A LANDLORD may sell up his York properties - because he says the law has swung too much in favour of tenants.

Salim Amira is a landlord with seven investment properties including five in York and two in Bradford.

He has been renting out properties for around ten years, but said he has never experienced such bad times as during the last two.

Mr Amira, from Fulford, said: "Things are so bad I am seriously considering putting three of my properties on the market.

"For the last few months I have had to dip into my pocket for about £3,000 to pay rent where tenants have failed to do so.

"I have had several tenants who have not paid their rent for three months and yet I still had to give them their deposits back. I don't see why I cannot keep the tenants deposit when this happens. Since the law has changed, it seems I cannot even do that. I just don't understand why the law seems so unfairly stacked in favour of the tenant."

Mr Amira said he had developed very bad psoriasis on his skin as a result of the stress he is under.

Michael Beckett, Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) specialist support manager, said: "I disagree that the law has swung in favour of the tenant.

"There have been changes in the legislation in the last few years which have made changes for both landlord and tenant, but if anything the law remains in favour of the landlord overall.

"Tenants do have more protection now in terms of being able to recover their deposits, but in terms of tenants' security of tenure, landlords currently have the advantage.

"Now landlords have to hand over deposits to one of three national organisations and must provide defendable reasons for withholding a deposit.

"Previously, a deposit could be withheld by a landlord and it would not be as easy for a tenant to get it back.

"However, it is now much easier for landlords to give some tenants notice than it ever was previously.

"People considering becoming a landlord must remember that it is not just a quick buck making activity.

"There is a legal framework and many conditions that landlords and tenants must conform to and which are put in place to protect both parties."

Mr Beckett said the three national organisations put in place to protect tenants deposits are the Deposit Protection Service, Tenant Deposit Solutions and the Tenant Deposit Scheme.

More information is available online at www.yorkcab.org.uk or by phoning the CAB advice line on 0870 126 4850.