9 Crown Row, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 0TH
Marney Howick
Sales Valuer
Marney has worked in estate agency since leaving school and has experience in the Berkshire, Hampshire and Surrey property markets. She certainly has gained some exceptional local knowledge! Outside of work, Marney has a crazy beagle who keeps her busy, she loves playing Paddle with the girls in Binfield, and trying out new local bars and restaurants.
Top of my bucket list is…
I’d love to go to Bali!
When I was younger, I wanted to be…
An estate agent.
On Sunday mornings, you can usually find me…
Out for brunch, followed by a walk with the girls and our dogs.
My guilty pleasures are…
Prosecco and awful reality TV.
The thing I like best about my job is…
Building long lasting relationships with my clients and getting to see beautiful homes! I feel extremely fortunate to have worked across several counties and helped lots of lovely people move home.
The best piece of advice I’ve been given is…
You make your own luck.
1 Feb 2021
Let’s unpack what landlords can learn from the findings of the memorably titled Mouldy Nation Report. Yes, before you ask, there really is a document called the Mouldy Nation Report (we’re not making it up).
Uswitch, an energy and finance comparison website, produced the report after surveying 2,000 people from across the UK about mould in their homes. It found that:
- 62% of people have an issue with mould in their home.
- Of those with a mould problem, 64% were renting (private, student, or social).
- 40% of people wouldn’t clean mould themselves if they were in a rented home.
- 64% of people believe it is the landlord’s sole responsibility to rectify a mould problem.
Interestingly (or infuriatingly), those who reported mould in their home, also fessed up to contributing to the problem by:
- Drying clothes indoors (40%).
- Leaving the kitchen or bathroom door open when cooking or showering (22%).
- Putting furniture directly against walls (21%).
- Keeping the shower curtain folded when wet (11%).
- Leaving spillages instead of cleaning them up (6%).
For the record, it’s the landlord’s responsibility to repair a problem that is causing mould (leaks, broken damp proof courses, inadequate insulation). The landlord must also remove mould that is affecting a tenant’s health and safety.
But it takes two to tango, and it is the tenant’s responsibility to adequately ventilate the property within reasonable means and keep the property clean.
Two broader issues jump out at us here. They are:
1. As a landlord, you must keep your property in good condition. If there is a structural issue causing the mould, deal with it. Also, make sure extractor fans and the heating are working, so your tenant has no excuse to claim it’s your fault.
2. Landlords are not nannies or babysitters; they shouldn’t have to explain basic hygiene to a tenant who thinks it’s okay to ignore spillages and leave wet shower curtains curled up. You must invest the time at the beginning of a tenancy to find the right tenant, someone who will keep up their end of the bargain by keeping your property clean and tidy.
The team at Duncan Yeardley are experienced at tenant selection. Life’s too short to be giving cleanliness lectures or straightening other people’s shower curtains, so if you’d to learn more about our services, please get in touch.
Copyright Duncan Yeardley 2021
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