Maintenance issues and how to solve them
- When talking to parents about their life, parents from rental properties and homeowners agreed that cleaning up after their toddler is a full-time job. Their second full time occupation was cooking.
- The parents in rental properties said that it is twice as difficult when they rent and do not own the property. They said: they constantly look out to prevent damage to the property because they may not only lose their deposit, but they may compensate the landlord if the damage exceeds the amount held as their deposit.
- One parent told me that she is avoiding property with wallpapers. She said that at least with a property without, you can always repaint over the wall when the children decide to use the wall as a classroom black board.
- Those with teenagers are also worried for their deposit. The teenager may not be as messy, but they do break things in the property. When a teenager is reaching puberty, that is when life becomes a battlefield. Doors are slammed, beds are broken, toilet seats are broken or disappear. if you are unfortunate to have a teenager who smoked then you will be replacing mattresses, carpets, or curtains.
- We are not here to give advice or guidance on how to raise your child or children, but what is certain is that if your child or children decide to demolish the house bit by bit, you will lose your deposit for sure.
- This is what I will do, and it is not “a must do advice”, but it could help you on all levels. I encourage you to frequently clean your living area and maintained the property the best you can. By doing so will guaranty the recovery of your deposit in full.
- It will also be a good experience for your child or children who will be able to continue the routine of keeping things in the right orders and safe places. It will also teach them the value of preserving and appreciating what is not theirs. Not only will they learn to respect their environment, but they will also teach others how to do so in the future. They always say that children imitate their parents, so they are the unpaid teachers who workdays and nights to give them the necessary tools to build their life, therefore parents should be the best example they ever had.
- If you respect the contents and the property you are living in, the landlord will be eager to help you knowing that you are living with a child or children and he will be more sympathetic to your cause if and when things go wrong.
- You should encourage your teenager, child, or children to take responsibility and maintain the property whilst also taking care of the furniture and surroundings of the property i.e., garden, and communal areas.
- They should help you clean the property if appropriate or if not, they may clean their room if that is what they are willing to do to help.
- You should avoid having vermin in the property, especially in the kitchen. Living with children in the house with this type of pest can be extremely dangerous and your health and lives could be at risk.
- Keep the property well ventilated to avoid damp building in the bathroom, toilet, and kitchen. Do not leave food or food residue laying on floor or kitchen cupboard surfaces. Make sure that your child or the children have the habit to keep food in the fridge and keep any leftovers in a secure place out of the reach of vermin.
- Once you allow vermin into your property it will be difficult to get rid of them and it will also cost you a lot of money to hire a specialist pest exterminator.
