Landlord and Tenant Solicitors in London

Whether you are a landlord or tenant who needs help with a tenancy dispute in relation to issues ranging from deposit disputes to eviction and disrepair, our dedicated landlord and tenant solicitors have the specialist expertise and experience to make it happen.

No matter where you or your property are located in the UK, we can advise you on landlord and tenant law and your rights, offering support over the phone and via videoconferencing software such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams.

Our dedicated experts can provide up-to-the-minute, effective landlord and tenant advice for clients in London and across the UK, as well as landlords living overseas. We have extensive experience with a wide range of private property disputes, so no matter how challenging your circumstances, our team can provide specialist advice with a proven track record of success.

For a detailed discussion with our solicitors for landlords and tenants, please call us now on 0203 959 9123.

OTS Solicitors offer a dedicated landlord and tenant litigation department, advising both landlords and tenants on their rights and forms of redress including the following:

• Breach of tenancy agreement
• Unlawful eviction
• Possession proceedings
• Eviction notices
• Rent Repayment Orders
• Breach of covenant
• Landlord responsibilities
• Letters before action
• Property damage, maintenance & repairs
• HMO licensing
• Housing disrepair claims
• Landlord harassment for tenants
• Tenancy deposit disputes
• Tenant eviction for landlords

For more information about how we can help with landlord and tenant matters, please take a look at our specific service pages for landlords and tenants which you can find below.

Speak to our experts today

We will be able to discuss your matter at our offices, over the phone or online via web conferencing software such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Cisco WebEx or Skype.

To speak to our team in London, please call now on 0203 959 9123 or use our simple online enquiries form.

How our tenancy dispute solicitors help find positive outcomes

Our specialised department can represent you in all phases of landlord and tenant law including serving a letter before action, negotiation and settlements, and submitting a claim.

We aim to avoid complex and lengthy litigation processes and approach each case with a view to negotiating suitable settlements and results for our clients in the shortest timeframe possible.

Our team get personally involved all the way through the process to minimise any stresses. We understand that property disputes can be highly stressful for the parties involved. We take on the process from start to finish to bring the dispute to a suitable conclusion, keeping you updated at each stage of the process. No matter who you are or what your circumstances, you will get the same exceptional service and legal expertise.

Why choose OTS Solicitors?

We have a proven track record of success for our clients involving a range of legal matters in relation to landlord and tenant law. We aim to help you get the best results whatever your position, in the most streamlined way possible.

We work with all types of clients, from private tenants to portfolio landlords and everyone in between. Our clients come from all over the UK, while we are based in London, we can advise on landlord and tenant law in any part of the UK.

We provide the very best representation for both landlords and tenants

• You will receive an initial telephone discussion so you can get to know your solicitor and for our solicitors to have a detailed understanding of your case before proceeding to a consultation
• We never sell you dreams – our team will always be completely honest and realistic about the merits of your case. We will never take on a case unless it has a reasonably strong chance of success
• We practice real fairness and transparency when it comes to costs – we will always give you clear information about our fees and a realistic estimate of our costs upfront including any potential disbursements such as court fees or enforcement proceedings
• Your case matters – whether you are a landlord, tenant or property manager, we will always treat you with dignity and respect, while providing the best tailored legal advice for your circumstances

Find out more about OTS solicitors

Individual services for landlords and tenants

Breach of tenancy agreement

We can advise both landlords and tenants on breach of tenancy agreement, including whether a breach has occurred and what action can be taken as a result. We can both bring and defend breach of tenancy claims.

Unlawful eviction

Our tenant solicitors can support tenants who need to make a claim against their landlord for an unlawful eviction, while our landlord solicitors can defend landlords against such claims. We can also assist landlords in following a proper eviction process to avoid such claims.

Possession proceedings

Whether you are a landlord who needs to initiate possession proceedings or a tenant who needs to challenge such proceedings, our expert team will be happy to advise you.

Eviction notices

We can support landlords who need to serve eviction notices upon their tenants as well as work with tenants who have received an eviction notice and need help responding.

Rent Repayment Orders

Whether you are a tenant seeking repayment of rent or a landlord who needs to challenge a rent repayment claim, we can advise on all aspects of Rent Repayment Orders.

Breach of covenant

Dealing with a breach of covenant in relation to a tenancy is often complex and stressful, but our team can ably advise both landlords and tenants on these matters.

Landlord responsibilities

Landlords have a legal duty to understand and adhere to their responsibilities, while tenants are also well advised to familiarise themselves with what they should expect from their landlord. We can provide clear advice to either side on landlord responsibilities.

Letters before action

The first step in a tenancy dispute will generally be a letter before action. We can help with drafting and responding to these letters, ensuring that you understand your legal position, rights and options first.

