The "Which?" Guide to Renting and Letting ("Which?" Consumer Guides)

The law of landlord and tenant can be minefield for the unwary. Whether you are renting or letting a house, flat or just a room, you need to be fully aware of the legal rights on both sides, the financial implications of the agreement into which you are entering and the practicalities of the landlord/tenant relationship. This informative guide from Which? puts you in the picture.
For the landlord, key issues covered include:
* the different types of tenancy--your obligations and rights
* how to find reliable tenants
* rents and deposits--gauging what to charge
* what to include in a written letting agreement
* grounds for possession during a tenancy and how to obtain a court order for possession.
For the tenant, there is sound advice on:
* types of tenancy agreement and security of tenure
* how to deal with harassment and protect yourself from unlawful eviction
* your rights in the event of a rent increase or unreasonable service charges
* who pays the council tax, service charges and repair bills
* the collective right to buy the freehold *
The Which? Guide to Renting and Letting tackles all the common problems that arise between landlord and tenant, and by explaining how the law operates it should enable readers to avoid most of them.

Peter Wilde is a practising solicitor in north-west England, specialising in landlord and tenant law, and a senior lecturer at the College of Law, Chester. Paul Butt is a solicitor and principal lecturer at the same college.