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Our helpful guide provides an overview of tenant responsibilities during a tenancy and explains what to do in a range of situations that may arise while renting a property.
We hope your tenancy runs smoothly. However, if you experience any issues with the structure of the property or items provided by the landlord, you should report them promptly to the Property Management team so that an approved contractor can investigate.
In some cases, particularly for more complex or costly repairs in a rental property, the landlord may need to obtain multiple quotations or instruct a surveyor to assess the issue before work can proceed.
You will need to cooperate with reasonable access requests to allow contractors to attend. If appointments are missed or not rearranged, contractors may charge for failed visits.
You should not arrange repairs yourself unless there is a genuine emergency that poses an immediate risk to health, safety, or the property. In non-emergency situations, unauthorised work may not be reimbursed.
As part of your tenant responsibilities, you are expected to carry out general day-to-day maintenance appropriate for normal use of the property.
This includes tasks such as replacing light bulbs and fuses, keeping the property clean (including windows), maintaining the garden, and dealing with minor pest issues that arise during the tenancy.
Where reasonably accessible, you should take steps to prevent blockages in drains and gutters. You are also expected to ventilate the property adequately to reduce condensation. However, landlords remain responsible for investigating and resolving any underlying structural causes of damp or mould.
If the property includes a garden, it should be kept in a tidy and well-maintained condition. You must not remove established trees, shrubs or lawns, or carry out significant alterations without the landlord’s consent.
Landlords are legally required to ensure that smoke alarms are installed on each floor of the property and that carbon monoxide alarms are fitted where required. These must be working at the start of the tenancy.
During the tenancy, you are responsible for regularly testing alarms and replacing batteries where necessary. It is recommended that alarms are tested at least monthly. If an alarm is not working and replacing the batteries does not resolve the issue, you should report this promptly.
Under UK law, landlords must ensure that all gas appliances, systems and flues are checked at least every 12 months by a Gas Safe registered engineer. You should have received a copy of the Gas Safety Certificate at the start of your tenancy and must allow reasonable access for inspections.
These requirements do not apply to gas appliances that you own. For safety, it is advisable to have any tenant-owned appliances checked regularly.
Before carrying out any redecoration, alterations or improvements, you must obtain the landlord’s written consent. If changes are made without approval, you may be required to return the property to its original condition at your own cost at the end of the tenancy.
If you lose your keys or access fobs, you should contact your Property Manager as soon as possible. You are usually responsible for the cost of replacement keys and any locksmith services required. This may include replacing keys held by the landlord and, where applicable, communal access devices. Landlords are not responsible for the loss of keys by a tenant.
If your property is affected by a break-in or vandalism, you should report the incident to the police and obtain a crime reference number.
You should also notify your Property Manager promptly so that any damage to windows or external doors can be secured. A crime reference number is often required for insurance purposes.
If windows or glazing are damaged during your tenancy, you should report this immediately, particularly where safety or security is affected.
You may be responsible for the cost of repair or replacement where the damage has occurred during your tenancy. Repairs should be carried out on a like-for-like basis.
Most tenancies now operate on an ongoing (periodic) basis under current UK renting laws. From time to time, landlords may review rent in line with legislation.
Rent increases must follow the correct legal process, typically by serving formal notice, and are generally limited to once per year.
Under the Immigration Act 2014, landlords must ensure that all adult occupants have the right to rent property in England. Right to Rent checks will have been carried out before your tenancy began, and further checks may be required depending on your circumstances.
Only those named on the tenancy agreement are permitted to occupy the property. You must not transfer your tenancy to another person without consent.
If a named tenant wishes to leave, you should inform your landlord or letting agent as soon as possible so that appropriate arrangements can be made.
