Housing Law
We are one of the few firms in Devon to specialise in the highly complex area of Landlord and Tenant law. We represent both landlords and tenants alike and our housing law solicitors are able to offer expert advice on a range of housing law issues from drafting a tenancy agreement to bringing or defending possession proceedings.
Services for Residential Landlords
As a landlord your property, whether commercial or residential, represents a significant capital asset and an important source of income revenue. However, the legal context in which the relationship of landlord and tenant exists can be a minefield for the unwary, comprising as it does a mixture of primary and secondary legislation as well as common law. Our housing law solicitors regularly come across simple but costly errors that have been made by landlords acting without specialist legal advice.
It pays to take expert advice at the right time and at Slee Blackwell we have the lawyers who can guide you safely through the legal minefield of housing law with your assets unscathed.
If you are a residential landlord, why not ask us to prepare your Tenancy Agreements and Notices and enjoy the peace of mind that comes from knowing that your affairs are being handled by a specialist housing law lawyer who is up to date with the very latest developments in Housing law. Alternatively, take advantage of our very popular range of fixed-fee services to enable you to obtain possession from your assured shorthold tenant.
We can also advise you in relation to any issues surrounding the tenancy status of any existing tenants that you may have. For example, you may have a Rent Act protected tenant and wish to know what the succession rights are in relation to that tenant. Alternatively, you may have an Assured Shorthold tenant on a pre-February 1997 tenancy agreement and need advice on whether or not the tenancy was correctly created. Most importantly you may wish to know what steps you need to take in order to increase rents. We can advise on all of these matters and any others that you may have.
Summary of Housing Law Services for Landlords
- Preparing tenancy agreements and notices.
- Advising on the obligations of the landlord and the tenant under a particular tenancy agreement.
- Issuing court proceedings to recover possession on a fixed fee basis.
- Advising on tenancy status.
- Defending claims for disrepair.
- Defending claims for unlawful eviction.
- Advising on procedures for rent increases.
Services for Tenants
Our housing law solicitors can provide tenants with advice on tenancy status, rent increases, housing conditions, disrepair claims and can defend court actions for possession, especially proceedings brought by Housing Associations.
Summary of Housing Law Services for Tenants
- Defending possession proceedings.
- Advising on validity of a Notice to Quit.
- Claiming damages for unlawful eviction.
- Claiming compensation for a landlord's failure to carry out repairs.
- Assisting with the transfer of a tenancy following the death of a relative.
- Advising on tenancy status.
Services for the Homeless
If you are homeless, our housing law solicitors can provide you with specialist legal representation on a publicly funded basis to help guide you go through the process of applying to the Local Authority. If necessary we can assist you in seeking a review of the Local Authority's decisions. And, if the need arises, we can provide full legal representation in relation to appeals against Local Authority decisions in the County Court.
