Letter of Deadlock

What is a letter of deadlock?

A letter of deadlock is an official notice sent by one party of the dispute to another, informing them that the dispute remains unresolved and has to be referred to the respective ombudsman. This deadlock letter is the last essential step before bringing the dispute to the ombudsman in the UK.

Many businesses, individuals, startups and sole traders across the UK choose to refer their disputes to an ombudsman to save legal costs and time compared to the dispute resolution procedure carried out by the court.

This letter can be used for various types of disputes involving:

• commercial and private tenants in residential tenancy or lease agreements;
• real estate agents or property management companies;
• solicitors or barristers;
• government authorities;
• banks, financial advisors or insurance companies;
• telecom, mobile or internet providers, etc.

What should be included in the letter of deadlock template?

This ombudsman letter of deadlock is a mandatory formal step required before submitting the complaint further to the relevant ombudsman office. Usually, the document has a simple structure that reflects:

• Sender’s Details. Full information about the name, mailing address, contact telephone number and email of the sender.
• Details of the Dispute. Information about the date on which the claim was submitted, a brief description of attempts taken to resolve the dispute and information about the recipient.
• Deadlock. The text of the letter of deadlock template should outline the period of time within which the recipient may proceed to confirm the deadlock. Usually this is a minimum 14-day period that can be prolonged by the sender.
• Date & Signature. Once the letter is ready, the sender must date and sign it. The letter should be executed in several counterparts – one to be sent to the recipient and the other one to be kept with the sender for the recordkeeping.

What happens after deadlock is reached?

Once the deadlock is reached, either party involved in the dispute can refer their complaint to the respective ombudsman.

It is important to check an official website of the ombudsman first to check for the following:

• list of documents required for submitting the complaint to ombudsman;
• timeline for the dispute consideration; and
• how the document should be submitted (by post, by mail or via online platform).

Submission of the complaint to the ombudsman in the UK is dependent on the deadlock. The deadlock takes place in the following situation:

• The recipient of this letter sends back a letter confirming deadlock, or
• The deadlock period set out in this letter of deadlock has expired.

Common types of complaints for a letter of deadlock UK

This deadlock letter can be used for a wide range of complaints and situations businesses and individuals encounter on a daily basis. The letter template can be used to refer further complaints arising in the following:

• energy sector;
• financial sector;
• housing sector;
• local government and social care;
• property and real estate disputes;
• parliamentary and health services ombudsman, etc.

This document cannot be used, however, as a consumer letter of deadlock under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.

How to customise this letter of deadlock template?

To get a fully customisable letter template, follow a few easy steps below:

1. Click the “Create Document” button.
2. Answer simple questions in the form.
3. Select a template’s format – PDF or Word.
4. E-sign the letter.
5. Make a payment.

The letter of deadlock template is ready for immediate download and use right after the purchase.