Landlord & Tenant Solicitors Leeds, Sheffield & York

How do I extend the lease on a leasehold property?

Extending a leasehold is a way to protect the value of your property, especially if your lease is getting close to its end date. Even a lease with many years left to run will typically be more valuable if extended, and there are legal processes in place to do this.

Typically you instruct a solicitor, as well as a valuation surveyor who calculates the premium payable for extending the lease. Your solicitor can then use this valuation to draft a notice to your landlord and inform the Land Registry of your application to extend the leasehold.

Can I be evicted by my landlord?

Eviction is a huge and technical subject area and if you are facing eviction we would urge you to get in contact directly so we can assess your specific case and give you individual advice.

However, it is worth noting that depending on your type of tenancy, there are certain procedures your landlord should follow to give you fair notice if they want you to move out. In some cases you might be able to refuse to leave – at least until you can find somewhere else to go to.

Can I evict my tenant?

We would not recommend evicting a tenant without seeking legal advice, unless you are very certain of your rights as a landlord.

By consulting us first, you can make sure you follow the correct legal procedures for taking back possession of your property. This is not only fair to your tenants, giving them chance to make alternative arrangements, but helps to reduce the risk of a costly dispute, extra legal fees, lengthy delays and ultimately being unable to remove them from the residence.

Can I object to an increase in my rent?

Money – and especially an increase in rent – is a common cause of landlord-tenant disputes. You can object to a rent increase on a number of grounds:

• If you are on a fixed-term tenancy agreement.
• If your landlord has increased the rent more than once in the past year.
• If the increase is unfair or excessive compared with typical local rents.
• If the increase is more than you have previously agreed.
• If the increase is made without fair warning or the agreed notice period.

For landlords, we can advise you on making legally acceptable increases to rent, in line with your tenants’ rental agreements and the law in general.

What if my dispute goes to court?

Some landlord tenant disputes are dealt with by the First-Tier Tribunal, a part of the UK court system with a broad remit that includes residential property disputes.

The tribunal can hear claims from landlords, tenants, freeholders, leaseholders, site owners and park home occupiers on disputes including pitch fees, ground rent, leasehold disputes, rent repayment orders, right to buy and other such issues.

Do residential property disputes have to go to court?

Not necessarily. Many residential property disputes are resolved or settled outside of court. For example, it might simply be a case of setting out the source of the grievance in writing, so it is clear what action needs to be taken.

Some cases can be resolved through mediation – a non-court process where both parties’ points of view are equally represented and a professional mediator helps you to find a mutually acceptable way forward.