Whether you’re a landlord, freeholder, tenant or leaseholder, you need to know and understand your rights – and what’s expected of you. Griffith Smith Farrington Webb has a great deal of experience in all aspects of the Law surrounding tenancies and leases and how it may relate to you. We know what a minefield it can be for the uninitiated – as well as for those who have more experience of the issues involved.

Whether you want to prepare yourself before an undertaking or if you are already embroiled in a particular problem, we are able to explain your rights and options in clear and simple terms so that you can make the best decision.

There isn’t space here to list the many and varied issues that we are frequently asked to help people with. However, there are a few key areas that are worth mentioning.

• Service Charges: It’s important that landlords understand the rules and how to follow them. Tenants also need sound advice if they feel the service charges they are being asked to pay are too high.
• Repairs: Landlords don’t always appreciate exactly what their tenants are and are not responsible for. We can clarify the responsibilities so that both parties know exactly what is expected.
• Insurance: Freeholders have very specific responsibilities for insuring the property to ensure leaseholders are given a reasonable deal and kept fully informed.
• Occupancy rights: It’s best for all parties that a comprehensive tenancy agreement is made and honoured for each situation. We can make sure that landlords and tenants know exactly what they are getting into and how secure (or otherwise) their agreements may be.
• Freehold Purchase: Groups of leaseholders often have the statutory right to purchase the lease to their property from the freeholder. However, it’s very important that this right is exercised carefully, so that things don’t become unnecessarily complicated and frustrating.

Smoothing the Way

There’s often a lot of money and emotion surrounding property issues. It pays to have someone on your side who understands the legal jargon and can cut through it to give you the information and guidance you need in a meaningful way.

Griffith Smith Farrington Webb has the background and experience to help both landlords and tenants recognise and exercise their rights and duties. In this way we can help to avoid or resolve difficult, unpleasant or costly situations.

Our team is especially qualified and successful in the areas of:

• Buying freeholds and tenants’ rights of first refusal.
• Extending and changing leases.
• Service charges.
• Tenant behavioural issues.
• Bringing and defending repossession actions.
• All types of occupancy agreements : Shorthold Tenancies, Occupational Leases and Licenses to Occupy (eg. for lodgers or temporary occupancy).
• Granting new long leases on behalf of developers.

For further information or to discuss a particular situation, please call 01273 324041.