Third of generation Z think landlords should change their light bulbs

Third of generation Z think landlords should change their light bulbs

13:26 PM, 9th December 2019, About 4 years ago 9

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A study, conducted by broadband and utilities provider Glide, surveyed 1,000 tenants who are either currently renting a property, or have previously, to find out which issues they expect their landlords to be responsible for dealing with.

And one in seven (14%) say they’d leave a dispute over how to split bills with flat mates for their landlord to sort.

However, expectations that landlords will step in is not confined to just arguments over who pays what in terms of bills. Almost a quarter of tenants (23.2%) admit they would leave a dispute over parking up to the owner of the premises to resolve.

Although landlords are legally bound to solve certain problems that arise both inside and outside the property for renters, where and when those responsibilities pass over to the tenant can often be unclear.

Over a third of under-25s – sometimes referred to as generation Z – believe that landlords should be responsible for changing a light bulb (34.6%). Despite a significant number of younger renters having this expectation, this is generally an obligation of the tenant, unless specified otherwise in the terms of each individual rental agreement.

With modern society now hinging largely on being online at all times, this is reflected by the attitudes of tenants towards their internet connection, with over one in five (21.9%) tenants believing their landlord should be responsible for fixing their Wi-Fi.

Richard Price, Sales Director of Glide Shared Living, said: “Being a landlord comes with its fair share of responsibilities and a duty of care for the tenant, but increasing demands from occupants has led to the lines becoming blurred in terms of exactly what is and isn’t under a landlord’s remit.

“As such, it is easy to see why there can be a number of demands across the UK that landlords perceive as unreasonable, and so it is more important than ever for both parties to receive clarity about which issues will be addressed by who in the terms of the rental agreement.”


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Comments

Rob Crawford

18:21 PM, 9th December 2019, About 4 years ago

I don't have any issues in clarifying what the tenant and landlord is responsible for. However, if it exceeds my current interpretation of the law then rents will increase. If it includes minor issues such changing light filaments, then this increase will not be small!

Jo Westlake

10:12 AM, 10th December 2019, About 4 years ago

If it's an HMO and bills are included in the rent I would expect to deal with broadband issues (as I am the account holder) and certainly lightbulbs in communal areas. As the bill payer l would prefer to supply all lightbulbs in those houses to ensure energy efficiency.

In other houses (not HMOs) it's the tenants responsibility to replace bulbs and deal with broadband.

Parking is unique to each house. I happily provide suitable signage to try to protect private parking if it exists and advise on how to obtain permits. Beyond that there's not much anyone could do is there?

moneymanager

10:14 AM, 10th December 2019, About 4 years ago

Responsibility for and "change" are not neccessarily concurrent.

Our flats were built with numerous 50w halogen downlighters and very high ceilings. A combination of regular lamp and/or transformers led me to:

a: take responsibility for the hard wired transformer
b: to require the tenant to PAY for the lamp and a small charge and
c: to offer a discounted conversion to LED and with continuing tenant lamp responsibility

With the electricity cost savings and no ladder they have virtually all gone for c

paul kaye

10:40 AM, 10th December 2019, About 4 years ago

I think all tenants should replace light bulbs ,after all they are the ones using them.
Also they should expect to replace batteries in smoke alarms etc and shower hoses and shower curtains.Also they should replace tap washers.
All these items are from the tenants use and are very small expectations.
I have all these written into tenancy agreements.If the landlord supplies a cooker and or hob the Landlord does not have to replace them if they break down .
There is no legal obligation,but I would replace them because I supplied them in the first place.
However one way is not to supply a cooker or hob and leave it to the tenats.

Kathy Evans

16:39 PM, 10th December 2019, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by paul kaye at 10/12/2019 - 10:40
Snowflakes! They'll be expecting the landlord to cook dinner do the washing next. Muuuuummm, I don't know how to make a bed!!

Marie

6:26 AM, 11th December 2019, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by paul kaye at 10/12/2019 - 10:40What about bleeding radiators? For years I bled my radiators myself and then I got into trouble with one landlord when I told his gas safety engineer at the gas safety check that I bled them regularly. Told that it was “dangerous”. So I stopped doing it. I don’t know how to change a tap washer so I would have to ask for assistance with that although I never actually have had to. But imagine phoning your landlord to change a lightbulb! It would be like calling to ask for assistance getting dressed!

moneymanager

11:35 AM, 11th December 2019, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Marie at 11/12/2019 - 06:26
"Bleeding radiators, dangerous".

I would agree that it sounds daft but if it were done while the system was under use and it had been correctly filled with anti-corrosive, put it this way, you wouldn't want to drink it and it can be as black a tar.

Seriously though I would want a tenant to do anything that involved disassembly so dealing with a blocked washing machine impeller because there's a hair grip in the user removable filter, yes, dismantling my German made bath mixer shower diverting valve absolutely not.

As for the last comment, "higher management" mandates against!

Michael Barnes

19:58 PM, 14th December 2019, About 4 years ago

Reply to the comment left by paul kaye at 10/12/2019 - 10:40And tenants are using the carpets too, so they should replace them.
And then there are those light switches that break: the tenant uses them too.

David Mensah

20:52 PM, 14th December 2019, About 4 years ago

I'm also finding that recent and younger tenants in my HMOs (all young professionals) lack independence and have unrealistic expectations, e.g. they ask me to change their lightbulbs. I'm wondering if this is be due to the expansion of specialisted student accommodation, which they would have typically lived in before coming to me. Their previous experience would be of an onsite handyman to fix everything.

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