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| Cost of living: What are your rights as a tenant when you're renting? | Cost of living: What are your rights as a tenant when you're renting? |
| (3 days later) | |
| Rents are rising at their fastest rate since records began in 2016. | Rents are rising at their fastest rate since records began in 2016. |
| But with a quarter of tenants struggling to pay, what are your rights? | But with a quarter of tenants struggling to pay, what are your rights? |
| How much can my landlord increase my rent? | How much can my landlord increase my rent? |
| Most tenants have a rental agreement called an assured shorthold tenancy. | Most tenants have a rental agreement called an assured shorthold tenancy. |
| Some of these are rolling - which means tenants pay rent weekly or monthly, with no fixed end date. | Some of these are rolling - which means tenants pay rent weekly or monthly, with no fixed end date. |
| In England, the landlord: | In England, the landlord: |
| can usually only put up the rent once a year | can usually only put up the rent once a year |
| must give at least one month's notice | must give at least one month's notice |
| Any rent rise must be fair and realistic, in line with local properties. | Any rent rise must be fair and realistic, in line with local properties. |
| Other renters have a fixed agreement, which typically runs for six or 12 months. | Other renters have a fixed agreement, which typically runs for six or 12 months. |
| The landlord: | The landlord: |
| normally can't put the rent up until the fixed term ends - unless the contract has a rent review clause | normally can't put the rent up until the fixed term ends - unless the contract has a rent review clause |
| must give at least one month's notice | must give at least one month's notice |
| If the fixed term is a year, landlords must give six months' notice. | If the fixed term is a year, landlords must give six months' notice. |
| There are some other tenancy agreements with different rules. | There are some other tenancy agreements with different rules. |
| The housing charity Shelter's online tool can help people in England find out what kind of tenancy they have. | The housing charity Shelter's online tool can help people in England find out what kind of tenancy they have. |
| Housing law and renting rules are different in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. | Housing law and renting rules are different in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. |
| What can you do about rent increases? Watch the BBC's Lora Jones tell you, in a minute. | What can you do about rent increases? Watch the BBC's Lora Jones tell you, in a minute. |
| What can you do about rent increases? Watch the BBC's Lora Jones tell you, in a minute. | What can you do about rent increases? Watch the BBC's Lora Jones tell you, in a minute. |
| What is a holding deposit and how much will it be? | What is a holding deposit and how much will it be? |
| In England a holding deposit is paid to a landlord to reserve a property. | In England a holding deposit is paid to a landlord to reserve a property. |
| It can't be more than one week's rent. | It can't be more than one week's rent. |
| You should get the money back within seven days of signing your tenancy agreement - or it can go towards your rent. | You should get the money back within seven days of signing your tenancy agreement - or it can go towards your rent. |
| But if you decide not to move in, you could lose it. | But if you decide not to move in, you could lose it. |
| If the landlord doesn't give it back, and you think they should, write to them. | If the landlord doesn't give it back, and you think they should, write to them. |
| If you still don't get a refund, contact one of the letting agents redress schemes. | If you still don't get a refund, contact one of the letting agents redress schemes. |
| You can also complain in England to Trading Standards through the Citizen's Advice consumer helpline. | You can also complain in England to Trading Standards through the Citizen's Advice consumer helpline. |
| Such deposits are not legal in Scotland, and rules are different in Wales and Northern Ireland. | Such deposits are not legal in Scotland, and rules are different in Wales and Northern Ireland. |
| Can my landlord evict me? | Can my landlord evict me? |
| Landlords need to follow strict rules if they want a tenant to leave - if not, the eviction could be illegal, or the landlord could be guilty of harassment. | Landlords need to follow strict rules if they want a tenant to leave - if not, the eviction could be illegal, or the landlord could be guilty of harassment. |
| In England the landlord has to give written notice to the tenant, which could be: | In England the landlord has to give written notice to the tenant, which could be: |
| a "section 8" notice if they have a reason for wanting you to leave, such as late rent payments | a "section 8" notice if they have a reason for wanting you to leave, such as late rent payments |
