Your Rights and Responsibilities
Becoming a tenant means agreeing to carry out certain responsibilities during your time renting property. Your tenancy agreement will detail these obligations, which you must abide by before agreeing to sign or move.
There are various types of tenancy agreements, the most common being the Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST). Your tenancy will be categorised as an AST if the following criteria are met:
Your tenancy begins on the 15th January 1989 or after
The property is your main accommodation
Your landlord doesn’t live on the property
The property is privately rented
If you share the property with others, your tenancy will most likely be categorised as a Joint and Several Liability Tenancy, meaning that the responsibility to pay rent is shared.
Your rights as a tenant are as follows:
To live in a property which is safe and secure and in a good state of repair in both its structure and exterior
To be treated fairly regardless of disability, gender, sex, race, religion, sexuality
To be protected against unfair rent or eviction
To have access to the contact details of your landlord or managing agent
To live undisturbed – your landlord must give you at least 24 hours' notice to visit the property unless in the case of an emergency.
Your landlord must ensure that any provided furniture is compliant with the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) Safety Regulations Act of 1998
Your landlord must make reasonable adjustments to accommodate your property if you have a disability.
Your landlord must not change the locks without telling you
Your landlord should provide a notice period if they are going to end the tenancy
Your responsibilities as a tenant:
Pay the rent on time even if maintenance or repairs are required
Pay all bills
Do not engage in any illegal activity in the property or on its grounds
Look after the property and make any repairs known to your landlord as soon as possible
Do not keep pets unless given consent in writing by your landlord
Regularly test smoke/fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors
Always be considerate to neighbours
Ensure you know how to operate the boiler and central heating appliances
Do not smoke in the property at any time unless agreed by the landlord
Return the property in the same condition