Sometimes a tenant is charged a fee by the landlord that the tenant does not agree with. In this article, you will find out how you should handle these kinds of charges and how to dispute a charge.
What kind of fees could it be?
The fees the landlord decides to charge can come in many forms throughout the tenancy period. Often the charges can be for damages or other fees when moving out of the tenancy, or maybe you are being charged for additional services. Landlords will often charge you, because they either believe they have the right to do so, but some landlords may also exploit their tenants, because of their lack of knowledge about their rights.
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If there is some form of damage in your apartment, but you do not believe that you are legally obligated to pay for the repair, you would usually object to the fee by explaining to the landlord why you do not think you are required to pay. However, this is only possible if you know your rights as a tenant.
When disputing a fee, there are several options. We will go through your options when dealing with a cost that you consider unreasonable in the following.
Your lease
Before you can understand your rights as a tenant, you should pay close attention to what is written in your lease. In your lease, you will often find an answer to who is responsible for certain repairs. This is often found in section 11 of the lease.
You should be aware that just because something is included in your lease does not make it legal. If you are uncertain about the content of your lease, you can submit it for a free check by following the link below.
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Contact your landlord
If you disagree with a fee the landlord is charging, the first thing you should do is contact your landlord. We always recommend that you always communicate with your landlord in writing. When you write to your landlord, instead of using verbal communication, you will have proof of the objection and any promises made.
You should make your landlord aware of your reason for objecting to the claims, what you do not agree with and anything you may agree with.
If you are charged for something that you know is illegal or something you are not responsible for based on your lease, you should consult the law or your lease. We always recommend that you try to keep the discussion as civil as possible.
Settlement
Landlords can react to disputes very differently from one another.
When your landlord refuses to cooperate and disagrees with your objection, a mediator can assist in resolving the issue outside of court. It can be a long, expensive, and time-consuming process to get through a court case, which is why DIGURA always tries to solve the problem outside of court. In our experience, this is the most effective solution for both parties.
The Danish Rent Committee and the Housing Court
If the charges cannot be solved by a settlement, then it will often lead to a case ending up before the Danish Rent Committee or the Housing Court.
Generally, you would first have to send a written complaint to the Danish Rent Committee. The jurisdiction of the Danish Rent Committee is limited and so the issues and course of action should be assessed on a case to case basis. If the Danish Rent Committee cannot pursue the case the claim should be brought before the Housing Court.
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Get legal advice and avoid being deceived
The above should be used as a general guide. We always recommend that you contact us to ensure that you get proper legal advice that is relevant for your specific case.
Let us help you
At DIGURA we are always available and easy to reach, you have your own legal advisor, and best of all, you only pay if we win your case. Therefore, it is risk-free for you to get help from us.
If you are unsure about your claim you can get your case assessed for free. You will receive a reply within 24 hours.
