As a landlord, your legal obligations and responsibilities can be intense if you’re not ready for them. It’s best to know what you’re getting into fully before you sign
up for being a landlord. Here are some of the most common issues that landlords face:
Your Tenants Refuse to Pay Rent or Leave
In this case, you’ll have to evict your tenants and this can be difficult. If you have proof that they have not paid rent and if you need to evict them, you’ll likely want
to hire a lawyer. There are many legal costs that add up in this case and you may be able to have them covered and get back your unpaid rent in the end.
A Tenant is Injured on Your Property
If someone is hurt while in a flat you let, they could make a personal injury claim against you. These aren’t necessarily easy to win, but the tenant has to prove
that you caused the injury via negligence, such as not fixing something in a timely manner that later injured the tenant. It’s a good idea to find yourself a good
lawyer for this type of problem, since the tenant will be doing their best to win the case.
Tenants Steal Furnishings
Did your tenants leave the property with one or more pieces of your furniture? Or was the furniture taken by someone else while they lived there? This can be
a problem for landlords who rent out furnished flats or houses. You’ll need to have insurance on everything in the house.
Your Tenancy Agreement is Not Clear
Everything must be laid out clearly in the tenancy agreement, with all the necessary information included. If there is information missing, you will run into
problems later on. It’s essential that you have a professional go over the contract and ensure that it is complete. If you missed providing specific information at
the beginning of the tenancy, you could end up in even deeper legal trouble later and may even lose the property.
You Fail to Fix Something in a Timely Manner
This is a problem that falls on the landlord. The tenants must notify you of potential problems or broken items in the flat, but you also need to repair them as soon
as is reasonably possible. If you don’t, the tenant may have a case against you and this can lead to further problems.
You should always have a good landlord solicitor on your side when you get into this business. While letting homes can be profitable, it can also be difficult. Get
some legal advice before you begin and throughout the process.
Contact Andrew Lee & Co. to learn more about your rights as a landlord.
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