Tenants' left items unveiled

20 2008
Tenants have been urged to ensure that they leave a rental property in the same condition in which they find it so as to ensure that they get their full deposit back.

Though recently introduced legislation gives renters better protection for their deposit, a new report from the Deposit Protection Service has highlighted instances where departing tenants have been left out of pocket.

According to the 1,000 private landlords questioned, sex toys were the most common items left behind by departing renters, followed by rubbish, rotting food and then furniture.

Some landlords even reported finding false eyes, bomb-making equipment and Nazi memorabilia after their properties have been vacated.

"More than 1,000 landlords across the UK were keen to talk to us about the items their tenants had left behind, which certainly reinforces the message of selecting the right renters from the very start of the lease," said Kevin Firth, client services director at the DPS.

"We encourage tenants to vacate and leave the premises in the same condition in which they found it, to ensure there is no issue in securing the return of their deposit."

Cats were the fifth-most likely 'leave-behind' item, the study also found. ADNFCR-1219-ID-18475628-ADNFCR

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