If you are an existing private landlord, or considering entering the buy-to-let market, the new Bill running through Parliament may give you cause for thought. Certainly you may wish to consider a fresh approach to letting in order to minimise problems in...
Landlord and tenant disputes can often be incredibly disruptive and emotionally draining, as well as time consuming. Our landlord and tenant dispute solicitors at Kingsfords have the experience and ability to aid in any situation involving a dispute between the two parties, should it be commercial or residential.
We understand that these situations can often be overwhelming, so we take the necessary time and extra steps to address your concerns whilst dealing with any legal requirements such as paperwork or documentation. Our solicitors are experts in landlord and tenant rights and focus on settling matters out of court where possible, saving you money and time.
We believe that alternative dispute resolution is an excellent solution to many disputes between landlords and tenants, and all of our solicitors are experts in this method. However, if litigation seems unavoidable, we provide an excellent service whilst building you a robust case.
Our landlord and tenant solicitors can assist with a wide range of commercial and residential property issues, such as:
- Breaches of covenant
- Business lease renewals
- Service charge disputes
- Forfeiture & applications for relief
- Leasehold enfranchisement disputes
Contact our landlord and tenant disputes solicitors
Should you require assistance with a landlord and tenant dispute related matter, our solicitors will be more than happy to help. You can call our offices in Ashford, Cranbrook and Hythe or use our contact form to request a call back.
Our landlord and tenant dispute services
Breaches of covenant
In terms of a rental agreement or lease, covenants are legally binding obligations relating to the specific property. These terms can vary from examples such as “the tenant must not alter the structure of the property” to restricting using the property as a workspace.
When a tenant has breached a covenant, we are at hand to assist with the next steps whilst keeping conflict to a minimum. Examples of where we can help are:
- Should a tenant fail to pay their rent
- Where a tenant has sublet the property without due permission
- Should the tenant make significant changes to the property without your permission
- Where the tenant has failed to keep the property in good condition
Our solicitors have many years of experience dealing with these kinds of situations for a wide variety of clients. We will provide you with expert and practical advice that is tailored to your specific situation, whilst helping you achieve the best possible outcome.
Business lease renewals
Business lease renewal terms are typically negotiated between a landlord and tenant after a landlord’s section 25 or tenant’s section 25 notice has been served. Sometimes, a landlord may seek to rely on certain statutory grounds to challenge your tenant’s request for a new business tenancy. The most common reasons given are that the landlord wishes to develop the building or take up occupancy of the premises.
Our solicitors have much experience in landlord and tenant disputes, having extensive experience providing practical and effective advice in terms of serving a statutory notice. We are experts at negotiating terms for any new premises as well as dilapidation.
Should you find yourself involved in a business lease dispute, our team of landlord and tenant dispute solicitors are available to provide expert guidance, making sure you are aware of all of the options available to you and what the next best steps are.
We appreciate that landlord disputes can be stressful, and will always do our best to resolve your issue as swiftly and smoothly as possible.
Service charge disputes
Service charges are incurred by the leaseholder, these costs cover aspects such as management, maintenance of the property and the general upkeep within the common areas within a building.
Our landlord and tenant dispute solicitors have extensive experience supporting commercial and residential landlords and tenants with a wide array of service charge issues, for example:
- The reasonableness of service charges
- Service quality disputes
- Incorrect calculation disputes
If you’re having a landlord and tenant dispute related legal issue, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our tenant lawyers at Kingsfords. We will be more than happy to discuss your case in detail to help you figure out what the best options available to you are.
Forfeiture & applications for relief
Landlords retain a legal right to terminate a tenancy or lease, repossessing the property if a tenant has breached the terms of their contract.
Applications for relief are legal actions or requests that are made by either landlord or tenants to address disputes or issues with the rental property. These applications are typically submitted to the relevant housing authority or to the court.
Relief applications can take the form of eviction proceedings or deductions of security deposits.
If you would like to learn more about these circumstances, our solicitors for landlords would be more than happy to help.
Leasehold enfranchisement
A leasehold enfranchisement is a process where tenants have the ability (under certain conditions) to purchase their freehold from their landlord or obtain a lease extension.
In the majority of cases, to qualify for collective enfranchisements, 50% or more of the leaseholders that reside within the building must express willingness to participate in the collective purchase.
Our landlord and tenant solicitors have years of experience supporting tenants throughout this complex process. If you are facing a leasehold enfranchisement related dispute, our team will be more than happy to answer questions you may have regarding any related issues.