Tenants complain less about their landlords in reality, a new survey has suggested.

While cases of rogue landlords have been widely discussed in the media and by campaign groups, a more balanced picture of the relationship is highlighted in the survey by Leaders Romans Group (LRG).

It found that 55% of tenants believe their landlord provides quality housing, and only 12% view their landlord negatively.

At the same time, 75% of tenants reported that maintenance requests are addressed within a week, with 41% receiving responses in as little as 48 hours.

Areas for improvement

However, tenants also highlighted some areas for improvement in landlord-tenant relationships.

Half of those surveyed felt that better communication and faster responses to maintenance issues would have the biggest impact on improving relations.

A further 34% believed there needed to be greater understanding of the pressures faced by both tenants and landlords.

Clarity around rights and responsibilities was another priority, with 39% of tenants calling for clearer tenant rights, while 23% also wanted greater transparency around landlord responsibilities.

Regulation

There is little appetite for additional regulation, with only 17% believing it would improve relationships, and just 16% feeling that an independent ombudsman would help.

Meanwhile, 13% of tenants felt no changes were needed, indicating that many are satisfied with their current rental experience.

Allison Thompson, of LRG, said: “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.

"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.

“It’s encouraging to see that tenants value their landlords’ efforts, but there’s always room to strengthen this relationship further. By focusing on proactive engagement, landlords can address tenant concerns while continuing to deliver the high service standards the majority are already achieving."