With the consistently rising cost of houses, mortgages, and interest rates, it’s not surprising that more and more people are deciding to rent their home rather than buy a property outright. However, if you do opt to become a tenant, it’s important that you know your rights. Most landlords are fair and behave as they should. However, there are some bad eggs out there who will try to avoid their responsibilities as the property owner and charge you just as much money for below par living conditions. So, it’s time to familiarise yourself with your rights. There are certain benefits to being a tenant, so make sure to make the most of them. Never lay down and let a landlord walk all over you either. If there are problems, it’s time to speak out and be heard. Here are a few things that you are entitled to. Bear them in mind and uphold them!
Seeking Help
Before we start, let’s make sure that you know exactly what to do and who to contact if your landlord is violating any of your basic rights, as listed below. If you believe your situation to be an emergency, where you and any other tenants may be in immediate danger, call the emergency services. For less pressing issues, contact a reliable solicitor, such as Bannister Preston. They will be able to pose a legal case on your behalf, hopefully rectifying any wrongs that you may currently be experiencing.
A Rent Book
So, let’s start with the absolute basics. As soon as you move into any privately rented property, you are entitled to a rent book. This is a document that records the details of your tenancy. It will usually take the format of a booklet, but other formats are acceptable, as long as they contain all of the necessary information. This includes the landlord’s full name and address, the total cost of rent (usually in terms of monthly payments), whether rates are applicable and (if so) how much you are required to pay, and your rent payment due date. It should also detail any deposit you have paid, when your tenancy begins and when your tenancy contract ends. If the property is furnished, there should be a complete inventory listed. Finally, there should also be a statement detailing the responsibilities of the landlord and terms and conditions of your tenancy. Your landlord should record all details of any rent paid by you in this rent book.
Protection from Harassment
As soon as you move into a property, it becomes your home. It is no longer the landlord’s home, and they have to respect your boundaries as such. They cannot enter your home without due warning, or if you have not opened the door to allow them inside, as this is considered harassment.
Proper Eviction Procedure
If a landlord claims that they have good cause to evict you, they must respect the proper legal procedure. They cannot force you to leave by breaking entry into your property or cutting off essential services such as electricity, gas, and water.
These are just a few of your rights. You are also entitled to fair notice to quit, deposit protection, and your tenancy health check. Make sure that they are properly enforced. The more you know, the better you can protect yourself. Take up a little further reading and protect yourself.