Are you looking for an experienced Landlord and Tenant Solicitor? it can be very difficult to find a property lawyer who specialises in Landlord and Tenant disputes, even harder to find one who you can trust to resolve the issue you have, quickly, efficiently and without charging you a fortune. The reason there are not many proficient housing lawyers and solicitors available for you to instruct, is mainly due to the complexity of the area of law, the ever changing statute (which means you cannot dabble in Landlord and Tenant law). You have to be experienced in many other areas as well, for example, debt, contract, family and benefits.
Is Landlord and Tenant Law in Wales different to England?
If you live in Wales, the law is very different to the law in England, and also Scottish law is very different again, which all adds to the complexity for both landlords and tenants alike. If you are not aware of the different legislation, then Landlords can face substantial fines and may even be stopped from renting out their properties to tenants in the future. It is simply not worth risking your livelihood on ‘having a go’ yourself, or instructing your nearest law firm, or the firm that dealt with your last conveyancing transaction or drafted a will for you. It is important that you seek proper specialist legal counsel. For tenants, the issues can be different again, many tenants are not able to access free legal advice because public funding (legal aid) is scarce, and this can make it very difficult to bring a claim against a Landlord. Therefore, it is extremely important that you NewBold Solicitors are a leading Landlord and Tenant law firm with an excellent record in resolving Landlord disputes. Landlords, we can can assist you with the following:
Tenants, we can assist you with (for example):
We have a number of charging options.
Rachel Anthony (Civitas Chambers) recently represented a tenant in an appeal concerning the requirement for Landlords to be licensed pursuant to Housing (Wales) Act 2014 in order to serve a section 21 notice.
Further details can be found here
Under new plans private landlords will no longer be able to evict tenants at short notice without good reason.
Section 21 notices allow landlords to evict renters without a reason after their fixed-term tenancy period ends. The National Landlords Association said members were forced to use Section 21 because they had "no confidence" in the courts to settle possession claims.
First Minister Mark Drakeford has announced similar plans for Wales. Housing Secretary James Brokenshire said that evidence showed so-called Section 21 evictions were one of the biggest causes of family homelessness. Mr Brokenshire also said the plans would offer "speedy redress" to landlords seeking to regain possession of their property for legitimate reasons, such as to sell it or to move into it themselves. At the moment, landlords can give tenants as little as eight weeks' notice after a fixed-term contract ends. Under the government's new plans, landlords would have to provide a "concrete, evidenced reason already specified in law" in order to bring tenancies to an end. For the full story, click here. What are your thoughts? Keep up to date with the latest developments by following us on Facebook, LinkedIn and/or by following our blogs. If you would like to discuss how this may effect you please do not hesitate to contact our housing litigation team on 01446 789359.
From today (20th March 2019), under the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act, tenants will be able to sue their landlords over unfit homes. Properties may be deemed unfit if there are issues with:
- Heating Systems
- Damp
- Mould
- Insulation
- Asbestos
- Ventilation
- Water supply
- Lighting
- Repair
- Food preparation and cooking facilities
- Internal arrangements
- Sanitary arrangements
- Stability
Understandably, the above list is open to interpretation and we will no doubt see, in the coming months, an increase in litigation. We will keep you updated via our blogs and social media... It has never been more important to ensure properties are up to scratch and to know the law. Here, at Newbold Solicitors, we can help with our free of charge initial advice line, and if you choose to instruct us our transparent and great value fees. For further information call us on 01446 789359 and keep up to date via our blogs and social media post.
A professional landlord from Briton Ferry who was refused a Landlord Licence because of the condition of his properties, his management practices and a prosecution by Neath Port Talbot Council over his failure to comply with an Improvement Notice, has lost his appeal against the decision.
This will come as welcoming news for all tenants and should encourage more tenants to report 'rogue' landlords.
Read the full story here.
If you are having problems with your landlord and/or have issues relating to your rental property, please contact our specialist housing solicitors on 01446 789359.