Landlord & Tenant Disputes

Landlord & Tenant Disputes

Your Trusted Landlord and Tenant Dispute Solicitors in Cumbria

We are dedicated to safeguarding the rights of both tenants and landlords. Whether you’re a tenant or a landlord, Butterworths Solicitors is here to collaborate with you and ensure the best possible outcome.

You can trust that we have your best interests at heart. If you’re facing issues with a landlord or tenant and believe legal advice could help, reach out to us for a consultation.

Our expert team of solicitors in Cumbria offer advice to landlords and tenants on their legal rights relating to both residential and commercial leases, including:

  • Assured Shortholds Tenancy Agreements
  • Non-payment Of Rent
  • Deposit Recovery Claims
  • Housing Disrepair Claims
  • Landlord Legal Responsibilities
  • Service Charge Disputes
  • Subletting
  • Possession Proceedings
  • Forfeiture Proceedings
  • Tenancy Deposit Claims
Silver keychain with a house and two keys
85%

Product Quality Index

92%

Energy Generation

Common Causes of Landlord and Tenant Disputes

Landlord and tenant disputes are often stressful for those involved. Here are some of the most common causes of landlord and tenant disputes in the UK:

Aerial view of a village in the English countryside at sunset.

  • Property damage: Tenants should take care to avoid causing damage, while landlords should recognise the normal wear and tear that comes with daily use. Tenants must inform landlords of any accidental damage or if they plan to make changes to the property, such as hanging art or installing shelves, and seek permission beforehand.

  • Non-payment of Rent: One of the most frequent issues landlords encounter is missed rent payments, which can quickly escalate into strained relationships and financial setbacks. Our experienced solicitors understand the importance of addressing these matters promptly and are here to support you with expert guidance and compassion throughout the resolution process.

  • Repair Obligations: Determining responsibility for repairs is often a source of conflict between landlords and tenants. Both parties have specific duties defined by lease agreements and tenancy laws, which can lead to disputes over maintenance and repairs. At Butterworths Solicitors, we recognise the importance of preserving positive relationships while ensuring legal obligations are met. We’re here to help you find a resolution that works for everyone involved.

Landlord and Tenant Dispute FAQs

Didn’t find the answers you were looking for? Look at the FAQs below for more information on our landlord and tenant dispute claims process.

If you’ve made a complaint against your landlord directly or through a letting agent and haven’t got your desired outcome, it’s probably time to make a claim.

We encourage you to contact us for a free initial discussion about your claim. Our team will then give you an idea of whether your claim is worth pursuing and, if it is, we’ll start our claims process.

This depends on what you’re claiming for in the first place. The compensation you receive could be to pay for any damage to your property or belongings due to your landlord not completing repairs, for example.

If you’re making a housing disrepair claim, for example, you should notify your landlord via text, email, in person or letter and give them 21 days to respond before making the claim.

It’s crucial that you notify them and give them the opportunity to respond and rectify the issue before putting in a claim. If they fail to make the repairs in a reasonable time frame, you can then still make a compensation claim.

The Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 states that tenants should ‘Make good any damage to the property caused by the behaviour or negligence of the tenant, members of his/her household or any other person lawfully visiting or living in the property’.

It is useful to take an inventory of the property before any tenants move in, to detail the contents and condition of the property. If the tenants then damage the property then they should pay for the repairs or replacement as required. Should the tenants fail to meet the cost of the damage, then this can be taken from the deposit at the end of the tenancy.

General wear and tear should however be accounted for. Examples of wear and tear would be, painting and decorating, some scratches and marks on often used areas.

Any belongings left behind by a tenant still belong to the tenant. If you therefore dispose of the belongings the tenant may bring a legal action against you.

The first thing you should do is try to contact the tenant and request that they collect their belongings. A notice under the Torts (Interference with Goods) Act 1977 will need to be sent to the tenant explaining that you intend to sell or dispose of their belongings left at the property, providing a reasonable amount of time for them to be collected.

Whether your landlord can increase the rent, will depend on what tenancy you have. There are certain rules and notice periods your landlord will have to provide, depending on if you have an Assured Shorthold Tenancy, are within a fixed term or if there is a rent review clause.

You should try and reach an agreement with your landlord and if this is not possible, you can refer the matter to the Property Tribunal for a decision.

Depending on the circumstances, the tenants should firstly be contacted to advise of the situation and why you wish for them to leave the property.

If communicating with the tenants does not resolve the issue, then an appropriate form or notice should be served to the tenants. Legal advice should be taken as soon as possible to assist with ensuring the correct notice is served and if necessary, commence possession proceedings in the County Court.

Landlord and tenant arguing in a meeting with solicitor.

Contact Us

If you wish to send us an enquiry directly feel free to fill in the form below and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

Name(Required)
Privacy Policy(Required)

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.