THE UK RENTAL MARKET is experiencing significant and unprecedented pressure, with demand for housing outstripping supply. When you also consider the cost of living crisis, which has caused prices to soar across all sectors, landlords invariably have no choice but to pass these increasing costs onto tenants. It is consequently more important than ever for both landlords and tenants to be aware of their legal rights and responsibilities in these testing times.

The first step in securing a tenancy is for both parties to enter an agreement. Tenancy agreements are in essence contracts that govern how the parties can behave during the tenancy. They are heavily regulated to balance the advantage that landlords have historically held over tenants. In the UK the most common type of agreement for short-term lets is known as an assured shorthold tenancy agreement, but this will shortly be replaced by Assured Periodic Tenancies.

Whilst the property is a profit making vehicle for the landlord, it is usually a family home for the tenant. To some extent therefore each party’s ambitions are naturally adversarial. As such the most common causes for contention invariably involves the rent (for the landlord), and the condition of the property (for the tenant). Unfortunately, in many instances the involvement of third party managing agents can only serve to complicate matters, due to miscommunication or outright negligence.