Settling disputes with your landlord doesn't have to be ugly or expensive

The first rule of tenancy is be factual and stay calm ,even if your landlord doesn't seem to be connecting with you on a business or personal level.

One of the main rental disputes reported is that of ‘deposit return’ the easiest way to deal with this predicament is to firstly find out if your landlord protected your deposit in the ‘tenancy deposit protection scheme’ which he or she is legally bound to do. This way, you can contact the scheme they used and see if you have a libel case on return of your deposit.

Think through these steps before taking drastic action that may cost you a small fortune by going to court. 

• First, speak to your landlord about your concerns and make sure you are clear and concise in your opinions - keep them factual.
• If talking doesn't work , then write a formal letter detailing the problems you have in a clear and factual way - using dates and times if needed.
• If problems continue and issues are not resolved that use a mediation service, this is a lot cheaper and quicker than going to court.

Going to court should be your last option and can be pricey and if your landlord decides its a good idea to take legal action , the case could go to a small claims court. Small claims are any case that is worth £5,000 or less. Remember to think hard about whether the issue can be resolved between you privately,  before entering into a heating discussion which could cost your thousands.

Free advice is always available to landlords and their tenants from citizens advice or  shelter, your living space is important . Make an informed decision , not a hasty one.