A tenant in a private rented property has a set of rights over their Landlord.
Which the Landlord is obligated to fulfil during the term of the tenancy as part of the contractual relationship they have together. There is a wide range of tenant rights, the most important are:
The right to have a written agreement – a tenant has a right to have a written agreement which contains the terms of the tenancy.
The right to have your deposit protected - it is a legal requirement for tenants who have an Assured Short hold Tenancy (AST) to have their deposit protected in a deposit protection scheme. These schemes are set up to protect the tenants money and ensure the tenant gets it back at the end of the tenancy, subject to paying any relevant bills and liabilities such as damage to the property.
The right to live in a safe and good state of repair property – the tenant has a right to live in a property which is fit for habitation, this means no issues relating to health and safety. Tenants do have a repair obligation, but landlords also have right to ensure the property is also kept to a certain standard.
The right to challenge excessive charges – tenants have a right to challenge any excessive charges, however speaking to a solicitor would be the best way to know if you can challenge this as per your tenancy agreement.
The right to peace and enjoyment of the property – a tenant has the right to be left undisturbed to enjoy and live in the property how they wish within reason and can be visited by the landlord with notice and justifiable reason.
The tenant also has certain obligations they need to perform during the term of the tenancy, some of these can be very specific to the property, and can vary. As a tenant it is important to know that these are laid out within the tenancy agreement you have with your landlord. The most important and common obligations are:
To take care of the property – The tenant has to take care of the property in the absence of the landlord. This includes not causing any damage to the property and performing minor maintenance to the property as well as report any issues with the property to the landlord so it can be addressed before any problems escalate.
To pay the agreed amount of rent on time – The tenant is obligated to pay rent on time as per the agreement, this is not optional. There may be circumstances where a tenant cannot pay rent or may need to delay rent payment, in event the tenant must liaise and agree this with the landlord. Failure to make rent payment and not tell your landlord could incur fines and subsequent evictions.
The tenant must pay all other charges and bills as per the tenancy agreement – A tenant is obligated to pay any relevant bills which are required to live in the property, and is responsible ion doing so as this would be stipulated in the agreement.
Contact our Housing Solicitors Today
If you are a tenant and are seeking legal advice about your rights, please get in touch with our expert Housing Solicitors today. Call 0207 095 5700 or email newenquiries@wainwrightcummins.co.uk
