RLA: Cancelling rental contracts favours the tenant

Date:Tuesday 28th October 2008
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Cancelling a tenancy agreement can be an arduous process that ultimately works in the tenant's favour, the Residental Landlords Association (RLA) has said.

RLS chairman Lee Dribben said that in most cases, contracts are ended by the tenant and the agreed notice period is not given.

Furthermore, he said there is no "force" that estate agents can use on tenants to make them pay their rent on time.

Threats of financial penalties were often "spurious".

In the case of non-payment of rent, Mr Dribben said the process that a landlord must follow to terminate the contract is "long and drawn out" and said it ultimately works in the tenant's favour.

In September, the RLA said there had been an increase of almost 20 per cent in the number of new tenants in the three months ending in August.

Research by mydeposits.co.uk has found that 38 per cent of deposit disputes involve cleaning costs, with 11 per cent focused on damage to the property and four per cent about late payment of rent or bills.