Renter's Rights & Responsibilities

Contents

Overview

As a tenant living in private rented accommodation, you are entitled to certain rights


Equally you have responsibilities you must adhere to.

Your Rights

As a tenant, you are entitled to the following:


Your tenancy agreement should be fair and comply with the law. If you are not sure who your landlord is, in the first instance contact the person or company you pay rent to (preferably in writing). 


Your landlord can be fined If they do not provide you with this information within 21 days. When you start a new assured or short assured tenancy, your landlord must provide you with a copy of the how to rent guide if you live in England and a tenant information pack if you live in Scotland.

Your Responsibilities

As a private tenant you must ensure the following responsibilities are met:



Your landlord has the right to take legal action to evict you if you do not meet your responsibilities.

If your landlord lives outside the UK and the rent you pay them directly is more than £100.00 per week you should contact HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).  This is because you may have to deduct tax from your rent under HMRC’s ‘non-resident landlord scheme’.

Safety Responsibilities

The property you live in must be safe and free from health hazards.


Gas safety


Your landlord must:



Electrical safety


Your landlord must:



Fire safety


Your landlord must:


Repairs

Your landlord’s responsibilities


It is the responsibility of the landlord to maintain and repair the following:



Your responsibilities



Contact your landlord if there are repairs to be carried out. You must ensure this is done immediately for faults that could damage health, for example faulty electrical wiring.


Your landlord should let you know when to expect the repairs to be done. You should carry on paying your rent in the meantime.

Complaints & Issues

The environmental health department at your local council must take action if they think the problems you have could harm you or cause a nuisance to others. 


Contact the Private Rented Housing Panel (PRHP) if you’re in Scotland.


If you think your home is not safe to live in, you should contact the housing department at your local council. They’ll do a Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) assessment and they must take action if they think your home has serious health and safety hazards. 


Please note, there are different housing standards and procedures in Scotland and Northern Ireland.