Let’s face it, some landlords just don’t care. They aren’t too bothered about the state of the property, and they certainly don’t give two hoots about the people who live in it! Unfortunately, if you are currently renting a house or apartment from a bad landlord, your whole life could be affected. Don’t worry, though; there is plenty that you can do to battle against landlords from hell. To get you started, here are our top tips.
Check Your Lease
Ideally, you should read your lease as often as possible before you sign on it. That way, you will know exactly what you are getting yourself into. For instance, there could be lots of hidden charges down in the small print that you might not be aware of if you only skim-read the contract. The lease will also state what the landlord is or isn’t responsible for. If the lease says that he is responsible for taking care of breakages and faults, but he hasn’t done so, you should point this out to him. Hopefully, it will motivate him to get to work!
Keep Thorough Records
No matter how minor the problems with your landlord are, you should record them all. One of the best ways to do this is to create an Excel spreadsheet so you can log all the dates and times of each issue and any action that was – or wasn’t – taken by the landlord. It is also important to keep records of any phone calls between you and your landlord. You don’t need to record the conversation, just be sure to jot down some notes about what you each said.
Seek Legal Assistance
If the issues escalate or carry on for a prolonged period of time, you may be able to put together a legal case against your landlord. You should use all your recorded notes to judge this situation before taking it to a legal expert. Slater Heelis are a law firm experienced in resolving disputes fairly and quickly and will be able to help you evaluate whether or not it is worth taking your landlord to court. They will also be able to represent you should you want to take the case further.
Keep On Paying Rent
Some people may decide to stop paying rent to their landlord while their dispute is ongoing, especially if they are living in a very poor quality of housing. However, this could work against you if the case is taken to court. The best defense against a landlord is a strong offense, and any missed rental payments could be turned against you in the landlord’s argument. That would certainly weaken your offensive tactics! So, don’t feel disheartened about paying rent; you never know, you might get it back in a compensation payout!
Sometimes, living in rented accommodation can be a real nightmare. But now that you know all these tips, you will be able to make sure any disputes and arguments have the best chance of going in your favor!
