Rights and responsibilities

Tenants' rights and responsibilities

If you are a tenant in a private rented property you have certain rights and responsibilities.

 

Tenants have the right to:

• live in a property that’s safe and in a good state of repair
• have your deposit returned when the tenancy ends
• challenge excessively high charges
• know who your landlord is
• live in the property undisturbed
• see an Energy Performance Certificate for the property
• be protected from unfair eviction and unfair rent
• have a written agreement if you have a fixed-term tenancy of more than 3 years

 

Tenant responsibilities

• You should give your landlord access to the property to inspect it or carry out repairs when requested. Your landlord has to give you at least 24 hours’ notice and visit at a reasonable time of day, unless it’s an emergency and they need immediate access
• Pay the rent on time, pay the agreed rent, even if repairs are needed or you’re in dispute with your landlord. If you don’t, you could lose your home because you have broken your tenancy agreement
• Pay bills that you are responsible for on time, such as council tax, gas, electricity and water bills. If you pay the gas or electricity bills, you can choose your own energy supplier.
• Look after the property in a tenant like manner. Get your landlord’s permission before attempting repairs or decorating. It’s worth getting contents insurance to cover your possessions too, because the landlord’s insurance won’t cover your things
• Be considerate to the neighbours. You could be evicted for anti-social behaviour if you aren’t
• Not take in a lodger or sub-let without checking whether you need permission from your landlord
• Build and maintain a good relationship with your landlord

You should also:

• Make sure you know how to operate the boiler and other appliances and know where the stopcock, fuse box and any meters are located.
• Regularly test your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors – at least once a month.
• Report any need for repairs to your landlord. There will be a risk to your deposit if a minor repair turns into a major problem because you did not report it to the landlord
• Register to vote.

 

Landlord responsibilities

A landlord must:

• keep rented properties safe and free from hazards to the health and safety of occupiers
• Ensure the property is fit for human habitation at the start of the tenancy
• make sure gas equipment they supply is safely installed and maintained by a Gas Safe registered engineer
• have a registered engineer do an annual gas safety check on each appliance and flue

• give you a copy of the gas safety check record before you move in, or within 28 days of the check

• make sure the electrical system is safe, for example sockets and light fittings
• make sure all electrical appliances they supply are safe
• provide an Energy Performance Certificate for the property
• follow fire safety regulations
• provide a smoke alarm on each storey and a carbon monoxide alarm in any room with a solid fuel burning appliance (for example a coal fire or wood burning stove)
• check you have access to escape routes at all times
• make sure the furniture and furnishings they supply are fire safe
• provide fire precaution measures if the property is a large house in multiple occupation (HMO)
• protect your tenant’s deposit in a government-approved scheme
• check the tenant has the right to rent your property if it’s in England
• provide the tenant with a copy of the How to rent checklist when they start renting from you (it can be emailed to the tenant)