The tired old tale of tenants battling rogue landlords has taken a twist, with a new survey from Leaders Romans Group (LRG) showing that the relationship between the two is cosier than the headlines suggest.
Far from the media’s doom-and-gloom narrative, most renters reckon their landlords are doing a decent job—though they’re not shy about pointing out where things could perk up.
LRG’s National Lettings Managing Director Allison Thompson lays it out: “Landlords play an essential role in the rental market, and our findings show that most are committed to providing quality housing and building positive relationships with their tenants.”
The numbers back her up—55% of tenants rate their landlord’s digs as ‘quality housing,’ and just 12% have a proper grumble about them. Maintenance gripes? Hardly.
A solid 75% say repairs get sorted within a week, with 41% seeing action in under 48 hours. “It’s encouraging to see that tenants value their landlords’ efforts,” Thompson adds, nodding to the goodwill out there.
But it’s not all rosy. Half the tenants surveyed reckon better chit-chat and quicker fixes would lift the game, while 34% want more empathy for the pressures both sides face. Clarity’s a sticking point too—39% crave sharper tenant rights, and 23% want landlords’ duties spelled out plain.
Still, don’t expect a clamour for red tape—only 17% think more rules would help, 16% fancy an ombudsman, and 13% say it’s all fine as is.
“While there’s plenty to celebrate in these results, there’s also a clear message about the importance of open communication and responsiveness to tenant needs,” Thompson notes, hinting at the tweak landlords could make.
The kicker? A whopping 60% reckon landlords get a raw deal in the press, a sentiment that flips the script on the villain trope.
“By focusing on proactive engagement, landlords can address tenant concerns while continuing to deliver the high service standards the majority are already achieving,”
Thompson says, eyeing a future where the landlord-tenant bond could tighten further.
For London’s rental crowd, it’s a fresh take—less whinging, more winning, with a nudge to keep the lines open.