As experienced property dispute solicitors, we’re instructed by landlords nationwide in rent arrears recovery, more complex matters such as regaining possession and commencing eviction proceedings, and other complicated disputes against tenants.
We are routinely instructed to assess and advise on the most favourable course of action in disputes involving:
- The type of tenancy (most residential property rentals in England and Wales are Assured Shorthold Tenancies or ‘ASTs, but not all’);
- Clauses in leases, tenancy agreements and licenses;
- Pursuit of rent arrears outstanding;
- Advice on more unusual situations, for example, where the tenant has disappeared or has died.
We are also often instructed to pursue guarantors. This can be an extremely effective way of securing recovery.
Where we’re instructed, we take the next steps to recover your money.
We typically charge a fixed initial fee to review and advise on your current position and the best next steps.
Where it stacks up for you and for us, we’re also happy to consider working on a ‘no-win, no-fee’ basis.
Conditional fee agreements are challenging to negotiate when a residential tenant owes rent arrears unless there is a guarantor.
Alternative funding, such as no-win, no-fee, is more prevalent in commercial property disputes, and we often work in that way.
Often, the threat of legal action alone is enough to persuade tenants to pay what they owe rather than face the consequences—particularly if they have already vacated the property.
Helix also offers a fixed fee service for residential possession.
If we must proceed with obtaining a CCJ, the consequences for the tenant can be devastating, impacting their credit rating and ability to borrow.
We often find the impact of a CCJ against a residential tenant is most keenly felt over the longer term.
In the short term, a tenant might ignore the impact of a CCJ, but circumstances and lives change.
It isn’t unusual for a former tenant against whom we obtained a CCJ years ago to contact us because they now want a mortgage and need to clear the CCJ to enable them to do so.
As a residential landlord, you typically have six years to issue a claim to recover rent arrears. We can assist with tenant tracing and asset searches to assess whether a tenant’s financial circumstances have improved.
Contact Helix Law today to discuss your options for rent arrears recovery.
We aim to respond to queries within an hour.
