[Contract-Holder Advice] Take a glance at your curtains – how do they look?
We recently sent out this guidance to all contract-holders living in our rented properties. Landlords, feel free to share it with your own occupants.
Are your curtains lopsided or not hanging properly? If so, it’s almost certainly going to be because the pole or rail they sit on has come away from the wall. This can happen through wear and tear (screws can and will come loose during the course of a tenancy), or it could be a result of excessive force, especially if curtains are being yanked open or closed.
Whichever one it is, it is your responsibility to rectify the issue before you leave, which is why we’re reminding you now.
Wear and tear
We always advise occupants to have – at the very least – a screwdriver to hand during the tenancy, as your Written Statement of Occupation Contract says “you are expected to carry out the duties in and around the dwelling that are reasonably expected of you”, including “to keep fixtures, fittings and furniture in a fully-functioning condition, you must tighten any screws”. Curtain poles and rails fall under this.
Excessive force
It may sound simple but, just like the rest of your furniture, curtains need to be handled with care.
Often, curtains are roughly pulled or yanked open and closed. This can not only lead to tears in the curtains but it can also put extra strain on the curtain pole and fixtures, which can lead to damage.
If your curtains are stuck, gently pull them or use a ladder to help free them – yanking them can only make the issue worse. It’s best to push them open/closed from the top of the curtain, rather than pull them from the bottom.
In this regard, your Written Statement of Occupation Contract says:
“You must take proper care of the dwelling, fixtures and fittings within the dwelling and any items listed in the inventory or provided by the landlord … you must carry out repairs tosuch fixtures and fittings or other items listed in the inventory, or replace them. Failure to do so may result in the landlord carrying out said repairs; the cost of which you will be required to pay immediately.”
What should I do and how much will it cost me if I leave it?
As mentioned, grab a screwdriver (and a ladder, if need be) and ensure the screws that secure the rail/pole to the wall aren’t loose.
The aim of our advice is to help you deal with such issues yourself. If it’s left for the landlord to sort out, bear in mind that it’s going to be considerably more expensive for you, as they will send a contractor in to deal with it. A contractor’s typical call-out fee is £80 (nobody works for free!). If it the pole needs replacing, or worse still the curtains, it’s going to cost even more.
Don’t forget that even if you didn’t pay a deposit when you first moved in, your landlord may still choose to pursue you for the cost of making good any issues you were responsible for.
The information contained within this article was correct at the date of publishing and is not guaranteed to remain correct in the present day.
