The election!!!

After months of speculation the worst kept secret in politics is out and the general election has been announced for May 6th. No one knows quite what the new parliament will look like once the voting is all over but the one thing all parties can agree on is that there will be a lot of new names on the pegs in the cloakroom.

The new parliament will have 650 MPs, up 4 from before. There are 147 MPs not standing for re-election and a fair number expected to loose their seats in marginal constituencies. The new parliament also brings new rules for MPs expenses. For a start, those MPs living within a one hour commute of Westminster (128) won’t be able to claim second home allowances. For the rest, apart from a 2 year transitional allowance for existing MPs with mortgages, there is no more mortgage allowance. MPs will be expected to rent or stay in hotels.

For the sizeable number of MPs spending the beginning of the next parliament scouring local papers for rental ads we thought we would put together a few hints on some of the implications of your rental agreements.

Let’s start with decoration. Every tenancy agreement will set out what you are and aren’t allowed to change in the décor of your rented property. Get it wrong, for example by allowing your teenager to stick posters on the walls with pins or paint their bedroom black and you will find yourself having to restore the property to its original condition and décor when you move out. Landlords will also have the right to inspect the property at set intervals and can demand repairs are made at that stage. So even though you don’t own a property it is worth keeping in touch with a building maintenance company. Top tip for moving in is to take photos of all the rooms and any existing damage, scuffed skirting boards etc.

Now let’s look at cleanliness. Your rental agreement will contain a clause expecting you to clean the property properly when you move out. If you don’t then you could lose your deposit and the landlord could also bill you for cleaning. This is not just a quick run around with a duster. You will be expected to clean out all cupboards, wipe down shelves, clean doors and skirting boards and deep clean the carpets.

In the bathroom you will also need to clean any lime scale from the shower head and taps. The tiles, shower screen and floor will have to be cleaned to remove all traces of scale and soap. The bath, sink and toilet will also have to be cleaned to look like new.

In the kitchen, if any appliances were provided they have to be cleaned properly. That means defrosting and disinfecting fridge and freezer. The cooker and extractor fan will need to be cleaned to remove all traces of cooking fat, grease, burnt crunchy bits, etc and you may need to change the filter on the extractor fan.

If you are in furnished accommodation then all the furniture will need to be spotless and that includes vacuuming mattresses and cleaning curtains and upholstery. This end of tenancy clean will need to be done after you have moved out and before you hand over the keys so allow time for this in your planning.

So there you have it, read your tenancy agreement, keep the place looking clean and undamaged and enjoy your time in your rented home.