Letting to Friends/Relatives

Other

Some landlords may be persuaded by friends or relatives, to let a property to them, saying there is no need for a tenancy agreement. Invariably, these are the tenancies which go wrong, and besides losing so-called friends or doing relatives a favour which backfires, you are most likely left with them in your property and will have to get them out. You will need a court order to get them out, so it is essential that you serve a Section 21 notice, and if they are more than two months in arrears of rent, a Section 8 notice. The usual possession procedures then apply. However, please remember, if there is no written tenancy agreement, the accelerated possession proceedings cannot be used – the case will have to be heard in court.