Many private tenants are unaware of what they have a right to request from their landlords whilst they are living in rental properties. Although official agreements are always written up in contracts, there remain a number of legal duties which landlords must fulfill for their tenants.

A recent YouGov survey revealed that two-thirds of tenants would like to see these duties made clearer. This may encourage more tenants to approach their landlord should they have an issue with their accommodation.

Many prefer to do business via letting agents as they draw up professional contracts for both the landlord and the tenant.

This article aims to explore a number of tenants’ rights which should be included in contracts.

Repair

Tenants have the right to expect their home to be kept in good repair by their landlord. Any problems with heating or water supply should be dealt with as soon as possible whilst facilities like gas and electricity should be kept in safe working order at all times.

Conditions

No tenant should be expected to live in a property that negatively affects their health in any way. It is up to the landlord to make adjustments should any part of their property make their tenant ill. Those who fail to fulfill this duty should be reported to the Environmental Health Department.

Contract

Any landlord that wants to end a tenancy agreement early should be expected to give a minimum of two weeks notice so the tenant is able to find another accommodation. The amount of notice given should appear on the tenancy agreement and agreed by both parties. The same rules apply to when landlords decide to increase the rent.

Those who are concerned about other areas of agreements between landlords and tenants should consult their landlord or local letting agents in order to get more information.