Legal Difficulties for Landlords

Though we all do our utmost to keep on the right side of the law, it’s surprisingly common to see landlords in court for whatever reason. Often cases come out of the blue and though usually there’s a trigger, many landlords don’t foresee the need to appear in court and it can come as quite a surprise. In the event that you are taken to court by a tenant or the local council, you need to know where you can find help and how best to fight your case.

Speak to a Solicitor

If you don’t already have a solicitor on hand then you should find yourself a specialist in dealing with property law. Your landlord insurance provider may help you to find someone and there can be specific clauses for legal protection; you may, for example, have to use a solicitor specified by your provider. They should be your first point of contact in any situation – make sure you consult before deciding upon a position.

Do your own Research

You should, however, make sure you are well read on the ins and outs of your particular case. Landlords have rights just like tenants and if a tenant is unreasonably taking you to court then it’s worth knowing about it. If you have researched the law and find you may be in the wrong, an out of court settlement can save lots of time and money. Again, consult your solicitor on this one.

Business as Usual

Providing there are no sanctions that tell you otherwise, you should assume that you can carry on trading throughout any court proceedings. You should keep your details private: don’t go telling other tenants that you’re in court or have a situation to deal with and make sure that you’re keeping on top of all other work you need to do. You should also keep on as best terms as possible with your current tenants and make sure you don’t jeopardise a good position by taking on petty disputes.

Legal difficulties are, unfortunately, quite frequent in the letting world, but as long as you have made every effort to obey the law you should be in a good position to fight your case.