than £500 to deal with the issue.

And 34% of landlords say they’ve had to delay letting new tenants move in while they dealt with the ex-tenant’s property.

But 23% have had to seek legal advice or take legal action to deal with the problem.

While there are strict rules on what a landlord can and can’t do with an ex-tenant’s property, 32% of landlords didn’t have a tenancy clause about the disposal of a tenant’s left behind belongings.

Of those surveyed, 52% of landlords were clear on the correct procedure to follow.


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Comments

TheMaluka

11:07 AM, 31st January 2024, About 3 months ago

A bath with 1000 golf balls hidden beneath a sea of urine.

Jan

11:42 AM, 31st January 2024, About 3 months ago

It's not all bad, we were left some lovely mid-centuary dining chairs which we still use.

Paul

11:55 AM, 31st January 2024, About 3 months ago

I've got some rather established bushes from a place I bought ( and did a back to brick reno on ). They are really nice. However, on another, a draw full of adult toys... This was after a rent hike. I think they were trying to tell me something.

Stella

11:59 AM, 31st January 2024, About 3 months ago

A 60 litre bin full to the brim with dog faeces, the garden and flower pots were also used as storage for the dog mess.
As you can imagine inside the property was not in a good state either.

The dog had died several months prior to them moving out and they could not be bothered to to clean the mess!!

Reluctant Landlord

12:26 PM, 31st January 2024, About 3 months ago

dog poo in bags under floorboards is on my list...

Old Mrs Landlord

15:03 PM, 31st January 2024, About 3 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Stella at 31/01/2024 - 11:59It was cat mess in the case of one of ours (in a garden bin thankfully or the nauseating smell would have filled the house).
On the other hand, almost all the kitchen utensils,crockery and cutlery in the caravan we use while lambing.came from ex-tenants' leftovers.

Helen

15:19 PM, 31st January 2024, About 3 months ago

Whilst not as horrifying or exciting as some cases above, they ALWAYS leave the 'under sink items' like bleach, washing up liquid, detergent etc. I haven't had to buy any for many years.
One tenant tried to leave a grotty sofa in the middle of the lounge 'in case somebody wanted to sit down while viewing.' What are they thinking?????

No hate plz

20:13 PM, 31st January 2024, About 3 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Paul at 31/01/2024 - 11:55
Sex toys are expensive! Or so I have been told.....

No hate plz

20:15 PM, 31st January 2024, About 3 months ago

I have not had anything unusual, just the normal rubbish and broken furniture.

Smiffy

15:47 PM, 1st February 2024, About 3 months ago

5.3ltr V12 Jaguar car engine, with gearbox.

weighed a bloody ton!

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