Private Rented Accommodation

Private rented accommodation is an alternative to council housing, is flexible and is often readily available in many different areas. Private rented properties are advertised in a number of ways including: newspapers, notice boards, estate agents and websites.

Before you rent

Before you rent a property or sign anything, you should have a good look at the property to ensure it is suitable for your needs. You should consider the following things:

Type of property and number of rooms - is the size of the property suitable for your needs?
Heating - what type of heating does the property have and does it work?
Electricity - are there enough sockets and do they work?
Gas - is there a Gas Safety Certificate for the property?
Furniture - what comes with the property and what condition is it in?
Decoration/Repairs - who is responsible for decorating the property and carrying out repairs?
Security - do all of the windows and doors close properly and do the locks work?

You should also make sure that you:

Can afford the rent - you may be able to get help from Housing Benefit to help pay your rent. The maximum amount of benefit payable is set by Local Housing Allowance rates. More information on Housing Benefit and Local Housing Allowance
Get a written tenancy agreement - this should confirm the landlord's name and contact details, the address of the property you are renting, your name and the name of any joint tenants, the rent charged and when it is due and how long the tenancy agreement is for. The agreement should clearly state what you and your landlord are responsible for
Get receipts for any deposit or rent paid to your landlord
Get a copy of the inventory for the property - this should be signed by you and your landlord
Get a copy of the Gas Safety Certificate for the property

What is a deposit?

A landlord will usually seek a deposit before offering a tenancy. The deposit is taken to protect them against potential losses due to damage to the property and rent arrears.

The Housing Options service may be able to assist you with the deposit for privately rented accommodation using the Bond Guarantee Scheme. Please follow the link below for more information.

http://www.stockton.gov.uk/citizenservices/housing/housingadvice/2015746/

Landlords must ensure that any deposit taken from you is protected by a government authorised Tenancy Deposit Protection Scheme. A landlord must inform you, within 14 days of receipt of your deposit, which scheme they have used to protect the deposit.

Ending your tenancy

If your landlord wants to end your tenancy, they will be required to give you written notice. The length and type of notice will depend on the type of tenancy you have. If you are served notice by your landlord, please contact the Housing Options team before you leave the property. Our contact details can be found to the right hand side of this page.

If you require any further information regarding any of the above or any other housing related issue, please contact the Housing Options Service for advice and assistance using the contact details at the top of the page.