Your landlord, or their agent, has a legal responsibility to manage your tenancy fairly and to keep your home up to a decent standard. As a private tenant, you have rights and responsibilities too.
In the event you experience trouble with your landlord or their agent, we have some legal powers we can use to help.
Harassment and illegal eviction, as defined in The Protection from Eviction Act 1977 are criminal offences. You can find out more about the Act on the Government website.
When to get advice
You should get advice if:
- your deposit is not protected - learn more on the Government website
- you do not have a tenancy agreement, or you do not understand it
- your landlord is not meeting safety standards - learn more on the Government website
- your landlord or their agent is bothering you at home or harassing you - find advice on the Shelter website
- your landlord is trying to evict you
- your home is in a poor state of repair
- you are concerned about Legionella bacteria - learn more on our page about dealing with Legionella
- your landlord does not comply with the housing health and safety rating system
- your landlord does not have a minimum energy performance certificate - learn more about these certificates here
- your property does not meet new electrical safety standards - learn more about the standards here
- you need investigation or mediation support
Deposit disputes
Your landlord must put your deposit in a Government-backed tenancy deposit protection scheme, which you should get back if you do not damage the property and pay your bills on time. Find out more about deposit protection schemes in Hambleton here.
Your rights and responsibilities
The Shelter website has lots of advice about private renting rights and responsibilities.
The Government website has details on:
Debt and arrears
If you are having problems paying your rent or other bills, do not ignore the problem. Contact us.
Help with your rent
If you have a low income, you may be able to get Housing Benefit to help pay your rent.
Your savings as well as your income will be used to work out whether you can get benefit and, if so, how much. Even if you already receive Housing Benefit and it does not cover your rent, you may be able to get some extra money called a discretionary housing payment.
Evictions
If your landlord believes that you have broken any of the rules of your tenancy agreement, including falling behind with your rent, they may decide to ask you to leave the property.
If you are facing this situation, the information on our homelessness pages may help you.
Disrepair
Your landlord is usually responsible for repairs to:
- the property’s structure and exterior
- basins, sinks, baths and other sanitary fittings including pipes and drains
- heating and hot water
- gas appliances, pipes, flues and ventilation
- electrical wiring - find out more on the Electrical Safety First website
- any damage they cause by attempting repairs
Your landlord is also usually responsible for repairing common areas, for example, staircases in blocks of flats. Check your tenancy agreement if you are unsure.
Your responsibilities for repairs
You should only carry out repairs if the tenancy agreement says you can. You cannot be forced to do repairs that are your landlord’s responsibility.
If you damage another tenant’s flat - for example, if water leaks into another flat from an overflowing bath – you are responsible for paying for the repairs. You are also responsible for paying to put right any damage caused by your family and friends.
Landlords have a responsibility to provide adequate insulation, heating and ventilation to reduce condensation, but there are also things you can do to help prevent it.
If your property needs repairs or is not fit to live in
Contact your landlord if you think repairs are needed. Do this straight away for faults that could damage health, for example, faulty electrical wiring. Ideally contact them in writing.
If you contact your landlord by text message, keep a copy of it and any replies you get back. Your landlord should respond to your request within 14 days. You should carry on paying rent while you are waiting. If you think your home is unsafe, contact our environmental health team straight away.
How to make a complaint
If your housing conditions could cause you harm, or cause a nuisance to others, or your landlord has failed to take any action, you will be offered an inspection under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System. This looks at 29 hazards in your home that are known to adversely affect health.
If the inspection identifies hazards, we have a duty to take action to ensure the necessary improvements are carried out by the landlord. This also includes housing associations, or where you rent a room in shared house. See our property repairs guidance page for more information.
You can contact our environmental health support team about any disrepair or environmental concerns. Contact us.
Reducing fuel bills
Many rented homes are hard to heat. You can find out how efficient your home is by looking up its energy performance certificate on the Government website.
The certificate gives an estimate of the potential fuel bills but may not take into account recent increases in fuel costs. Your actual fuel costs will vary depending on how you use your home. The certificate value gives you an idea about likely costs and allows you to compare properties, from A rating being the cheapest to run to G being the most expensive.
It also lists the most appropriate improvements for the property. Grants may be available to pay for installing these improvements.
For more advice on simple ways to save on fuel bills, visit the Government website.
Energy efficiency improvements for tenants
If you rent from a private landlord, you have a right to ask for energy efficiency improvements to reduce your fuel bills.
If you can find funding to cover the full cost of the work, your landlord must give their permission for most common energy improvements, unless they have a good reason. If your household income is less than £30,000 or your home has an energy performance certificate rating of E, F or G you are more likely to get a grant.
If you rent from a housing association, talk to your landlord. They should be able to tell you what improvements they have planned for your home.
For more support or information, contact us.