Accidental Landlord
- An accidental landlord is an owner occupier who becomes a landlord without intending to, or without awareness of the responsibilities of a landlord.
- Initially intended to tide over a temporary situation not expected to last, with unintended results: An owner may wish to sell a property in a depressed housing market. Unable to sell he lets the property in the hope the market improves. Meanwhile, he finds the new arrangement suits him and continues indefinitely.
- The issues arising during this "apprenticeship" period are well-known to more experienced agents and landlords; the perception is that amateur unregulated landlords lower the standards of the letting profession by flouting the rules and in extreme instances endangering the lives of tenants.
- Inexperienced landlords might be best to engage an experienced agent.
See also
Published: 5 November 2013 Last Updated: 17 November 2021