When starting a new tenancy, you should carefully read through your tenancy agreement and ask your landlord anything you don’t understand.
Your rights as a tenant
You have the right to:
- Know the terms of your tenancy agreement,
- Know your landlord’s contact details,
- Live in a property that’s safe and in a good state of repair,
- Be given 24 hours’ notice if the landlord wants to visit your property except in an emergency,
- Be given notice if your landlord wants you to move out of the property
You are responsible for:
- Paying your rent on time.
- Reporting any repairs that are needed to the landlord.
- Allowing access for repairs and inspections.
- Disposing of and storing any rubbish correctly.
- Completing minor repairs including changing lightbulbs.
- Ending your tenancy correctly, including giving the correct amount of notice if you wish to end your tenancy.
You are also responsible for the behaviour of anyone who visits the property. If your landlord receives complaints regarding anti-social behaviour in the property, they may take steps to evict you.
Your landlord’s responsibilities
At the start of your tenancy, your landlord must supply you with:
- an EPC certificate,
- an Electrical Installation Report,
- a gas safety certificate (if applicable)
If you are an existing tenant and have been living in the home since before 1 April 2021 then your landlord must supply you with an Electrical Installation Report. This is to ensure that the Electrical Installation in the property is safe.
If you have an assured short hold tenancy that started or was renewed on or after 1 October 2015, your landlord should also provide you with a copy of the How to rent guide.
If you are an assured shorthold tenant, your landlord must protect your deposit in a deposit protection scheme.
Your landlord must arrange a gas safety inspection every 12 months by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
Your landlord is responsible for keeping your property in good repair, fit for human habitation and free of hazards.
You landlord should carry out repairs within a reasonable period once they become aware that work is needed. This will depend on the nature of the problem and how it affects you as a tenant, as some repairs will be more urgent than others.