Have you had problems with your Landlord that have been difficult to resolve?
Sometimes the Tennant can find themselves in a very difficult position when it comes to renting from an unfair landlord. Often the situation is that if the tenant doesn’t comply with the landlord’s regulations, they can find themselves homeless. This shouldn’t be the case if the landlord’s requests are unjustified and unfair.
Sometimes the issues arise during the transition process; perhaps you have given your notice to move out and your land lord is being particularly unfair? Or perhaps you have moved out and you have received a number of unjustified bills for which you did not incur? Sometimes, the land lord may not comply with the maintenance of the property even after you have notified your land lord of the problems. Your land lord may have stopped the initial bond from being returned to you and you don’t understand why.
Taking action
So what can you do to resolve these very difficult issues? Well first of all you could try to be as reasonable as possible. Perhaps you could write a letter to your land lord or estate agent detailing your concerns, your problems, and explain why you feel the circumstances are unfair and try to state the facts. Save a copy of the letter in case you need to refer to it later on.
If the letter doesn’t resolve the problem you should then look at recording your losses. What have you had to pay out as a result of the awkward circumstances? Have you paid any bills for which the costs weren’t incurred by you? Keep copies of invoices and receipts where ever possible.
Have you had some kind of accident due to the lack of maintenance on the property? If so what were your injuries? If you have been injured in anyway due to a lack of maintenance, it’s always best to attend hospital or your GP’s surgery; that way you will have medical records to rely on if necessary.
Have you had to miss work for any amount of time for which you have had a loss of earnings due to difficult situations for which you have had to stay at home? If so keep track of the days you have missed and the money you have lost.
Has your bond been returned to you? If you haven’t received your bond back, what were your land lord’s reasons for keeping the bond? Usually, the landlords only stop bonds from being returned when there has been some kind of physical damage to the house; it’s always a good idea to photograph all the rooms in the rented house prior to moving in and then again when you have given your notice to leave. That way you can keep a record, should you need evidence in the future.
Next it will be most advisable to speak with a professional for advice; it’s always best to find a specialist in the field. That way you will know that you are receiving the best possible advice and help should you wish to pursue a claim for compensation.
Always chose the best company for you. You might want to look into what the benefits are for each individual law firm – how will they help you? Once you have chosen the right company for you, your solicitor should write an initial letter of claim to your land lord. Your land lord should have an insurance policy which covers them against these types of situations. The insurance is in place so that should your claim be successful, all of your losses will be covered.
