The relationships between landlords and tenants are not always smooth sailing, with many potential areas for problems and disputes. At Thornton Jones we have much experience supporting landlords and tenants, both residential and commercial, where they are facing disputes, or are in pursuit of claims.
The area of landlord responsibilities is a common source of dispute, for instance, where a landlord has not fulfilled their legal obligations, or has been accused of such.
If you are a landlord who has been accused of not fulfilling your obligations to your tenants, our expert solicitors at Thornton Jones can assist you. Equally, if you are a tenant and you believe that you landlord has failed to meet their legal responsibilities, we can assist you with your potential claim.
Our team have an in-depth understanding of the legal requirements that landlords must adhere to, and we have worked with both landlords and tenants in a diverse range of complex situations. At Thornton Jones, we are always sensitive to the particulars of your case, and your concerns, learning as much as we can, in order to provide tailor-fit support.
We can assist clients in various ways concerning landlords legal obligations, including:
- Legal advice for landlords
- Legal advice for tenants
- Legal agreements advice for landlords and tenants
- Landlord and tenants disputes resolution
Our expertise with landlord responsibilities
Legal advice for landlords
Our expert solicitors at Thornton Jones can provide advice on the legal responsibilities of landlords, to ensure compliancy and protection.
We can offer advice and assistance for landlords on a wide range of matters, including and not limited to:
- Energy Performance Certificates
- Financial responsibilities, such as paying income tax
- Maintenance responsibilities
- Annual gas inspections and electricity safety tests of rental properties
- The right to increase rent, and what is considered a legal and fair rental increase
Whether you need support with commercial landlord responsibilities or residential landlord duties, we can help.
If you have been accused of failings concerning landlords legal responsibilities, and are consequently facing a claim, our experts can work with you to assess your position, moving towards a best case scenario outcome.
Legal advice for tenants
If you are a tenant, and you believe that your landlord is not fulfilling the obligations required of them, we can provide legal advice, or support you to pursue a claim against them.
Our team can offer legal advice and support in many different situations, a few of which include:
- Where a landlord has failed to make necessary repairs to a rental property
- Where a property poses health and safety risks
- Where a landlord is guilty of implementing illegal or unfair rental increases
We have helped many clients to raise claims against their landlords, particularly where landlord legal obligations remain unfulfilled.
Lease agreements advice for landlords and tenants
Landlords have certain responsibilities concerning lease agreements, and our solicitors can provide robust support with all of these obligations, including:
- Drafting and reviewing lease agreements to ensure that these meet the necessary compliance issues as well as safeguarding the landlord’s interests
- Related advice on the processes for handling deposits, for instance, the deposit protection scheme
- Assistance on the correct legal processes to follow when terminating a lease, or where eviction proceedings are necessary
Equally, where a tenant requires legal advice about their lease agreement, or believes that their landlord has not correctly fulfilled their obligations regarding a lease, we can provide comprehensive assistance and guidance.
We understand that facing such situations can be daunting, and will always be sure to approach your case in a sensitive manner.
Landlords and tenants dispute resolution
Our expert solicitors at Thornton Jones have much experience supporting landlords and tenants throughout dispute resolution proceedings, particularly, in cases that focus on landlords responsibilities failings, or accusations of such.
We can support clients with negotiation, mediation, or collaborative law proceedings, helping you to resolve matters quickly, without the need for Court processes.
If for whatever reason the dispute cannot be resolved via alternative dispute resolution, we can guide you through the necessary Court proceedings.
For more information, please get in touch with our landlord and tenant disputes solicitors at Thornton Jones.
Speak to our solicitors specialising in landlord responsibilities in Garforth, Mapplewell, Ossett, Sherburn in Elmet and Wakefield today
For advice on landlord’s legal responsibilities please contact our local offices in Garforth, Mapplewell, Ossett, Sherburn in Elmet or Wakefield.
Have a quick question or want to request a call back? Use our online enquiry form.
Frequently asked questions about landlord’s legal responsibilities
In the UK landlord’s have various legal obligations and landlord duties, these include, but are not limited to:
• Ensuring that an annual gas safety check is carried out, and producing a gas safety certificate
• Ensuring that electrical wiring is safe and that checks are completed regularly
• Providing tenants with an Energy Performance Certificate, which rates the energy efficiency of the property
• Conducting Right to Rent checks, verifying that a tenant is eligible to rent in the UK
• Ensuring that a rental property is maintained, including structurally, heating, plumbing and electrics, and dealing with any issues such as mould or damp
• Making certain that a property is fire safe, for instance, by ensuring installation of fire alarms and extinguishers
• Following anti-discrimination laws, so that tenants are all treated fairly and with respect
• Using deposit protection schemes to safeguard tenant deposits as required
A Renters Reform Bill was published in May 2023, though the bill has yet to achieve Royal assent and become the law. It is believed that the bill will likely achieve Royal assent in the autumn of 2024 at the earliest.
The Renters Reform Bill proposed several changes/new landlord rules, a few of which include:
• Landlords would no longer be permitted to make no-fault evictions, consequently offering more security for tenants
• Landlords would be obliged to consider tenant requests to keep a pet at their property, without refusing on unreasonable grounds
• The introduction of new protections for tenants, enabling them to appeal against rent increases that are excessively above the market value
According to the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, landlord’s legal responsibilities cover a range of maintenance and repairs, including, but not limited to:
• Any necessary repairs to the structure of the property, including roof, walls, windows, doors, foundations etc.
• Maintaining the gas and water installations, ensuring that heating systems, gas appliances and pipes are all safe and working properly
• Ensuring that electrical installations are working and safe to use, including appliances, sockets and wiring
• Ensuring the fire safety of the property, meaning that extinguishers and alarms are provided and working correctly
Yes, if your landlord does not fulfil their landlord responsibilities, for instance, by adequately maintaining the property, or by breaching the terms of your tenancy contract, you may be eligible to claim compensation.
If you believe that you may have grounds to make a claim against your landlord, please contact our solicitors at Thornton Jones, to discuss your potential case.
Yes, in some cases you may be able to sue your landlord for stress, particularly where they have caused serious emotional distress, and as part of a claim against them that involves negligence or wrongdoing. Examples of such cases might include housing disrepair or wrongful eviction claims.
In certain situations it may be possible to show that the landlord’s negligence or their actions has caused a person severe stress, and emotional harm.
To pursue such a claim against a landlord, you would need to work with a specialist solicitor.
