Tenants' Rights and Landlord Responsibilities

Striking the balance for a happy home

If you are renting your home then as a tenant you will have certain rights and responsibilities which your landlord will have to respect and which you will have to adhere to.

Tenants’ rights include:

The right to privacy

Under law, your landlord must give you 24 hours notice in writing before any visit. If they persist in showing up unannounced they can be charged for harassment.

Landlords are also not allowed to:

• lock you out
• interfere with the gas, electricity or water supply
• interfere with or take your possessions
• remove doors or windows
• refuse to allow your friends to visit you
• use threats or make abusive phone calls.

The right to a safe and habitable home

Landlords must ensure the property is fit for habitation. They are legally responsible for all repairs to the structure and exterior of the property, as well as for keeping the gas, electricity, water, heating and sanitation in good repair.

Before you move in your landlord must provide you with a gas safety certificate signed by a Gas Safe Register-listed engineer. This proves that the appliances in your home are safe and must be renewed once a year.

The right to have the deposit returned at the end of the tenancy

Landlords are legally obliged to return the deposit on a tenancy agreement in full if the property has been left in good condition (allowing for regular wear and tear.)

With assured shorthold tenancy agreements signed after April 6 2007, landlords are required to be registered with the tenancy deposit scheme. This has been put in place to protect tenants from instances where landlords keep hold of deposits it for no good reason, and will help you go get your deposit back without having to go to court.

What to do if you your landlord is causing you problems

Housing officers from local councils offer legal assistance should a landlord seriously neglect their responsibilities to their tenants.

They can help when:

• the tenants are harassed or illegally evicted by the landlord — under The Protection from Eviction Act 1977, these are criminal offences that your council has the power to prosecute for.
• the landlord fails to meet obligations such as the provision of rent books or failure to give information concerning charges and insurance to long leasehold tenants.
• utility services are cut off and among the tenants is an elderly person or young child.

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