My tenants’ solicitor is demanding costs!

My tenants’ solicitor is demanding costs!

0:06 AM, 12th March 2024, About 2 months ago 15

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Hello, We have been trying to evict our tenants for the last 9 months as we are selling the property. Court proceedings were set for last November, however, we had to cancel these due to an issue with the deposit from 10 years ago. The deposit was then returned to the tenants and a new section 21 issued.

The section 21 has now expired and the tenants refuse to leave. We have started the accelerated possession proceedings again.

The tenants’ solicitor emailed me on Friday evening and has demanded payment of her fees so far (a total of £2,240). I have been told if I do not pay the fees, they will apply to the court to assess the fees.

My solicitor is useless and her advice is to pay the fees or negotiate to pay some of them. She has advised I instruct a costs solicitor (yet more money after already paying the solicitor over £4,000 in legal fees and we still have not regained possession of our property).

In addition, as part of the tenants’ defence during the last possession proceedings, they claimed exceptional hardship and stated they were in receipt of housing benefit. This leads me to believe their costs would be covered by legal aid, but I do not know if I can check this or if it makes any difference to my case.

Has anyone experienced something similar? I’m wondering if it is worth instructing a costs solicitor or just letting the costs be decided by a court?

Many thanks,

Aislinn


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Comments

Smiffy

7:56 AM, 13th March 2024, About 2 months ago

If your solicitor served a S21 without confirming you could legally do it, they failed in their duty.

You need a new solicitor and you need to hold your old one responsible for your losses.

Ofer Moses

15:31 PM, 13th March 2024, About 2 months ago

Reply to the comment left by Pamthomp33 at 12/03/2024 - 10:06I am of the understanding that you are liable to costs if you instruct a solicitor.
Never heard of being liable for solicitors costs unless you are obliged under contract or in court dispute whereby costs are awarded against you

GlanACC

9:58 AM, 15th March 2024, About 2 months ago

They will only be able to get legal aid in a civil case if there is a reasonable chance of success and the evidence is strong enough. They would also have to prove hardship, and this is quite a rigorous test these days.

Southern Boyuk

7:29 AM, 17th March 2024, About 2 months ago

I’m not sure if I’ve missed something, you had a problem with the deposit which meant you had to cancel the court hearing. Your solicitor did not pick this up at the beginning before advising you into taking action. This is the basics of any advice confirming everything is in place . If this is the correct your solicitor is liable For the other person costs and costs from the point of the inappropriate or bad advice. You may wish to take this out with your solicitor and referral to the law Society. You will of course need all the information in chronological order to support your case.

If you didn’t want to do that, you’re going to have to take it on the chin, get the people out, Increase your price to cover your costs.

Lesson from this, get all your legalities in place before taking action.

Kizzie

9:51 AM, 17th March 2024, About 2 months ago

The situation for lawyers to get legal facts in place falls under professional obligations to Know Your Client KYC and AML checks.
Sadly many don’t.

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