Common Tenant and Landlord Issues - Your Questions Answered
Here are some examples that we see as lawyers when acting on behalf of tenants and landlords. We have written below some common issues and how they apply in law.
Cleanliness
The functionality and the safety of the property is the responsibility of your landlord, but the cleanliness and orderliness of the property is the responsibility of the tenant. To cover all bases, landlords often take pictures of their properties before tenants take them over. This is to ensure that the property is returned in the same condition and also means that in some cases where the property has not been kept in a fit state, the landlord has proof of the property being left in a different state to when first let out and therefore means that the landlord is able to hold part of, or all of the tenants deposit to get the property back into a fit state.
We also recommend that when moving in tenants also take pictures of the property too. If you are in a situation where your tenant is withholding some of your deposit and you do not think it is fair, you can speak to our legal team to dispute this decision.
Property Maintenance
Landlords are usually responsible for making sure a property is maintained properly and they must also ensure that the property is safe for tenants to be in. The structural integrity of the building is their responsibility and staircases and pipelines for example must be well maintained. It is also the responsibility of the landlord to maintain the heating and hot water. Heavy fines could be handed out if landlords do not meet their responsibility requirements.
If your landlord is not maintaining the above you could claim against them.
Non Payment
Non- payment by tenants is often a common issue faced by landlords and it puts many people off renting their properties in the first place. Non payment also impacts tenants in instances where they have not had their deposit returned.
Non payment can be incredibly frustrating because the person withholding funds usually believes they are doing the right thing.
If you are a landlord or tenant and someone is withholding funds from you, speak to a legal representative to see if you can recoup what you are owed.
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There are many other situations that you will find yourself in, whether you are a landlord or a tenant. Our tenant and landlord legal team have years of experience representing both tenant and landlords in court. So if you are looking for access to quick representation contact us today for a free consultation.
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