Opening up the doors of your property to new tenants can be a daunting experience. We understand that our clients spend a considerable amount of time and money on their property and want to safeguard their investment. One way to do this is to speak to a Landlord and Tenant Solicitor before a tenancy begins to ensure that both you as the landlord and the prospective tenants know each other’s rights and responsibilities. After all, while the tenants are ‘under your roof’ you want to make sure that the tenants look after the property and make your investment a profitable one. Our clients often ask to speak to one of our Tenancy Dispute Solicitors and, due to our extensive experience, we have an in-depth understanding of our client’s needs.
Questions that we are frequently asked by our clients include:
What happens if the tenant fails to pay the rent on time?
Where do I put the tenant’s deposit and what information do I need to provide my tenant with?
What happens if the tenant sub-lets the property (or attempts to advertise a room in the property on Airbnb!)
What do I do when I want the tenant to leave the property?
What do I do if the tenant refuses to leave the property and how much does it cost to take a tenant to court?
For our landlord clients we would recommend the use of a robust Tenancy Agreement (sometimes known as an Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreement). Such an agreement would typically include:
When rent is to be paid and how
What is to be done with Deposit monies
What the property can and cannot be used for
The service of Notices to quit (for example Section 8 Notices or Section 21 Notices)
An obligation for the tenant to indemnify the landlord for the landlord’s court costs and legal costs should possession proceedings prove necessary.
How much does a Tenancy Agreement cost?
For new clients we are pleased to offer a fixed fee scheme for the drafting of tenancy agreements. Please call 01858 414284 for a free, no-obligation discussion with a solicitor that can assist.
