A Guide to Tenant Rights in the UK

As many as 4.4 million households rented a home in the UK in 2021. A large number of rented houses in the UK translates into a large number of tenants who may or may not be fully aware of their rights under the tenancy laws of the country. If you have rented private property in the UK, you must know your rights as a tenant.

It’s always better to hire a tenancy solicitor when renting a property. However, if you didn’t and currently have issues with your landlord, this blog will help you understand your legal rights.

The Tenant’s Rights

From maintenance to lawful rental increments, the landlords have several obligations under the law. Read more to determine what kind of responsibilities your landlord has towards you as a tenant.

Information on Identity

UK law makes it obligatory for a landlord to share their identity with their tenants. In case you’re living in a rental property that you acquired through an agent or agency, ask them to share the details of your landlord. If your landlord doesn’t share their identity with you in 21 days, they’ll be fined by the authorities for withholding this information.

Safety of the Property

In addition to sharing their identity with the tenant, the landlords are also obliged to provide safety certifications of the rented property. As per the law, tenants have the right to live in a space that’s safe and in a good state. Therefore, a landlord must provide you with EPC, gas safety certification, and electricity maintenance records.

Maintenance and Repair

Maintenance and repairs of a rental property are the responsibility of a landlord unless stated otherwise in your tenancy agreement. In case there’s a tenant and landlord dispute over hot running water, leakage, or electrical repair, you can challenge your landlord in court and get the repairs done.

Rent Increase and Eviction

A landlord cannot increase the rent of a property as per their wish. Instead, UK laws allow a landlord to increase a certain percentage of rent in a specified period. So if your landlord has been increasing rent unjustly now and then, you can report it to the authorities without paying the new rent. However, once you pay a new increased rent, you can’t challenge it. Similarly, a landlord has to give the tenant a reasonable amount of time to evict the property and cannot force a tenant on an emergency basis.

Protection of Privacy

A tenant has the right to enjoy privacy in a rented property without disturbance from the landlord. In case of emergency repairs, the tenant should allow the landlord to enter the premises without notice. Otherwise, a landlord has to notify the tenant 24 hours in advance to inspect the property.

Know Your Legal Rights

If you are renting a property in Wembley, hire a landlord solicitor or tenancy solicitor from Wembley Solicitor. Contact us for commercial leases, agreement disputes, and other legal matters.