HOUSING - Letting Agents

The letting market can be a minefield to negotiate - not least because of changes in housing law.  This is the case, whether you are a homeowner renting out your home for a few months, or a landlord with a large portfolio of properties.  Busy letting agents also need to keep abreast of developments in landlord and tenant legislation.

We can help steer you through that legal minefield without it costing you an arm and a leg.   Our specialist housing team has arranged with a small number of letting agents to provide a free legal advice helpline on all areas of housing law.  If the problem is more complex (for example if court proceedings are needed to recover possession of the property) we have the necessary expertise to advise and represent the landlord all the way to court if necessary.   We will provide detailed estimates so it is clear what each stage of the process will cost.

Our professional service includes:

• Drawing up tenancy agreements, guarantee agreements or licence agreements.  We can advise on what must be included in tenancy agreements and how they apply to the particular situation.   We can also assist in enforcing guarantee agreements through the courts if required

• Advising on the deposit protection scheme and assisting in dealing with the dispute resolution service.   Since April 2007 landlords must protect tenants’ deposits in an authorised scheme or risk paying a penalty equivalent to three times the deposit.  The law has been clarified recently: it is important that the correct procedures are followed and appropriate legal advice given

• Taking action against tenants in arrears with rent.  Serving Notices Seeking Possession and preparing for and attending court on possession claims.   Our litigation team can take you through all the stages of the court process, from serving the Notice Seeking Possession, preparing court documents, to attending court. 

• Advising on the rules about houses in multiple occupation and other legal obligations (including fire safety checks).  The rules governing houses in multiple occupation (HMO) are complicated.  Failure to comply could result in a criminal conviction.  We will help to guide you through these rules.

• Resolving problems with anti-social tenants.  We can help landlords who are having difficulty not just in getting rent paid, but who are having problems with anti-social tenants.  If necessary we will prepare the Claim Form and other documents, obtain statements from witnesses and present the case in court.

• Providing advice and representation on disrepair claims.  If the landlord is facing a claim from the tenant alleging disrepair to the property, we can give expert advice on the merits of the claim and, if necessary, can recommend an appropriate expert to investigate.   These claims can be very expensive if they go to court, so it is important to get the right advice at an early stage

• Long leasehold and enfranchisement.   We can advise flat owners on how to extend their lease (to increase its value) or acquire the freehold to their property and help them through the steps involved.  If there are problems with payment of service charges – or in landlords carrying out maintenance – we have expertise to help.

In many cases we can charge a fixed fee for each stage of the work.   You may also be covered on your insurance policy.  To find out more, contact John Searby on john.searby@gerardmaye.co.uk (or telephone 01273 560426) to contact us.     If you have a query concerning housing or landlord & tenant matters, please complete the online enquiry form.