Want to know a trade secret? The best way to avoid contract disputes is to have a clear contract.
Tip number two is that tenancy agreements can be written to favour a landlord or a tenant.
Tenancy agreements are contracts. Did you negotiate yours – or did you just sign whatever the landlord or letting agent put in front of you?
The Government has published what it hopes is a balanced and comprehensive Model assured shorthold tenancy agreement.
Along with the model tenancy agreement, the Government has also published, How to rent – a checklist for renting in England.
If you read these before putting pen to paper, you can see issues which may need to be addressed in your landlord’s proposed agreement.
I have heard landlords say, “Don’t worry, we can deal with x later”.
A prospective tenant may be frightened of a landlord saying, “Don’t you trust me?”.
It’s not about whether a prospective tenant thinks a landlord is a nice guy or trustworthy – it’s about everybody knowing exactly what their rights and obligations are before they sign.
I resurrect one of my favourite talks on negotiating contracts, Mike Monterio’s, F*ck you, pay me and recommend it to anyone about to sign any agreement
This is one of a trio of posts on Tenants’ Rights I’ve published in the last few days. Please also read, Tenants’ Rights: Get Advice & Tenants’ Rights: Get Advice (2) as they are aimed at helping tenants think about when they may need to get a fixed fee solicitor or barrister in to give them a steer – and some ideas for further reading.
See also, Tenants’ Rights: Get Advice (Why should I pay you when I can get it for free?)