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Need legal advice now from a landlord solicitor?
Call, email or provide us with a few details of your matter, and we’ll help you to arrange an initial consultation. You’ll get:
- Unlimited time to discuss your matter with an experienced landlord solicitor
- An outline of your legal position in your issue
- A clear fee-quote and time frame to resolve your case
Draft and serve an eviction notice
Issue possession claims to the court
Application for a warrant of possession
Court representation to enforce evictions
Popular landlord services.
Section 21
Section 8
Commonly asked questions.
For landlords, speaking to a landlord solicitor is usually a last resort to resolve a tenant issue. Therefore, our specialist landlord solicitors have answered some of the most commonly asked questions surrounding the topic.
1. What exactly is landlord and tenant law?
Landlord and tenant law is an umbrella term for the law that applies to any legal matters between a landlord and a tenant. Most commonly, landlord and tenant law will include eviction and tenancy disputes.
At Britton and Time Solicitors, our landlord solicitors offer the following services:
- Evicting tenants and serving eviction notices
- Court representation
- Defending tenant claims
- Drafting tenancy agreements
- Enforcing evictions (section 21 and section 8)
- Neighbour disputes
- Recovering tenant costs
- Resolving tenant disputes
2. What is a tenants responsibilities?
A tenant must always give you access to the property to examine and fix any damages. However, you must ensure that you always give your tenant 24 hours notice before a visit and that the visit is at a reasonable time of day.
Tenants primary responsibilities include:
- To take good care of the property.
- Make repairs or pay for any damage caused by you or anyone associated with you.
- Pay the agreed rent on time.
- Cover the cost of any agreed charges with the landlord, for example, any utility bills.
- Only sublet a property if your landlord or tenancy agreement allows it.
3. How to evict a tenant?
As most landlord enquiries are regarding evicting a tenant, it’s unsurprising that this is one of the most commonly asked questions. However, under an assured shorthold tenancy (AST) there are three stages to evicting a tenant, which are:
1. Draft and serve notice: Identify which notice you need to serve to your tenant. Under an AST, you will need to serve either a section 21 notice or a section 8 notice to your tenant.
2. Issue a possession claim: Tenants don’t have to vacate the premises by the date set out in the eviction notice. In this instance, you will need to issue a possession claim to the court.
3. Apply for a warrant of possession: If your tenant still hasn’t vacated the property following the possession claim, you will need to apply for a warrant of possession which, if granted, will give bailiffs permission to evict your tenants.
Only in severe circumstances will your eviction progress to stage three. In most cases, a tenant will vacate the premises after receiveing the eviction notice.
4. How much do landlord and tenant matters cost?
The cost of landlord and tenant matters depends entirely on your matter’s type and complexity and how far the other side is willing to contest the case.
Generally, for section 21 and section 8 notices, the prices are as follows:
Eviction through a Section 21 notice: Starting from £1,500 plus VAT (excluding court fees of £355 for a possession claim and £130 for a warrant of possession).
Eviction through a Section 8 notice: Starting from £1,700 plus VAT (excluding court fees of £355 for a possession claim and £130 for a warrant of possession).
Any other landlord and tenant matters: you’ll likely need an untimed initial consultation, which will include the following:
- Unlimited time to discuss your landlord and tenant matter
- Guidance on your legal standpoint and available options
- A clear fee-quote and time frame for your case
5. How long do landlord and tenant matters take?
For example, evicting a tenant through a section 21 notice may be as simple as drafting and serving notice, which gives the tenant six months to vacate the property. However, in an instance where the tenant doesn’t leave the property by the notice date, the eviction process will take longer as the landlord will need to resort to the courts for an accelerated possession claim and potentially a warrant of possession.
To get a more accurate time-frame for your matter, please contact our landlord solicitors on 020 3007 5500.
6. Do you offer legal aid for landlord and tenant matters?
Need legal advice now from a landlord solicitor?
Tell us about your case and we’ll get back to you the same day.
Meet our expert landlord and tenant team.
Paul Britton
Managing Director and Solicitor Advocate
Sophie Campbell-Adams
Head of Property Law
Patrick Murray
Solicitor
Rory Lindsay
Trainee Solicitor
Why Britton and Time Solicitors?
Regardless of the type and complexity of your tenant issue, our landlord solicitors are here to help. With every case, our landlord solicitors work endlessly to ensure every client receives a fair outcome cost-effectively and efficiently. We’ll always guarantee:
Award-Winning Service.
You are our priority, and the law is our speciality. Our award-winning landlord solicitors ensure you know exactly where you stand from a legal perspective so you can make a well-informed decision.
Full Billing Transparency.
No fee surprises. Ever. Our landlord solicitors will inform you from the outset on how much your case will cost, and we will do everything in our power to keep costs down and within your original fee estimate.
Regular Communication.
With fortnightly updates on your case, we will never leave you in the dark. Our landlord solicitors ensure you know exactly how your case is progressing and are with you every step of the way.
Our reviews.
It’s not about how good we think our landlord solicitors are; it’s about what you think.
There are three things that make Britton & Time, and in particular Paul, stand apart from other law firms: knowledge, communication and a will to win.
Rated excellent by over 95% of our clients.
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Other landlord and tenant services.
Eviction
Section 21
Section 8
Tenant
Our landlord insights.
For more information and insights from our landlord solicitors, take a look at our landlord and tenant services.
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Section 8 Notice – 7 Things You Must Know
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Section 13 and Rent Increases
If you’re a landlord looking to increase rent on a property that you currently let, you need to serve a section 13 notice.
What Is A Section 146 Notice?
In this article What is a section 146 notice? Common reasons for serving What makes it invalid? Giving the tenant time Serving the notice If the breach isn't remedied What is a...
Need legal advice now from a landlord solicitor?
Call, email or provide us with a few details of your matter, and we’ll be able to help you the same day.