Legal advice for landlords

A property solicitor should be consulted if you are a landlord in need of legal advice. Landlords have many obligations towards their tenants that are imposed both by the lease agreement and by statute. Statutory obligations include ensuring the property is fit for habitation. Under the Furniture and Furnishings Regulation 1993, the landlord has a duty to ensure the fire safety of furniture and furnishings provided under the tenancy. The Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 imposes obligations on the landlord to maintain and repair the property if the lease is for a term of seven years or less. These include the obligation to carry out repairs to the structure and exterior of the property, and to repair the water and room heating equipment. A property solicitor will be able to offer legal advice to landlords on the full range of their obligations under statutes, and under the lease.

If you are a landlord, legal advice should be obtained from a property solicitor if you are having problems with your tenant. In order to evict a tenant, the correct procedures must be followed. You must have a valid reason for eviction and these cannot be discriminatory in any way. A valid reason could be that the tenant has repeatedly missed rent payments, or they have caused the condition of the property to deteriorate. You must serve your tenant with a notice to quit, stating the valid reason for their eviction. If your tenant has refused to vacate your property, you must not harass them into leaving or try to remove their possessions forcibly. This is illegal and you could be prosecuted by your tenant. In order to enforce an eviction you must obtain a possession order from the court that will be enforced by the court bailiffs.

As a landlord, legal advice from a property solicitor is important to ensure you fulfil your legal obligations towards your tenant. Legal advice will also enable you to resolve disputes with your tenant in the correct manner.

If you would like to obtain legal advice on the law between a landlord and tenant, Contact Law can put you in touch with a local specialist property / landlord law solicitor free of charge. So, if you have any questions or would like our help in finding local property / landlord law solicitors please call us on 0808 129 5759 or complete the web-form above.