There are many attractions to being a private landlord, but it does bring significant legal obligations. This applies whether you’re letting out a single property (including a holiday property) or a bigger portfolio.
We take landlords and letting agents through every step of letting out property, from creating a tenancy to ending it. By steering you away from pitfalls and disputes, we can help protect your financial returns (or peace of mind) from being eroded by legal problems.
This is important in an area where even a small mistake or oversight can incur sizeable fines or prevent you from ending a tenancy.
What are your obligations?
Our lawyers can offer expert advice on all the legal aspects of letting out a property, including:
- the requirements for private residential tenancies
- tenancy agreements and letting contracts
- landlord registration
- tenancy deposit schemes
- regulations for HMOs (houses in multiple occupancy) and HMO appeals
- property maintenance obligations
- gas and electrical installation regulations
- rent arrears
- issuing notices to quit and notices to leave as well as recovery of possession
- tribunal actions for eviction
- neighbour disputes
- boundary disputes.
New requirements for landlords and agents
We can also advise you on the recent changes in this area, which affect landlords and letting agents.
For example, there were major changes to private residential tenancies introduced on 1 December 2017, and these will affect all private landlords offering new tenancies.
In addition, new regulations for letting agents will require them to change their internal procedures and terms of business and they will have to comply with a new Code of Practice.
Wrongful termination
Often landlords are now presented with claims by their tenants who accuse them of wrongfully terminating their tenancy. We are happy to assist with defending wrongful termination applications. Better yet, we can advise on the best ways to reduce the risk that such applications may be made against you.
Letting Agent Code of Practice
The code is lengthy and complex and there is no cost to a tenant to pursue you for any alleged breach. We would be happy to help you deal with making or responding to a complaint. We can also raise and represent you in Tribunal proceedings.
