Raising children is a rollercoaster of a ride filled with love, chaos, and the occasional mishaps.
Those seemingly harmless accidents, however, can have serious repercussions when it’s time to hand over the keys to your rental. Except for expected regular wear and tear, you must return the place in the same condition it was when you first moved in.
Read on to find effective strategies for maintaining your rental despite parenting challenges.
Assess the Damage
Take a good look at the problematic areas before panicking about possible disputes with your property manager. You have to assess the scope of the issue, whether it is a scratched floor, a discoloured carpet, or a few dents in the walls.
Note down all the places that require attention, but be sure to distinguish between actual damage and typical age-inflicted wear.
Wear and tear are bound to happen over time. Landlords are usually the ones responsible for handling it. Damage brought on by improper handling or upkeep, however, is an entirely different story.
You probably will not be penalised for a faded rug, but you will be charged for cleaning a carpet stained with juice or paint.
Similarly, little markings on walls could pass as time-imposed deterioration, but crayon doodles are a sign of negligence.
Only after taking inventory of the soiled, chipped, or broken items can you decide the best way to proceed.
Talk to Your Landlord
Ignoring damage, unfortunately, does not make it go away. Even if you pretend not to see it, your lessor will not turn a blind eye.
Coming forward with any issues instead of leaving them for your landlord to discover at the last minute demonstrates accountability. They will appreciate your honesty and hopefully be more inclined to discuss possible solutions amicably.
You can fix minimal damage on your own without involving them. However, you need to discuss the best course of action with them in case of more serious problems, such as flooring or wall damage.
Even if they insist that you hire a specialised repairman, it is still crucial to be honest about what happened. Being truthful improves your chances of receiving your security deposit in full. It also helps maintain positive relations with your property manager.
When they see that you have handled the situation appropriately, they could be more willing to overlook some minor problems.
Repair the Damage
Minor issues, like scuff marks or small scratches, are easy to manage independently.
To conceal crayon marks, for example, apply some touch-up paint. As for small dents and nail holes, use putty or a surface filler to patch them right up.
However, if the damage is more severe, it is best to call a reliable repairman. A large tear in the carpet, plumbing issues, or a thick layer of grease on your oven walls warrants expert attention.
This is particularly crucial if your property manager wants the repairs and clean-up carried out to professional standards. Even though the upfront cost can seem excessive, it will pay off when you get your security deposit back in full.
Ensuring that the work is done correctly will also make your life much easier during the end-of-tenancy inspection. Just make sure you record everything.
Snap before and after photos of the damage and repairs. Should conflicts arise with your landlord down the road, this will prove that you have maintained the property well and made every effort to resolve any issues.
Know Your Rights
Understanding your rights as a renter is crucial, even if you have already addressed the damages your little ones have caused.
Some unsavoury individuals will want to assign you exorbitant responsibilities for which you are not accountable. This is when your knowledge of the end of tenancy process will come in handy.
For example, lessors cannot ask you to cover property renovations that transcend simple restorations. It is unreasonable to pay for brand-new carpeting or a complete paint job if the house was already somewhat run-down when you moved in.
Unless you genuinely caused serious damage, you must only return the place to its original state.
Make sure you also review your tenancy contract. Lease agreements usually define what is considered damage and what is fair wear and tear.
If your housing provider or their letting agent asks you to pay for something unreasonable, this information will help you defend your case confidently.
You can always consult a tenants’ rights group if you are unsure of the claims they are making. These organisations offer insightful advice on what tenants and landlords are entitled to.
Protect Your Security Deposit
You are probably still wondering what all of this means for your security deposit. Well, if your kids have seriously damaged the property, a portion of the deposit could be allocated towards repairs.
However, as was already noted, lessors cannot simply withhold your whole deposit without justification.
If the damage was minimal and you correctly addressed it, your property manager has no right to keep your money. However, if the issue is extensive, they could deduct the cost of repairs and clean-ups.
Therefore, it is crucial to keep invoices and records of any professional repair or cleaning services you have performed. This shows that you have tried to resolve the problems and could prove useful when deciding the amount to be deducted.
The good news is that you do not have to worry about the deposit as long as you generally maintain the property and have a good rapport with your landlord.
Should disagreements arise despite your best efforts, consult your local tenancy deposit protection program. They will help guarantee that deductions are equitable and consistent with the damage done.
Prevent Future Damage
Your work is not done just yet. You still need to keep the property in good condition and prevent any other accidents until you move out.
After all, the last thing you want is to undertake additional repairs or clean-ups after you have already spruced up the place.
Applying washable paint in the places where your children usually play will help you keep their artistic expressions from turning into permanent murals.
Additionally, try to restrict their usage of messy toys to specific areas of the home or cover the furniture and rugs with waterproof plastic sheets.
All in all, establishing house rules on where your children can and cannot use specific objects helps lower the likelihood of serious mishaps.
Conclusion
Handling property damage caused by your children can be challenging, but it is not impossible.
All you need to do is assess the issue in question, understand your rights and responsibilities, and perform the necessary repairs.
Even if mishaps occur, you can keep them from escalating into bigger problems with a little foresight and proactive action.
So, take a deep breath, fix what you can, and have an honest, open conversation with your lessor to resolve any issues smoothly.
