As a tenant, you’re entitled to:

Reside in a property that’s well-maintained and secure, ensuring your safety.

Receive the return of your deposit at the end of your tenancy, with protections in place for its safekeeping.

Contest unjustifiably high fees or charges imposed during your tenancy.

Be aware of your landlord’s identity and contact details.

Enjoy uninterrupted occupation of the property without unwarranted disturbance.

Review an Energy Performance Certificate for the property, offering insights into its energy efficiency.

Protection against unreasonable eviction or rent hikes.

Receive a written agreement if your tenancy lasts more than 3 years, ensuring a clear understanding of the terms.

If your landlord’s identity remains unknown, address a written request to the entity you pay rent to. Failure to provide this information within 21 days could result in penalties for the landlord.

At the beginning of an assured or short assured tenancy, your landlord must furnish you with essential documentation: the How to Rent guide in England or a tenant information pack in Scotland. These resources offer crucial information to tenants embarking on a new tenancy journey

For a periodic tenancy, running on a week-by-week or month-by-month basis, your landlord typically cannot increase the rent more than once a year without your agreement.

During a fixed-term tenancy, your landlord can only increase the rent if you agree. If you don’t agree, the rent can only be increased when the fixed term ends.

General rules for rent increases:
Permission Requirement: Your landlord needs your permission for a rent increase exceeding the previously agreed amount.

Fair and Realistic Increase: The rent increase must be fair and realistic, aligning with average local rents.

Proposing a rent increase:
If your tenancy agreement outlines a specific procedure for increasing rent, your landlord must adhere to it. Otherwise, your landlord can:

Renew your tenancy agreement at the fixed term’s end, with an increased rent.

Agree to a rent increase with you and produce a written record of the agreement that both parties sign.

Utilise a ‘Landlord’s notice proposing a new rent’ form to increase the rent after the fixed term ends.

Notice Period:
Your landlord must provide a minimum of one month’s notice (for weekly or monthly rent payments). For yearly tenancies, they must give you 6 months’ notice.

These regulations aim to ensure fair practices and protect tenants’ rights in managing rental increases during the tenancy.

As a tenant, it’s important to cooperate with your landlord for property inspections or necessary repairs. Your landlord is required to provide a minimum of 24 hours’ notice before visiting the property, scheduling visits at reasonable times, except in cases of emergencies requiring immediate access.

Your responsibilities include:

Ensuring the property is well-maintained, such as turning off the water mains in cold weather if you’re away.

Fulfilling the agreed-upon rent payments, even if repairs are pending or disagreements with the landlord arise.

Meeting other financial obligations agreed upon, like Council Tax or utility bills.

Covering the costs or making arrangements for any damage caused by you, your family, or guests.

Subletting the property only if explicitly permitted in the tenancy agreement or with the landlord’s approval.

Failure to meet these responsibilities could result in legal action from your landlord, potentially leading to eviction.

The responsibility for repairs in your rental property typically lies with your landlord. They are accountable for:

Repairing the property’s structure, exterior, and essential fittings like basins, sinks, baths, and sanitary equipment, including pipes and drains.

Ensuring the functioning of heating systems, hot water supply, and maintenance of gas appliances, pipes, flues, and ventilation.

Addressing issues related to electrical wiring and any damages resulting from attempted repairs by them.

Handling repairs in common areas like staircases in blocks of flats (consult your tenancy agreement for clarity).

Your responsibilities as a tenant include:

Only conducting repairs if explicitly allowed in the tenancy agreement.

Not being compelled to address repairs that are your landlord’s responsibility.

If you, your family, or friends cause damage to another tenant’s property, such as through water leaks or other mishaps, you are liable for the costs of repairs.

Reporting Repairs and Responsibilities
Always inform your landlord promptly if you believe repairs are necessary or if there are concerns about mold or faults that could endanger health, such as faulty electrical wiring. While waiting for repairs, continue paying your rent.

If repairs are delayed or not completed:

Seek assistance from the environmental health department at your local council if there are concerns that could affect your health or create a disturbance for others.

In Scotland, contact the Private Rented Housing Panel (PRHP).

If your home becomes unfit to live in:

Contact the housing department at your local council. They’ll conduct a Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) assessment and take action if serious health and safety hazards are identified

Click on the links below if you are in Scotland or Northern Ireland as there are different housing standards and procedures

As a tenant, your landlord is legally required to provide written notice before entering your rented property, regardless of the reason for their visit.

The term “written notice” means your landlord should inform you in writing about their intended visit. This notification can be conveyed through various means, including email, text, messages, or written communication.

Your tenancy agreement must not grant your landlord unrestricted access to enter the property whenever they wish. Instead, it may specify:

The duration of notice they must give you.
Specific details regarding when and how frequently the landlord can visit the property.
If you decline entry to your landlord or their agent after receiving written notice, they should not forcibly enter the premises or trespass. However, refusing entry despite proper notice might violate your tenancy agreement terms.

In shared houses, your landlord may enter shared areas without prior notice. However, they must provide proper notice and seek your permission before entering your individual bedroom. Entry into your private space should be permitted by you, and your landlord must give adequate notice, unless it’s for essential reasons such as repairs.

This is very common, but dont panic! here is what you should know:

When a property is sold with a sitting tenant, the new owner assumes the role of landlord and must register accordingly.

The new owner is obligated to honor the terms outlined in the existing tenancy agreement between the tenant and the former owner until the contract’s expiration.

Following the contract’s end, or if it has already expired, the new owner has several options:

Rolling Contract: The new owner can permit the tenant to continue on a rolling contract basis.
New Tenancy Agreement: They may choose to offer the tenant a new tenancy agreement.
Eviction Proceedings: Alternatively, if required, the new owner can initiate eviction proceedings against the tenant.

A break clause in a tenancy agreement is like a safety valve allowing both you and your landlord to potentially end the tenancy earlier than the agreed-upon date.

It’s not something that’s always included, so it’s crucial to check your tenancy agreement for this provision. 

Essentially, it’s a built-in option that allows either party to give notice and terminate the tenancy before the original end date. 

When activated, it’s a way to wrap up the tenancy prematurely if specific conditions stated in your agreement are met. 

Generally, the break clause sets out when it can be used, the notice period required, and after serving notice, your tenancy ends once the notice period expires. 

This means you’re no longer responsible for ongoing rent, but it also marks the end of your right to live in the property beyond the notice period.

This is a decision that solely rests with your landlord, and it hinges on their flexibility regarding property alterations. Legally, landlords aren’t obliged to permit tenants to make alterations, and some tenancy agreements expressly prohibit it. While you might envision enhancing the aesthetics of the property, bold decor could deter prospective tenants.

It’s best to have a conversation with your landlord about redecorating. They might view your initiative positively as it saves them the effort. Should they seem hesitant initially, proposing a temporary change or offering to revert to the original decor before moving out might persuade them.

Securing permission in writing is crucial if your landlord consents. Without written approval, your deposit might be at risk if they retract their decision later and deem it a breach of contract.

Consider that redecorating extends beyond wall color changes. Installing fixtures, new curtains, or modifying internal structures necessitates landlord approval. Additionally, major alterations can be expensive, so weigh the costs against your tenure in the property before making significant changes.