Some 49% of tenants said that they experience problems with their landlords.
Poor communication and taking too long to resolve property issues are among the major frustrations reported by private sector tenants in the UK, according to a survey from property technology firm Engage.
The survey also found that some 49% of tenants said that they experience these kind of problems with landlords.
It addition it revealed that frustrations with landlords were even more acute among younger tenants with 76% of those aged 18 to 24 experiencing problems.
Overall a fifth of renters believe being a tenant rather than a home owner makes them feel disconnected from their neighbours and community, rising to 25% among 18 to 24 year olds but just 15% among tenants aged 55 and over.
Some 13% said they also feel frustrated that the application process to rent a property, which can often take between four and six weeks, is long and cumbersome.
Meanwhile, those living in London are four times more likely than people renting in Northern Ireland to experience frustrations around making contact with their landlord.
Mitesh Patel, managing director of Engage, said that with more people, especially young people, renting a home because they cannot afford to buy, the expectations of tenants are growing.
He said: "Renters demand high levels of customer service, not another reason to complain. This presents a key challenge for the market. After all, unhappy tenants are quicker to move on, which heightens the chances of a property becoming empty, leaving the landlord, agent or housing association out of pocket,’ he explained.
"In addition, many new rental properties that have been created private rental sector lack a well-established community on their doorstep and therefore it’s understandable many tenants feel disenfranchised,’ he pointed out.
"As an industry the rental sector is lagging behind probably every other industry in terms of customer service. But by thinking of tenants as customers and putting them at the core of all services, landlords can capitalise on the opportunities the growing market presents."
