Slow or inconsistent responses to repair requests are adding to tenant stress, according to new research from Adiuvo.
In a survey of 1,013 UK tenants, the company found that 62% had experienced maintenance issues in their rental homes.
While 45% of tenants described their landlord or property manager as “very efficient” in responding to calls – and a further 27% as “quite efficient” – more than a quarter (28%) still said their landlord was inefficient.
The consequences go beyond inconvenience. Almost 60% of tenants (58%) reported that maintenance problems had negatively affected their stress or anxiety levels.
The issues most likely to heighten worries were heating, water or boiler failures (24%), followed by plumbing leaks (21%) and damp or mould (18%).
CHASING FOR ACTION
But the data suggests it is not just the problems themselves causing strain – it is the need to chase for action.
A third of tenants (31%) said the biggest source of stress was having to repeatedly follow up on repairs, indicating that delays and poor communication can be more distressing than the fault itself.
Tenants were clear about the changes that would help ease their concerns. Faster responses topped the list (27%), while almost a quarter (23%) said clearer updates and communication from their landlord would reduce anxiety.
One in five (19%) said that a more proactive approach to inspections and preventative maintenance would also make a difference.
POSITIVE IMPACT
Colin Stokes, founder and managing director of Adiuvo, says: “A fast response to maintenance issues, regardless of the time of day, makes an enormous difference to a tenant’s wellbeing. This, in turn, has a huge positive impact on the overall stability of a tenancy.
“While landlords may not have a formal obligation to care for mental health, the reality is that tenants who feel supported are far more likely to stay put.
“Quicker reactions don’t just resolve problems before they escalate; they also reduce turnover, void periods and the costs associated with finding new occupants. In today’s rental market, a prompt response isn’t just good practice, it’s good business.”
