As Landlords, it feels important that we want our tenants to be happy in their homes during their tenancies with us. This not only fosters a good landlord-tenant relationship but also contributes to the overall success of the rental business. One of the key tools in achieving this goal is a well-drafted Tenancy Agreement which sets out all the terms of the tenancy in a clear and concise way, and outlines the rights and responsibilities of both parties to avoid any potential arguments or misunderstandings.
Rights and obligations of both parties must be clearly identified (including those which are implied under the general law) and of course the need for all clauses to be specified to protect you as Landlords.
We have gleaned, as an example, three really important clauses which Landlords must have, or they could face difficulty:
The Agreement must provide specifically for rent to be payable in advance
(ASTs only) If you take a deposit there must be a clause authorizing deductions and saying what deductions can be for
(ASTs only) There must be a clause in the Tenancy Agreements which states that either the tenancy can be forfeited or that it can be brought to an end under the grounds for possession in schedule 2 of the Housing Act 1988.
Part of the support service we are proud to offer here at ELA is to provide Landlords with all the correct tools and assistance they need to ensure they are equipped when setting up their Tenancy Agreements. Members can benefit from easy access to our Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreements which are legally signed off and approved.
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