Fears of Tenants Damaging Property and Leaving Operators Liable for Repairs

One of the biggest fears for rent-to-rent operators is simple.

What happens if the tenants damage the property?

Because at the end of the day, you are the one responsible to the landlord.

If the carpets get ruined, the walls get marked, or worse, major damage occurs, it’s the operator who has to put it right.

This fear is rooted in reality.

You can screen tenants carefully.

You can run checks, set rules, and manage proactively.

But you can never guarantee behaviour 100%.

All it takes is one careless tenant, one wild party, or one act of neglect to create thousands in repair bills.

For operators, that exposure can feel daunting.

You’ve promised landlords a guaranteed rent and professional management.

So when damage happens, the cost doesn’t just eat into profit — it can wipe it out completely.

And if not handled properly, it can also damage your reputation.

Word travels quickly in property.

A landlord who feels let down will not keep quiet.

This is why so many operators lose sleep over the “what ifs”.

What if a tenant refuses to pay for the damage?

What if the deposit doesn’t cover it?

What if the landlord expects everything fixed at your expense, no matter what?

So how do you reduce the risk of tenant damage becoming your nightmare?

1. Choose tenants wisely. Don’t rush to fill rooms — robust referencing saves more than it costs.

2. Set clear house standards. Regular inspections and firm rules minimise careless behaviour.

3. Insure properly. Specialist policies for rent-to-rent can protect you against the worst-case scenarios.

4. Communicate with landlords. If damage does occur, transparency builds trust and prevents escalation.

Because while you can never eliminate tenant risk completely, you can control how exposed you are.

And the operators who plan for problems in advance are the ones who survive them when they come.

That’s it for today, have a good weekend.

PS If you’re looking for some R2R deals yourself in London and surrounding areas, or if you may know someone that is, reply to this email and someone from our team will be happy to assist you in your query.