Property damage, maintenance & repairs

We can advise both landlords and tenants on dealing with disputes related to property damage, maintenance and repairs, finding positive outcomes under even the most difficult circumstances.

HMO licensing

If you need help securing a HMO licence, dealing with a HMO licence dispute or any other matter related to HMO licensing, we will be happy to help.

Housing disrepair claims

We are highly experienced with housing disrepair claims, so can offer expert support to both landlords and tenants dealing with these matters.

Landlord harassment for tenants

Landlord harassment is a serious matter and any claims of such behaviour must be dealt with very carefully. Our team can help tenants who believe their landlord is harassing them to challenge this behaviour and seek appropriate compensation.

Tenancy deposit disputes

Deposits are one of the most common sources of disputes between landlords and tenants, but that does not mean these matters are always easy to resolve. Our team can provide seasoned support for landlords and tenants to sensibly resolve tenancy deposit disputes.

Tenant eviction for landlords

Evicting tenants is sometimes necessary but it can also be risky for landlords. Our experts in tenant eviction for landlords can help to make sure the correct process is followed so landlords can regain possession of their property while limiting their legal risk.

Our fees

Affordability is important to our team as we believe our high-quality services should be open to everyone, from tenants struggling with rent arrears, to landlords and representatives trying to minimise costs. We have a strong focus on efficiency, allowing us to keep our costs to a minimum, while never compromising on the service we provide.

We will be happy to clearly explain our fees and the likely costs involved in dealing with your requirements during your initial consultation with our team. Please contact us to find out more.

To ensure our clients have a clear understanding of the hourly rates and fixed fees we quote per case, we have set out below the costs of our services with a range of fees to accommodate work that spans both straightforward and complex or highly complex cases involving complex leaseholder agreements and HMO licences.

Our consultation rates are £140 (+ VAT if applicable) for a 40-minute consultation £210 (+ VAT if applicable) for a 60-minute consultation. This meeting will take place in confidence between you and one of our qualified lawyers to establish the full details of your specific circumstances; taking down your full instructions; we will consider all the applicable legislation, policy and any case law that will need to be taken into account in your case; we will finally have a detailed discussion to advise on your options and merits of success in your case.

This will involve the perusal of documentation including tenancy agreements, communications between parties, agency contracts and detailed chronologies including photographic or video evidence of disrepair.

A cost-benefit analysis and a full explanation of our duties towards you will be provided, with plenty of time for you to ask any further questions for clarification before the end of the consultation.

Landlord and tenant matters explained

Can a solicitor act for landlord and tenant?

Normally, the same solicitor would not act for both the landlord and tenant in a particular dispute as this could potentially cause a conflict of interests.

However, a lot of tenancy law experts do act for both landlords and tenants more generally, meaning they might act for a landlord in one case, then a tenant in another case. Understanding these matters from both perspectives can be very valuable as it allows them to give their client a realistic insight into what the other side may be thinking and what their priorities may be. This can make it easier to achieve amicable resolutions early on.

At OTS Solicitors, we act for both landlords and tenants, which we firmly believe allows us to better represent either side of a tenancy dispute.

What is the alternative dispute resolution between landlord and tenant?

The exact process will depend on the type of dispute, for example, there is a specific Pre-Action Protocol for Housing Condition Claims that must be followed in relation to disrepair disputes.

In most cases, the process will start with negotiations between the parties to try to agree how the matter should be resolved.

For private tenancy disputes, mediation can be a good option, allowing the parties to discuss the issue and seek agreement with the support of a neutral third party called a mediator.

For council tenancy disputes, the council will have its own complaints process and arbitration may be used. Arbitration is a process a bit like going to court, where a trained arbitrator hears both sides and then decides what should happen.

Our tenancy lawyers can support clients with a wide range of alternative dispute resolution options with a focus on achieving the best outcome possible in the most suitable manner.

How long does a tenancy dispute take?

There is no simple answer to this as the reality is, it will depend on the situation. The factors that will typically influence how long a claim takes include how complex the issues are, how early the parties seek expert legal advice, how willing the landlord and tenant are to compromise and whether a suitable settlement can be agreed amicably.

In general, you will be able to resolve a tenancy dispute faster if a settlement can be negotiated compared to if court proceedings are required. If court proceedings are needed, you would need to wait for a court date which can delay matters considerably.

At OTS Solicitors, our tenancy dispute solicitors always aim to resolve landlord and tenant disputes as quickly and cost-effectively as possible without ever compromising on our clients’ rights.

Speak to our expert landlord and tenant solicitors in London now

To discuss your property law requirements, we can talk with you at our offices, over the phone or online via Web Conferencing such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams.

To speak to our leading landlord and tenant solicitors, please call now on 0203 959 9123 or use our simple online enquiries form.