Does it feel like your landlord charges you for just about everything and anything? You keep racking up small fees here and there – and at the end of your tenancy, they chop off half of your deposit for one reason or another. What usually occurs is they make all of these extra charges seem legitimate and legally-binding as they’re sent to you with technical jargon that looks like it’s just one of those things you have to deal with.
But did you know that landlords have to follow strict laws regarding how they charge tenants?
Dodgy landlords may try to take advantage of you and rinse you for more than just monthly rent, so here are some useful tips to help you deal with this type of situation:
A landlord in the UK cannot charge you for any of the following:
Effectively, they’re only really allowed to charge you rent, a holding deposit when you reserve the property, and a tenancy deposit – which is typically capped at 5-6 weeks’ rent. They may also write into your contract that you’re responsible for things like energy bills, council tax, broadband, etc.
So, if you’re being charged for anything mentioned on that list, then your landlord is likely violating your rights – even if they’ve written it into a contract because they’re not legally allowed to charge you. Also, with regards to cleaning, they can charge you if they’ve been forced to clean or maintain the property beyond reasonable “wear and tear.” For example, if you spill something on their carpet, they can charge you for it. However, they can’t charge you for things like faded paint or natural scuffs and signs of property ageing.
If you feel as though your rights have been violated based on the information about, then you can take legal action against a dodgy landlord – usually with relatively great success. All you have to do is find a vetted UK solicitor who specialises in this type of law, and they’ll assess your situation.
In most cases, if you think you’ve been ripped off by a landlord, then you probably have. It’ll just be a case of gathering evidence and then taking them to court so you can reclaim any lost funds, normally with a bit of extra compensation involved.
This is particularly recommended when you either don’t receive all of your deposit back because they’ve tried to claim back cleaning costs, or they’ve straight-up failed to protect your deposit. Landlords love trying to get away with retaining some of your tenancy deposit when you move out, and most of the time, it’s completely unjust.
The biggest problem here is that so many people just assume that their landlords follow the law, and there’s nothing you can do about extra charges or “lost” money. In reality, it’s always worth knowing your rights and then taking legal action to recover your money. Think about it; all the little fees add up, and losing a chunk of your deposit can be pretty brutal. You could’ve used that money to invest in things and save for the future, but you’ve been denied because of someone’s greed. Know your rights, get help, and stop letting landlords walk all over you.
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