• Home
• History
• Philosophy
• Team
• Contact Us

Tenants Rights

If you are a tenant, you need to know what your rights are. While each tenancy agreement will differ in terms of the finer points, there are certain responsibilities a landlord must adhere to. If your rights are being disregarded, you need to seek legal assistance to find out what your options are.

The Right to Privacy

As a tenant, you are entitled to the right to privacy. In practice, this means that a landlord must give you twenty-four hours notice before a visit or inspection, and is not allowed to interfere with the gas, electricity, or water supply without consent.

Should a landlord fail to allow you to have quiet enjoyment of the property, he or she could be in breach of the Protection from Harassment Act. Created in 1997, this Act was designed to protect tenants in the event that a landlord:

• Interferes with your peace and comfort in your home;
• Persistently withholds/withdraws services eg. by disconnecting your electricity.

The Right to Live in a Habitable Home

Your landlord must ensure the property you rent is fit for habitation and free from defects. All equipment must be safe, and the gas and electrical systems must adhere to regulatory standards. This includes passing a gas inspection on an annual basis.

Furthermore, a landlord is legally responsible for carrying out all repairs to the property. Should any maintenance work need to be done – both internally and externally – then repairs should be undertaken in a timely fashion.

The Right to Have Your Deposit Returned

At the end of your tenancy, you are entitled to have your deposit returned. If after the necessary checks and payments have been completed and it is found you have left the property in a reasonable condition, your deposit should be returned to you within around thirty days.

As of April 2007, deposits for all Assured Shorthold Tenancies (ASTs) should be put into a Deposit Protection Service (DPS). A government established scheme, the DPS holds a tenant’s deposit on your landlord’s behalf. This ensures your money is safe and secure, protecting you from a landlord retaining it after your tenancy.

The Right to a Period of Notice

Should a landlord wish to end your agreement, you must be given a sufficient period of notice. With Assured Shorthold Tenancies, this is usually around eight weeks. Under the Protection from Eviction Act, your landlord is acting unlawfully if he or she:

• Evicts you without sufficient notice;
• Evicts you without written notice;
• Changes the locks on the doors without telling you;
• Evicts you without a Court Order (although there are some exceptions to this rule).

Legal Assistance

If your landlord is neglecting their responsibilities, you may want to seek legal assistance. A solicitor will be able to discuss your rights as a tenant, and advise whether or not these are being breached.

Share this article

Find Out More About Our Commercial Property Services?

Please call us now on 0121 236 7388 or complete a Quick Enquiry to find out more about how we can use our commercial experience to resolve your dispute.