Becoming a landlord – either intentionally or accidentally – is increasingly common in most countries. Likewise, many people now derive an income from the rental of properties they own in other countries.
This may take the form of holiday lets – usually with the assistance of professional property agents or Air BnB – or it could be a long-term rental to an individual or family who would use the property as their residential home.
When considering entering into a long-term lease agreement, many questions arise, such as what rights and obligations do landlords have as against tenants, how are disputes dealt with, what happens if a tenant fails to pay their rent or inflicts damage to the landlord’s property.
The first step however, is to ensure that a legally valid lease is signed by the tenant.