Landlord Potential Penalties if You Fall Foul of The Law
Many laws allow landlords to dish out penalties to tenant s, such as the “protection from harassment act”, which was designed to protect tenants from landlords who try to force them out of their homes. Still, landlords often use it to evict tenants who refuse to pay their rent. We are going to look at some landlord potential penalties if you break the law today.
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If you rent out a property and break the law, your landlord can be fined up to £50,000. Here is a list of the ten most common ways landlords will punish their tenants for breaking the law:
The landlord will start eviction proceedings when the tenant owes rent and loses their payments. The tenant may also be charged interest on unpaid arrears.
The tenant deliberately damages the property: The landlord can charge for repairs and ask for compensation from the tenant. The tenant may get a criminal record.
The tenant damages the property then doesn’t pay for the repairs: The landlord can ask for compensation or take civil action against the tenant. The tenant could also get a criminal record.
The tenant falls into rent arrears: The landlord can evict the tenant. The tenant will be charged interest on unpaid arrears, and their deposit will not be returned.
The tenant has friends or family living with them without the landlord’s permission: The landlord can evict all the tenants, and they may not get any of their deposit back. The non-signatory tenants and probably the tenant who signed the agreement on behalf of her friends and family will also get a criminal record.
The tenant lives in a property with three or more people intended to house only two people: A local council will inspect the property. If three or more people live there, the council will issue the landlord and tenant with a formal warning and ask them to remove one of the tenants. If they don’t do this within 28 days, the council will evict all of them. The tenant who signed for three or more people living in the property could also receive a criminal record.
The tenant doesn’t declare their partners’: The landlord can evict all tenants if they find out that one partner is hiding from them. The tenant who didn’t declare the partner may also get a criminal record.
The tenant occupies a property that was not properly licensed or registered with their local council: The council will issue an enforcement notice asking the landlord to license or register the property. If they don’t do this within 28 days, they will be fined up to £25,000. The tenant can also receive a criminal record.
There is more than one type of tenancy agreement in place. For example, more than one gas safety certificate or more than one landlord’s consent: Overcrowding occurs when the number of people living in a property is greater than the authorised maximum. The council will decide which tenants should be evicted.
Several factors could lead to a landlord terminating an agreement between the landlord and tenant, such as:
Failure to pay rent on time. If a tenant is in arrears by two weeks, they are considered “in default”.
Disputes with neighbours, including noise complaints.
Tenants who move out without returning their deposit. This should be done within 14 days of moving out.
Tenants who damage or mess up the property while they live there, for example, run up the costs of repairs that the landlord didn’t even ask for.
Tenants who don’t pay their council tax, including local authorities, for their water and gas.
Tenants who refuse to pay the council tax on behalf of another person. This involves providing false details of an intended tenant’s name and address. This can result in an eviction order being issued against the intended tenant (but not against anyone else).
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If you are a tenant, make sure you know your rights and don’t break the law. The penalties listed above are the most common ones brought against tenants. There might be others that could be brought against you. If you are unsure about any of the laws, ask for advice from your local Citizens Advice Bureau or Shelter before you commit any wrongdoing.
Landlords may use these laws even when the tenant didn’t know they were breaking the law, such as if a tenant’s partner stays out of sight in their room for a few days. Even if a tenant was not aware their partner was staying in the property, they could still get evicted.
If a tenant breaks the law, they can be fined up to £50,000 by their landlord. It’s essential you know what laws landlords are allowed to use and how you can defend yourself if your landlord decides to punish you for breaking the law.
Landlord Potential Penalties if You Fall Foul of The Law – To Conclude
If you doubt whether your landlord is allowed to fine you, discuss your concerns with an expert solicitor.
Landlord Potential Penalties if You Fall Foul of The Law – Other useful links about Business Insurance:
Multi-Property Landlord Insurance
Cheap Landlord Insurance
Commercial Landlord Insurance
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