Every coin has two sides, on one side, if the tenants get certain rights to safeguard their interests then on the other side, they need to fulfil certain responsibilities as well.
On the basis of doing right and being right, tenants and landlords can strike a cordial relationship. Tenants should understand their rights to protect their interests and should be clear on understanding their responsibilities while they stay at the rented property. When you live in your own house, you are not bound by any formal responsibilities as opposed to living as a tenant in a rented property.
Below are the few rights and responsibilities that every tenant should be aware of, and it is especially crucial if you a first-time renter. You can find more useful tips for first-time renters
here.
Rights of Tenants: Being a renter don’t land into a helpless situation. Below is the list of rights tenants should be aware of and exercise it should the need arise.
- Right to privacy: Landlords or letting agent do time-to-time property inspection. However, tenants should be well informed in advance about the visit. Any surprise visit is an invasion of privacy unless there is an emergency of a any kind. As a tenant, you can exercise your right to privacy and disapprove of any surprise or visits with short notice.
- Right to live in a safe home: Safety and security must be of paramount importance for any tenant. Irrespective of any terms and conditions jotted in the tenancy agreement, the tenant has the right to live in a safe and secure house and this is something beyond compromise. If the rental property is not equipped with all the fundamental safety measures, then the tenant has every right to raise the concern with the property management authorities to get the required safety measures installed at the property. Landlords must ensure before letting a property that the smoke detectors, CO2 alarm, fire alarm are installed and working, the new batteries are put in the thermostat and smoke detector. The required safety checks are done. All the lights, locks, water tabs are working properly.
- Right to ask for Deposit Money safety: When you enter into a Tenancy Agreement you pay a certain amount as a deposit (5 weeks rent) to the landlord. Landlords hold this deposit money as a token of security. The landlord or letting agency is expected to keep your deposit money protected. The tenant can exercise their right to insist on keeping the deposit money into Government Deposit Protection Scheme and mention all the details about the transaction to be included in the Tenancy Agreement. Landlord/letting agent must provide Tenant with the receipt for the same. A landlord is expected to give back the deposit amount at the end of the Tenancy period however Landlord may deduct some amount. The amount that is returned to the tenant depends upon the state in which the property is handed back to the landlord. Any damages, wear and tear due to usage from the tenant is compensated in the form of a deduction from the deposit amount by the landlord.
- Easy connect with Landlord/Letting Agent: The Landlord or the letting agency have to provide tenants with the contact details such as the phone numbers, address, email id. In case of emergency, a tenant may need to contact the landlord or letting agent for help. Tenants should not be deprived of the right to contact them.
- Right to receive Tenancy Agreement copy: Tenancy agreement is at the heart of the renting property deal between the landlord and the tenant. As a tenant, it is your right to receive a copy of a tenancy agreement duly signed by both the parties (tenant and landlord).In tenancy agreement takes the shape of a legal document and hence should clearly be mentioned all the responsibilities of the tenant and landlord leaving no room for any confusion. The number of days a tenant can stay in the rental property, the break clause, the notice period, etc. is generally mentioned. Besides this, contact details of the landlord/ letting agency, the inventory list with photographs is attached with the tenancy agreement should make their way into this document as well. So, it is the single most important thing that is extremely important to have it in possession for tenants.
- Safety Certificates: One-way landlords can assure tenants about the safety of the property is by providing all the valid safety certificates of various utilities in the house. The landlord/letting agent is responsible to carry out periodic checks from the utility providers and must provide the tenant with all the required safety certificates such as Gas Safety Certificate (GSC), Energy Performance Certificate (EPC), Boiler safety certificate, etc.
Responsibilities of Tenant: Along with the above rights, tenants have certain responsibilities to fulfil while staying at the rental property.
- Paying rent on time: It is the responsibility of a tenant to pay rent on time. The rent amount and the date of payment of rent are pre-decided and mentioned in the tenancy agreement. Normally rent is paid every month. Tenants may be asked to give standing instructions to their bank for auto-debit of rent every month. It is the responsibility of a Tenant to maintain sufficient balance in the bank account.
- Registering with the local council: The first thing the tenant needs to do is to register himself/herself with the local council. The tenant is responsible to call the local council and informing them about the date on which they started living at the rental property. Tenants might have to give bank details to set up a direct debit for a council tax deduction. At the time of leaving the property, tenants need to inform the local council again and inform them about the date of leaving the property.
- Registering with Utility Providers: Tenants have to call various utility providers such as gas, electricity and water and inform them about the meter readings from the date property is occupied by them. At the time of leaving the property also tenants need to inform the date of leaving the property along with meter readings.
- Paying Utility Bills: Most of the time tenants are responsible to pay utility bills such as water, gas, electricity. If it is pre-decided and mentioned in the tenancy agreement that the rent is inclusive of utility bills and council tax, then only the landlord will pay the utility bills and council tax. Otherwise, a tenant is responsible to pay the utility bills.
- Maintaining property in good shape: The day-to-day maintenance of the rental property is the responsibility of a Tenant. As a tenant, you must keep the property clean, dispose of garbage from time to time. Keep the house properly ventilated. Maintain the garden. It is the moral and legal responsibility of tenants to take every step to keep the property in good shape. Tenants should hold themselves responsible to maintain furniture, inventories and overall cleanliness of the rental property.
- Handle the appliances with care: It is the responsibility of a tenant to handle all the appliances in the rental property with utmost care. If any damage occurs it is the tenant’s duty to inform the landlord/letting agent at the earliest as the appliance might be in warranty period and it can be replaced. Even if it is not in the warranty period, it can be repaired in time before the damage is big.
- Responsibility towards neighbours: When the landlord lets his property, he expects the tenants of the property to be reasonable with the neighbours. Any complaint from neighbour is the last thing that the landlord wants. So, it is the responsibility of a tenant to be a good neighbour by showing understanding and care towards the people living around the rental property.
There is a clear distinction between the rights and responsibilities of tenants. If you know them well and apply them properly, it will surely be an easy ride for you as a tenant.
For better understanding you can always refer to
UK Government website
Image Source: Freepik
