You, like your landlord, have some rights and duties as a tenant when moving into a leased home. These rights and duties are frequently stated in your tenancy agreement, so consult it first if you are unsure.
When it comes to negotiating the leasing of a new home, tenants’ rights are frequently overlooked. They appear insignificant and frivolous at the moment. However, if you are the victim of a bad landlord or a bad renter, these rights will become extremely essential to you.
In Wales and England, the most prevalent kind of tenancy is an Assured Shorthold Tenancy or more commonly known as AST. This was adopted in 1997, and any tenancies that began on or after this would automatically be classified as an AST unless the proper measures are completed to convert the tenancy to an Assured Tenancy.
If you know what kind of rental agreement you have, you can learn about your rights in situations like:
- getting repairs done
- your home’s energy efficiency
- paying rent
- dealing with an increase in rent
- being told to leave the home
- ending the rental agreement
- getting your deposit back
That being said, we will cover as much as we can in this article to give you enough information on the legal rights of a UK tenant.
Tenants’ Rights
Tenancy Agreements
Every tenant is expected to get a copy of the tenancy agreement as well as an explanation. They must also get a new tenancy agreement following an agreed-upon modification on either party’s part.
This might be due to a new resident or a rent rise, for example. The conditions of the tenancy are spelt out in a tenancy agreement. Tenancy agreements contain several typical provisions.
Contact details
Tenants have been required to be given the name and address of their landlord since the establishment of the tenancy deposit program and other relevant legislation. This implies that in the case of an appliance failure or a major problem, they may contact the landlord directly rather than going through the time-consuming procedure of contacting them through the estate agent.
Repairs
When tenants notice an issue inside the property, they are entitled to a quick response. This must result in the problem being fixed in a short amount of time. This attempts to eliminate the issues that come with sloppy landlords who aren’t devoted to keeping their properties up to date.
Adequate facilities
Each tenant has a legal right to adequate living conditions and functional appliances in their rental home. Essentials such as a working oven, hot water, and working phone ports come under this group.
Insurance
When renters live in leased housing, it is a good idea for them to have insurance because their belongings are typically not protected by their landlord’s insurance.
Unfair Eviction Rights
A landlord must follow the following guidelines to safeguard tenants against unjust eviction:
1. When your fixed-term tenancy ends, provide you two months’ written notice.
2. If they want you to leave before your tenancy ends, you must be able to show grounds for eviction in court.
3. Without a court order, landlords cannot harass you or try to evict you from your home.
Challenge high rent increases
You have the right to dispute rent increases that you believe are excessive; however, the process varies depending on where you reside in the UK.
Landlords must follow the following guidelines to avoid unjustified rent increases:
- Before they raise the rent, they must tell you.
- The rent increase has to be reasonable and should not be more than the current rent level locally.
- If you have a periodic tenancy, they must give you at least six months’ notice.
If you believe the rent increase is unjust, discuss it with your landlord first and try to reach an arrangement.
Tenancy information
Remember that you have a legal right to specific information regarding your tenancy as a renter. Check to see whether you have been given:
- Copy of the certificate of gas safety (if there is gas in the property)
- Copy of the certificate of energy efficiency (EPC)
- Information that has been prescribed
- Government’s guidance on how to rent
- Licence obtained from the local government
Safety Responsibilities for Landlords
When it comes to your landlord obligations, the safety of your renters must come first. We’ve highlighted the key safety risks you should be aware of, as well as the legal responsibilities you must follow, to assist you to understand what’s required.
The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Regulations 2015 are a legal requirement for all rental homes in England.
Every floor of the property where a room is fully or partly used as residential accommodation must have at least one smoke alarm, according to the laws. Furthermore, landlords are required by law to conduct electrical safety assessments on all new and current leases.
Bottom Line
The legal rights of a UK tenant are very important. If you have a formal tenancy agreement, be sure it is fair and in compliance with the law. If you don’t believe you have gotten one from your landlord, contact them right away. Your rights will be safeguarded in this manner.
Many companies online provide services for tenants regarding resolving disputes, including mediation and coordinating the Tenancy Tribunal. This ensures you have up-to-date information about laws and regulations and as a tenant, your rights are completely protected.
