Tenancy Disputes

If you are a tenant or landlord, you may from time to time wish to contact an experienced Solicitor to help you solve a dispute. At Ackroyd Legal, we offer some of the most competitive legal fees in London, whilst ensuring that your case is handled with care by specialists. We have developed a world-renowned recognition for our legal services in property.

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In practice, most tenancies that came into force after January 1989 are assured tenancies.

At Ackroyd Legal, our expert team has diverse experience in all aspects of landlord and tenant law, and we act for both landlords and tenants when disputes over assured tenancies arise. Whatever the situation, please contact us and we will be very happy to help you.

Obligations relating to property maintenance rest upon landlords and tenants alike. Whether the property is commercial or residential, if the respective duties are not met on either side, this may give rise to a claim for dilapidation.

In residential properties, dilapidation disputes may escalate quickly, and it is therefore important for both landlords and tenants to act quickly when a problem arises that falls within the scope of their responsibilities, in order to reduce the potential costs as well as to avoid any unnecessary tension further down the line.

For tenants, it is important that obligations concerning repairs and maintenance are fully met, because otherwise they may be affected when it comes to the renewal of the lease, the return of deposits or their position if they need to take advantage of a break clause.

When a claim for dilapidation arises, there is a protocol that must be followed. The specialist property solicitors at Ackroyd Legal can advise and support you throughout this process, whether you need to make or to defend a dilapidation claim. If you are bringing the claim you should begin by drawing up a schedule of the relevant issues.

In most cases, it is faster and far more cost-effective to resolve dilapidation disputes before the matter reaches court, and we will look after your interests throughout this process and provide firm and robust representation if litigation is impossible to avoid.

Disputes over property rights can arise over any property, whether residential or commercial; although in practice disputes surrounding residential property are more common. Whilst the legal ownership of a property refers to the registered owner or owners whose title is legally enforceable, beneficial ownership is about property rights that relate to the use and title of the property, even though the legal owner is someone different.

The legal and beneficial ownership of property can become the subject of a dispute over property rights when arrangements have remained informal over a long period of time and there is a lack of written evidence over what was originally intended with regard to ownership. For example, an unmarried couple whose home was bought in one name only, however, both partners have resided in and maintained the property for many years.

Ackroyd Legal is a leading firm of property law solicitors, based on the fringe of the city of London. We have many years’ experience in dealing with all aspects of the legal and beneficial ownership of property and will provide clear, straightforward advice on your property rights based on the facts of your case. We are a large firm offering a wide range of legal services and will be able to advise on other related aspects, for example, the setting up of trusts that will protect family interests in the future.

Rent arrears can cause considerable problems for landlords, because outstanding rent can quickly build up and recovery may not be straightforward if the financial circumstances of the tenant mean that they simply cannot pay and are unsure when they will be able to do so.

If you are a landlord who is suffering inconvenience and financial loss because of tenants who cannot pay their rent, the property law specialists at Ackroyd Legal can help you.

In cases of rent arrears when the property is residential, it may be easier and more cost-effective to try to come to an arrangement with the tenant, in an attempt to avoid taking the matter to court. There will however be cases when this is not effective, and legal action will become necessary to take possession of the property and recover the money owed, if possible.

With regard to commercial properties, there are more options available in cases of rent arrears, and the landlord may decide to forfeit the lease by removing the tenants. They may also pursue a claim for the outstanding rent.