Law student sues landlord – But wait?

Law student sues landlord – But wait?

9:57 AM, 15th December 2021, About 2 years ago 23

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Reading an article on the BBC today about a Law student, who successfully sued his landlord for breach of contract. According to the article, the student moved into his accommodation only to find it in a sad state of disrepair, with workmen still on site. He was therefore in effect living on an active building site, with all that would entail. The accommodation not looking anything like the pictures used to advertise. The student took his landlord to court, was awarded costs and return of the deposit, rent to date etc.

My initial thoughts were, “well done him.”

But it got me thinking that for this tenant, he was just required to produce the evidence on his day in court and decided there and then. However reverse the roles for tenants who breach the tenancy agreement, and landlords, based on my one experience, have to go through section 21, attend court on several occasions, obtain a decision against the tenant who can’t be bothered to turn up. But then decides to object re-opening the case, have the landlord appear at several more court days, produce a statement of fact, final have a judgement against the tenant who is instructed to leave by a specific date.

Wait until the tenant ignores that date, (on the advice of the local council – which IMHO the council should be charged with contempt of court, but that’s an argument for another day) go back to court to obtain an eviction order.

Finally, have the tenant leave owning £11,000 in back rent, and on the day of the eviction have the same local council request the landlord that he provides the tenant with a glowing written reference so they can get another rental property and not be homeless.

Finally, coming to the conclusion that the law is rather one-sided, and asking the question why can’t landlords just require one day in court and any decision binding?

Ian


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Comments

Jay

7:20 AM, 18th December 2021, About 2 years ago

Agreed Michael a tenancy contract should work both ways. Not one way. Particularly for a serious breach by landlord or tenant.

Ron H-W

10:23 AM, 18th December 2021, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Michael Barnes at 17/12/2021 - 21:45
"If your tenant has breached the contract, then you can take action against them without using S8 or S21 eviction process."

Yes, like claim through the courts for money (rent) or compensation (damage to the property).
But the defaulting or wrecking tenant still has the property.
And what happens if they don't pay?
Bankruptcy, perhaps?
Or even prison for contempt of court?
But the defaulting or wrecking tenant STILL has the property - and is now VERY unlikely to be paying rent!

Michael - do YOU know of a way to get the property back in such a case, without S8 or S21?
Or are you advocating that the landlord put up with the tenant continuing to have exclusive use of the property, indefinitely and without payment?
(Or have I misunderstood you in some way?)

AFAIK, even if the tenant is serving a prison sentence, he/she can expect to go straight back into the property upon release - unless some action is taken to end the tenancy. And I know of only 3 ways for this: voluntary(!), S8 and S21.

Michael Barnes

23:30 PM, 21st January 2022, About 2 years ago

Reply to the comment left by Ron H-W at 18/12/2021 - 10:23
I was merely pointing out to the OP that for breach of contract LL does not have to evict the tenant. And if the LL goes down the eviction route, then it is more serious than a simple breach of contract issue (tenant losing their home rather than a financial penalty), and so it is reasonable that the process is more-onerous.

It obviously depends on the breach (and on the tenants) whether one goes down the "simple" claim route or down the S21 route.

The OP was saying, in effect, "why should S21 claim be more onerous than breach of contract claims".

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