Ms. A initiated possession proceedings under Section 21 of the Housing Act 1988 against three tenants occupying her property, one of whom was a qualified solicitor.
The solicitor tenant sought to defend the claim by raising unfounded allegations of disrepair and issuing a counterclaim on the same grounds.
The matter was listed for a directions hearing, during which we presented compelling arguments that led the court to dismiss both the defence and counterclaim. As a result, Ms. A's claim for possession was successful, and the court ordered the tenants to pay costs in the sum of c£11,300.
Following recovery of possession, Ms. A pursued the outstanding rent arrears. This led to a further payment of c£14,800 by the solicitor tenant in full and final settlement of the arrears.
This case highlights the importance of asserting legal rights, even when the opposing party is a legal professional. It demonstrates that landlords should not be deterred from pursuing valid claims due to the perceived status or expertise of their tenants.