A judge has ruled that a business that acted on behalf of a landlord to evict a tenant “crossed the line” in carrying out regulated legal services that only qualified solicitors are permitted to provide. Here’s a link to the full story which appeared on Litigation Future’s website: 

https://www.legalfutures.co.uk/latest-news/unregulated-eviction-service-crossed-line-into-litigation

It’s easy to see how landlords are tempted to use services such as “Remove a tenant” as an alternative to representing themselves, or paying for solicitor representation in legal proceedings. Not only did “Remove a tenant” break the law, the legal notice that they issued to repossess the property was faulty. The landlord had to go back to court to proceed with their claim using alternative grounds to repossess their property.

Legal expenses insurance for landlords provides a helpline to talk through correctly issuing a landlord’s notice to repossess and ARAG’s Landlord Legal Solutions policy allows your landlord clients to download the notices and a covering letter for free from our legal services website. If a tenant fails to leave on expiry of the notice, the policy pays legal costs for a regulated law firm to act for the insured.

According from their website “Remove a tenant” charge from £50 to issue a repossession notice, and the cost of preparing for a court hearing and representation is charged from £250 (+VAT) http://www.removeatenant.co.uk/legal-services/ - this is much more than the cost of Landlord’s Legal Solutions over the average term of a tenancy. Surely peace of mind and confidence that claims will be dealt with properly is surely an attractive prospect for customers who may be reluctant to opt in to legal expenses? I’ll leave you to guess the moral of this story...

Landlord’s Emergency Solutions, the perfect pesticide?

Landlords of residential properties will often encounter problems with tenants but what about smaller unwelcome visitors taking up residence? Pests can not only cause damage to a property but create an uncomfortable living environment. There are also difficult conversations to overcome with tenants as to whose responsibility it is to get rid of the pest problem. ARAG’s emergency assistance policy for landlords provides the solution.

ARAG’s expanding range of emergency assistance products includes Landlord’s Emergency Solutions which has been designed specifically for landlords of residential property. This cost-effective insurance product provides assistance from a qualified contractor if an unforeseen event makes the property unsafe to occupy or causes actual or potential damage to the property or its contents. Insured events (see list below) include vermin infestation, something that marks Landlord’s Emergency Solutions out from many others.

• Breakdown of the main heating system
• Plumbing and drainage problems
• Damage to or failure of locks and windows
• Breakage or failure of the sole toilet unit
• Loss of the domestic power supply
• Vermin infestation
• Emergency alternative accommodation for tenants if the property is unsafe to occupy.

So what other benefits can your clients expect? Our helpline is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and the costs associated with the call-out charge, parts and materials and labour costs will be covered to an agreed limit. As always there are terms and conditions, but if you would like to offer this product to your clients, do not hesitate to contact us for more information.