Newstricky| If you’ve made the decision not to buy a place of your own, but to rent it, you’ve probably met with the biggest problem any tenant in the world could have – a difficult landlord.
Every landlord is different and they have their own rules and requirements for the tenants, but sometimes you may stumble upon someone who is so strange, stubborn, and unpleasant, that you won’t be sure if you’ll be able to deal with them without losing your mind.
I’m sure that everyone who moves frequently has met this kind of landlord. It’s really hard to come to an understanding with them. But if you really have to and you don’t have another choice right now, here are a few tips on how to deal with difficult landlords.
Table of Contents
Do a background check
The good news is that the landlord is not the only person who could do a background check. These days you could easily google someone or link up with other tenants in forums, who will likely have something to say about the landlord and the place that they’ve lived in. Take advantage of those options before making the decision to move in.
You could even go in place and talk to some of the tenants, explain that you are considering moving in, and see if they give you any information. It’s human psychology that most people won’t hide any unfair treatment done unto them and you are most likely to discover if the landlord is a bad person by what their tenants have to say about them.
Know your rights
It’s crucial to be familiar with your rights as a tenant if any disputes arise between you and your landlord. Make sure you document everything, keep your documents in order, and that you make copies (just in case). You never know when they might become necessary to make your case.
As a tenant, you have the right to live in a property that’s safe and in a good state of repair. Your rights also protect you from things like unfair eviction, illegally withheld deposits, as well as things such as illegal video surveillance, harassment, and discrimination. For a full list visit GOV.UK.
Some landlords are looking for any kind of excuse not to give back your deposit at the end of the lease and will frequently point out a dirty oven or a fridge. To avoid that and to make sure you get your money back, you could call upon the services of a pro.
Negotiate
If there’s a problem in the property and your landlord denies your request to fix it, try to resolve the dispute in a peaceful manner. Always be calm and collected and try talking it out first, before resorting to other options. Have your request in a written form, and if possible, join in with other tenants to make it difficult for the landlord to ignore you.
It’s important that you give them every chance to fix the issue before resorting to other options.
Also, it’s not wise to withhold the whole rent as a means of leverage in your dispute, for that will give them probable cause to evict you, and might be even used against you if the issue reaches a court of law.
If all other options are exhausted, then the next step is to seek the help of either Citizen Advice or legal counsel, but know that both will surely ruin your relationship with the landlord and might make things even more difficult. However, there are certain situations when there’s just no other choice. Just make sure you have thought things through before taking that road.
Make sure you didn’t cause the problem
Sometimes we get so overwhelmed by the thought that the landlord has a personal issue with us that we don’t stop to think about how we may have contributed to the situation. Stop and think for a second. Get inside the other person’s shoes and ask yourself how you might have contributed to the problem and whether or not the other side has a point. This requires a certain degree of empathy and to be able to entertain two opposing views, without committing to either before we have carefully examined each.
It might not be the easiest thing in the world to admit when we are wrong, but it takes a big person to admit to it. And even if we determine that we are not in the wrong after considering the situation from all angles, it’s nonetheless a good life skill to cultivate.
File a complaint
Before filing a complaint against your landlord, try speaking to them again. Note down what you want to say and refer to your notes during the conversation if you want to. Take a friend for moral support when you speak to them face-to-face, or if you prefer not to do it that way, write an email instead.
You can write a formal complaint by writing a letter to your landlord. In it, explain the problem as you see it and what you want them to do in order to solve it. Talk to an adviser from your nearest Citizens Advice if you need additional help or what your rights are given the particulars of the situation.
The complaint letter should be clear as well as include evidence: dates and times, photographs, receipts, copies of email conversations between you and the landlord, and a note from the doctor if the problem affected your health or safety.
If that doesn’t solve the problem, you can complain to your local council. They can help with issues concerning:
- repairs that cause a risk to your health not being done
- illegal eviction
- harassment & discrimination
- dishonest or unfair trading behavior
If all of the above doesn’t help, then you might want to take court action. Be advised that that might be an expensive option and that that’s the proper way to handle the situation. Talk to a legal adviser first and make sure you take the best option for yourself.
Keep a copy of the agreement
It’s recommended to keep a copy of your lease agreement at hand, especially if you have to deal with difficult landlords. You should also keep your documents well organized and have a backup or two, just to be on the safe side.
It’s also important to read and understand everything pertaining to our tenancy, such as the lease agreement, condition report, and bond lodgement form.
Many tenants don’t know what their rights and obligations are, and that is why we should familiarize ourselves with the terms of the agreement. Many disputes could be avoided if we are simply good and responsible tenants, who live up to our side of the deal and take proper care of the property.
If you’re illegally evicted
If you are evicted without a court order, or you haven’t been given the notice required by law to leave the property, or if you simply one day find the locks have been changed, then your landlord may be guilty of illegally evicting you.
Even if a mortgage lender repossesses your landlord’s property they are bound by law to give you a notice so you have enough time to find other accommodation.
Talk to your local council if you are being harassed or threatened. They can start legal proceedings if they have enough evidence of harassment or illegal eviction.
It’s also a good idea to seek a legal adviser, preferably one specializing in tenant-to-landlord disputes.
If physical violence is involved, you should call the police.
Conclusion
Having to deal with a difficult landlord is one of those things we’d be very lucky to avoid if possible. However, if that’s not the case we hope we have provided you with useful information on how to deal with them and how to protect your rights as a tenant. Remember to always be respectful when dealing with such kinds of people, but to also be firm and protect your interest.
