Information For Tenants

The government have produced a booklet on How to Rent which can be found here.

This guide is for tenants (renting from a private landlord) to help them understand their rights and responsibilities. It provides a checklist and more detailed information on each stage of the process, including:

• What to look out for before renting
• Living in a rented home
• What happens at the end of a tenancy
• What to do if things go wrong

If you have it is recommended that you obtain a detailed inventory of the property when you move in. This is one of the things your deposit is protecting.

Any deposit taken since 6 April 2012 must be protected in an authorised government scheme.

Since 2014 Landlord’s (or their Agents) have a legal obligation to ensure that any person renting a property from them is entitled to live in the UK. This check has to be undertaken even if you are a British citizen.

The link below will give you more information.

https://www.gov.uk/prove-right-to-rent

If you are given a formal notice to terminate your tenancy the local authority has a duty to help prevent them from becoming homeless (this is the prevention duty),
which is part of the Reduction of Homelessness Act 2018. The local authority have a responsibility if the Section 21 notice is due to expire within 56 days.

By the local authority insisting that they will not assist you until you are evicted by a bailiff will mean that you may incur costs in excess of £500.00.

These payments may be available from your council to assist with:

• paying rent not covered by benefits
• a tenancy deposit
• rent in advance
• moving costs
• rent arrears

The payment could be made for up to 3 months. However, you will need to be in receipt of Universal Credit.