Rent Reviews
Negotiating and disputing commercial rent reviews — upward-only reviews, open market rent determinations and arbitration or independent expert referrals.
Learn moreLandlord & Tenant Solicitors
Expert legal advice for landlords and tenants across all property types. Rent reviews, forfeiture, accelerated possession, service charges, enfranchisement, the Renters Rights Act and more.
Specialist Landlord & Tenant Legal Services
The landlord and tenant relationship is governed by a complex web of statute, common law and contractual provisions. Whether you are a landlord seeking to recover possession of your property, enforce a lease covenant or resist an unfair rent review — or a tenant seeking to protect your rights, challenge a disproportionate service charge or exercise an enfranchisement claim — Legal Merchant's specialist solicitors provide clear, expert advice and effective representation.
We act for landlords and tenants across both the residential and commercial property sectors, including private landlords, institutional investors, corporate tenants, housing associations, leaseholders and freeholders.
Acting for both landlords and tenants. Our specialist solicitors understand both sides of the landlord and tenant relationship — giving us the commercial and legal insight to achieve the best outcome for our clients, whether they are the landlord or the tenant.
Our Landlord & Tenant Services
Breach of Lease Covenants
Enforcing and defending lease covenant obligations — repair, alterations, use, alienation and nuisance breaches. Notices, injunctions and damages claims.
Learn moreAccelerated Possession
Fast-track possession proceedings under the accelerated possession procedure — reclaiming residential property efficiently without a full court hearing in many cases.
Learn moreTenant Default
Dealing with rent arrears, breach of covenant and other tenant defaults — demand letters, formal notices, county court proceedings and enforcement options.
Learn moreService Charges
Advising landlords on recovering service charges and tenants on challenging unreasonable demands — LVT applications, reasonableness disputes and consultation obligations.
Learn moreForfeiture
Terminating a lease by forfeiture for breach of covenant — peaceable re-entry, court proceedings, s.146 notices and relief from forfeiture applications.
Learn moreSquatters
Removing trespassers and squatters from residential and commercial property — interim possession orders, High Court enforcement and injunctions.
Learn moreBreak Notices
Advising on the service and validity of break notices in commercial leases — conditions, timing, form requirements and the consequences of an ineffective break.
Learn moreRenters Rights Act
Comprehensive guidance on the Renters Rights Act 2025 — abolition of section 21, new possession grounds, Decent Homes Standard and the Ombudsman scheme.
Learn moreEnfranchisement
Collective enfranchisement and individual right to acquire the freehold — buying the freehold of your block or house under the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024.
Learn moreLease Extensions
Statutory and voluntary lease extensions for residential leaseholders — the 2024 reforms, premium calculation, valuation disputes and the formal claim process.
Learn moreWho We Act For
Private Landlords
Commercial Landlords
Residential Tenants
Business Tenants
Property Developers
Institutional Investors
Housing Associations
Leaseholders
Frequently Asked Questions
Conveyancing solicitors handle the transfer of property ownership — buying, selling and remortgaging. Landlord and tenant solicitors advise on the ongoing legal relationship between landlords and tenants — including lease terms, rent, possession, covenants and statutory rights. Some matters — such as granting a new commercial lease or purchasing a leasehold flat — involve both conveyancing and landlord and tenant expertise. Legal Merchant's panel includes solicitors who specialise in both disciplines.
For straightforward matters — such as issuing a simple s.21 notice for a compliant assured shorthold tenancy — a landlord may be able to act without a solicitor. However, the law in this area is complex and rapidly changing, and mistakes can be costly: an incorrectly served notice is invalid, and an unlawful eviction or illegal harassment of a tenant can result in criminal prosecution and substantial civil liability. For anything beyond the most straightforward situations — including commercial disputes, possession proceedings, service charge disputes, forfeiture and enfranchisement — professional legal advice is strongly recommended.
The Renters Rights Act 2025 is the most significant reform to the private rented sector in a generation. It abolishes section 21 'no-fault' evictions, removes fixed-term assured shorthold tenancies, creates a new system of possession grounds (all requiring a court order), introduces the Decent Homes Standard for private rentals, establishes a landlord register and a mandatory Ombudsman scheme, and restricts in-tenancy rent increases to once per year. Landlords who fail to comply with the new regime face significant civil penalties. See our dedicated Renters Rights Act page for full details.
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- No sale, no fee options available
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