Is there any reason why a tenant can withhold paying rent?

Yes, your tenant can withhold rent if there are any repairs to the property. The tenant has a duty to inform the landlord of any repairs, but unfortunately the first you may hear about it is at court when you have asked the court to order possession because of rent arrears.

You could prevent this by carrying out regular inspections of the property, However in reality this is not always possible as tenants often deny access. You should write to the tenant giving them 24 hours written notice of your intention to inspect the property and keep a copy of the letter. You should then make a note of any cancellations by the tenants or incidents when the tenants have refused to let you in or have been out.

Rebecca Brough is a Solicitor at Fidler and Pepper who deals with Residential Landlords on a daily basis. Rebecca offers landlords requiring legal help a Free initial consultation.

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