Whether you are a commercial landlord or tenant, being caught up in a property dispute can be a stressful and difficult time if you do not have the right advice to hand.
According to data published by The Property Ombudsmen earlier this year, disputes between landlords and tenants are slowly increasing all across the UK.
The most common reasons for complaints include ‘poor management’, ‘communication and record-keeping issues’ and ‘problems with tenancy agreements, inventories and deposits’.
Andrew Skinner, a Consultant with Palmers who specialises in property disputes, said that even very minor disagreements or disturbances between landlords and tenants, can quickly spiral out of control and leave people in awkward situations they are unable to resolve themselves.
“Disputes all too frequently arise and can become a major drain on your time and resources unless handled quickly and efficiently. On top of this, a small disagreement can very quickly turn into a bitter legal battle if advice isn’t sought early on,” he said.
Andrew added that, depending on the nature of the dispute, it might not always be necessary – or sensible – to pursue a lengthy court battle in order to reach a resolution.
“Landlords and tenants should always consider alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and any other alternative options which might help them to bring a disagreement to an end in a speedier – and oftentimes less costly – manner,” he said.
At Palmers, we regularly advise landlords and tenants on how to resolve a range of issues including leasehold and rent disputes.
For more information about how Palmers can help, please contact us.