Landlords told they should prepare for longer tenancies

Posted on Saturday, March 12, 2016

According to the Association of Independent Inventory Clerks (AIIC), landlords and property managers must now prepare for long-term tenancies as data shows the average private tenancy length is now four years, up from three and a half years in the previous survey.

The organisation says heightened preparation must include thorough administration and more thought about the choice of furniture and interior design themes.

It also found that some 46% of 25-34 year-olds lived in the Private Rented Sector in 2014-15, up from 24% in 2004-05.

Patricia Barber, Chair of the AIIC, said: “Despite numerous reports suggesting that the average tenant doesn't want a long-term contract, the official statistics show that average tenancy lengths are increasing – particularly among families – as people rent for longer.” 

The organisation says that these figures should encourage landlords to think harder about what will make their rental property feel more like a home and what can be done to facilitate renters staying in their property for longer.

Barber also states that the phenomenon of long-term renting highlights how important it is for landlords to be organised and make sure they're on top of their administration duties.

She said: “When tenants stick around for longer, often the chances of confusion and disagreement over certain issues are increased when the tenancy does eventually come to an end. The longer time goes on, the more likely landlords and tenants are to forget details from the tenancy agreement or important information about the deposit, and that's why stringent administration – keeping copies of everything and organising it accordingly – is so important.”

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