| a "section 21" notice without providing a reason - although the government may reform this process | a "section 21" notice without providing a reason - although the government may reform this process |
| Other tenancy contracts have different rules. | Other tenancy contracts have different rules. |
| Once the notice period ends, the landlord can start eviction proceedings through court. | Once the notice period ends, the landlord can start eviction proceedings through court. |
| Landlords can apply for a so-called "possession order". If that is granted and you don't leave, landlords can apply for a "warrant for possession". | Landlords can apply for a so-called "possession order". If that is granted and you don't leave, landlords can apply for a "warrant for possession". |
| Rules differ in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. | Rules differ in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. |
| What condition do rental properties have to be in? | What condition do rental properties have to be in? |
| Tenants in England have the right to "live in a property that's safe and in a good state of repair". Similar rules are in place in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. | Tenants in England have the right to "live in a property that's safe and in a good state of repair". Similar rules are in place in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. |
| Landlords are not expected to do small jobs like changing light bulbs. | Landlords are not expected to do small jobs like changing light bulbs. |
| However, a rented home could be unfit if, for example, the electrics are unsafe, it's damp, or there's a problem with rats or mice. | However, a rented home could be unfit if, for example, the electrics are unsafe, it's damp, or there's a problem with rats or mice. |
| If so, you can complain to your landlord, or - if that doesn't work - your local council. | If so, you can complain to your landlord, or - if that doesn't work - your local council. |
| Your landlord may try to evict you rather than make repairs, but you might have more protection if you've already complained to the council. | Your landlord may try to evict you rather than make repairs, but you might have more protection if you've already complained to the council. |
| Tenants need to pay rent on time, cover the bills they are responsible for, and look after the property. This includes disposing of rubbish, and keeping the property reasonably clean. | Tenants need to pay rent on time, cover the bills they are responsible for, and look after the property. This includes disposing of rubbish, and keeping the property reasonably clean. |
| What can you do if your landlord won't fix something? | What can you do if your landlord won't fix something? |
| Call to extend safety checks to social housing | Call to extend safety checks to social housing |
| Exhausting, costly, miserable: My search to rent a one-bed flat | |
| Can my landlord refuse to rent to me if I have pets or children? | Can my landlord refuse to rent to me if I have pets or children? |
| It could be discrimination under equality law in England if a landlord refuses to rent a property to a woman because she has children. | It could be discrimination under equality law in England if a landlord refuses to rent a property to a woman because she has children. |
| Before you complain, you need to be able to show you can afford the rent, and that the property is a suitable size, Shelter says. | Before you complain, you need to be able to show you can afford the rent, and that the property is a suitable size, Shelter says. |
| The government's new model tenancy agreement assumes pets are allowed - unless landlords object with good reason | The government's new model tenancy agreement assumes pets are allowed - unless landlords object with good reason |
| Landlords should not issue blanket bans on pets, and must give a good reason to refuse them - for example, the property is too small. | Landlords should not issue blanket bans on pets, and must give a good reason to refuse them - for example, the property is too small. |
| However, they can charge a higher rent to cover the risk of pet damage. | However, they can charge a higher rent to cover the risk of pet damage. |
| More private renters could be allowed to keep pets | More private renters could be allowed to keep pets |
| Are bills included when I rent? | Are bills included when I rent? |
| Landlords can choose to include bills such as council tax, but don't have to. | Landlords can choose to include bills such as council tax, but don't have to. |
| If a landlord includes utility bills, they cannot charge more than they are paying. | If a landlord includes utility bills, they cannot charge more than they are paying. |
| What is happening to energy bills? | What is happening to energy bills? |
| Who pays council tax, and how much is it going up? | Who pays council tax, and how much is it going up? |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Renting | Renting |
| Cost of living | Cost of living |