A Close Look At Landlord and Tenant Responsibilities

Introduction

The world of property rental can be confusing and potentially costly – for landlords and tenants alike – if you do not know what you`re doing, and are unaware of your basic responsibilities as a landlord, or tenant. Landlords must, by law, must ensure that a property is fit for human habitation in the first place, and maintained in a safe condition that presents no risk of injury to tenants, neighbours and the general public. There are also a number of legal obligations that a landlord must fulfil, even before the commencement of a tenancy. Tenants, on the other hand, need to consider the type of property they want – in terms of its size, location, parking, proximity to amenities and public transport, etc. – and, indeed, what they can realistically afford. The cost of renting, of course, includes not only regular rent payments, but also utility bills and other expenses, so all of these need to be included in the budget of a prospective tenant.

Landlord & Tenant Responsibilities

A prospective landlord should be aware of his, or her, legal responsibilities – ignorance is not a valid defence – and take those responsibilities seriously. From providing a straightforward inventory of furnishings – if a property is to be let fully, or partly, furnished – fixtures and fittings to your tenant, to adequate fire fighting equipment in a kitchen, to organising annual servicing of gas-fired appliances, all these are responsibilities of a landlord. It will increase the confidence of your tenant – and increase the likelihood of him, or her, remaining in your property – if he, or she, sees that you are fulfilling your obligations.

A tenant signs a tenancy agreement with a landlord, by way of a contract, which allows the tenant to the quiet enjoyment of a property, without harassment, in exchange for weekly, or monthly, rental payments. As such, it is the responsibility of a tenant to pay rent – how much, and how often, should be stipulated in a tenancy agreement – in a timely fashion, and to inform the appropriate authorities that he, or she, has taken charge of the property for the purpose of electricity, gas, water, telephone, etc..

Landlord & Tenant Disputes

The most common causes of dispute between a landlord and a tenant involve the return – or, indeed, the withholding – of the deposit paid by a tenant at the start of a tenancy, and damage to the property. A tenancy agreement should state, clearly, how, and by whom, a deposit is to be held, along with the procedure for its return at the end of the tenancy. If a landlord seeks to withhold some, or all, or a deposit, he, or she, is not entitled to expect a property to be returned to it condition at the start of the tenancy.

The National Landlords` Association (NLA) is the largest landlord association in the country, with a strong nationwide presence, so, if you are seeking landlord information in Sussex, or the Home Counties, or elsewhere – London, Cardiff, Edinburgh or Belfast, for example – becoming a member may offer significant benefits.

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