Tenants rights

Some of your rights as a tenant may be dependant on your tenancy agreement; however there are some fundamental rights which do not change regardless of what your tenancy says.  As a tenant you have a right to:

Know and have a copy of the tenancy agreement

The tenancy agreement is the terms and conditions of the rental and outlines what is expected of both parties throughout the duration of the tenancy.

Have the landlord’s contact details

Even if you rent through a letting agent, you have a legal right to know the name and address of your landlord, even if they want to remain anonymous.

Live in your home in peace

This means you have a right to prevent people entering the property, it also means that the landlord has to give you notice before they can enter the property (normally a minimum of 24-48 hours).   In addition to the landlord not being allowed to enter the property without prior notice, they cannot:

• Change the locks without giving you notice and a copy of the keys
• Cut off any of your utilities
• Open your mail
• Go through your possessions
• Threaten you for any reason (verbally or physically); if you are threatened then contact the police.
• Enter the property while you are out, unless emergency repairs need doing e.g. gas leak.

Live in a well maintained and safe property

A landlord has a responsibility to keep the property well maintained and safe, ensuring that:

• The property is clean and safe when a tenant first moves in
• The property is safe and secure with all locks and alarms installed in full working order
• The building is safe and sound, this also includes utilities such as gas and water
• Any fabrics or furnishings in the house meet any regulations e.g. that they are fire resistant
• Any furniture included in the lease is kept in good repair and replaced if it’s no longer suitable
• Any repairs are promptly fixed by the landlord

Deposit back in full

Assuming you have not caused financial loss to the landlord or damaged the property then you should get your deposit back in full.  To learn more about deposits see our tenants deposits page.

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