Landlords liable for tenants' DIY

Landlords are being urged to check their rental properties after a landmark ruling found that they are liable for injury, even when caused by tenants' attempts at DIY, insidehousing.co.uk reports.

A case brought before the High Court in London last week has placed responsibility for any incidents caused by former tenants' 'improvements' squarely on the shoulders of the landlord, regardless of whether or not they were aware any work had been carried out.

It arose when Patrick Hannon, a contractor with T Brown Group, fell from a building owned by Hillingdon Council. The tenants had removed banisters 'for aesthetic reasons', even though Hillingdon did not approve the work or carry it out themselves. Mr Hannon sustained injuries that left him unable to work.

As a consequence, landlords will need to review their properties once a tenant has moved out, to repair any work not sanctioned. Given the number of 'accidental landlords' is on the rise, according to rman.co.uk, it is particularly important that this message is communicated, otherwise they could find themselves in court too.

These checks can be done under the tenant cashback scheme, which allows landlords to fund the repairs - if necessary - out of the tenants' deposit. As such, Ian Rumsam, the head of tenant cashback scheme, Together Housing Group asserted that tenants should not be carrying out any work that "can affect the functionality or structure of the building".

Posted 20-07-2012
Author: Elizabeth Smythe