Your Rights and Responsibilities

Paying Your Rent

You must pay your rent. If you do not your landlord can get a possession order and can evict you from your home.

Your weekly/monthly rent and the arrangements for paying rent should be agreed before your tenancy starts and the details should be included in your tenancy agreement. However, both you and your landlord have legal responsibilities whether or not you have a written tenancy agreement. If you find yourself in financial difficulty and have trouble paying your rent you must take action. Contact the Citizens Advice Bureau or the Private Sector Housing Division for advice and information and, if you are comfortable doing so, speak to your landlord to explain the situation and what you are doing to get help.

Looking After the Property

You have a duty to look after the property and use it in a responsible way, pay the rent as agreed and keep to the terms and conditions of your tenancy agreement, unless they contravene your rights in law.

Repairs

Unless the tenancy has a fixed term of more than seven years, the landlord is responsible for repairs to the structure and exterior of the property, bath, sinks and other sanitary installations, heating and hot water installations, and other installations which the landlord controls. You are responsible for any damage you cause. Your landlord can include a sum to cover the cost of repairs in your rent but cannot pass the cost of repairs onto you as a service charge. It is useful to discuss the procedures for getting repairs carried out and have them included in the tenancy agreement.

Safety

Your landlord is responsible for the safety of gas and electrical appliances. They are legally obliged to arrange an annual gas safety check to be carried out by a Gas Safe registered technician. Your landlord should send you copies of the safety checks within 28 days of the check. Your landlord is not responsible for your own appliances. Your landlord is also responsible for the safety of furnishings and furniture - anything they supply must comply with the requirements of the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) Safety Regulations Act 1988 unless they are letting on a temporary basis while they are away from home or unless it was made before 1950. Although your landlord must give you notice (usually 24 hours unless it is an emergency) you must allow your landlord reasonable access to carry out repairs.

Quiet Enjoyment

You are responsible for your behaviour as well as the behaviour of any dependants and guests, and as such you should not be involved in or allow any anti-social, illegal or immoral behaviour. You have a right to live in the property as your home and your landlord must ask permission before entering the premises. Your landlord has the right to enter your property at reasonable times of the day to carry out repairs and inspect the property, although they must give 24 hours notice in writing of their intention to do so (unless it is an emergency). It is useful to discuss arrangements for access and have them included in the tenancy agreement.

Your Right to Stay in Your Home

Your landlord cannot evict you without a possession order from the court. If the property is sold you retain any rights you have to remain in the property - the purchaser will be bound by the terms of your tenancy agreement. If you think you may be evicted the Housing Options service can give you advice and information. Although they will not necessarily have any duty to re-house you, particularly if you are deemed to have worsened your own circumstances. As with potential rent arrears it is important for you to seek assistance and advice as soon as possible.