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Tenancy agreements and contracts

• Tenancy agreements are contracts, meaning that both you and the landlord agree to certain conditions. These usually cover: your rights to stay as a resident in the place; the amount of rent; responsibility for maintenance and repairs to the property; rights of access to the property by the landlord.  You have a legal right to a written contract (most often called a 'lease') provided by the landlord.
  
• The landlord must provide you with a contract that states the monthly rent, the length of the contract and the conditions that both you (the tenant) and the landlord must stick to. 
  
• Make sure you understand all the terms before you sign - don't be rushed into signing there and then. 
  
• Check what is included in the rent, who is responsible for repairs and bills and what is expected in terms of notice to leave etc.
  
• If you rent a room in someone's house and the landlord or their family lives there too, you are classed as 'Renting from a resident landlord'.  You have fewer rights than if you were renting an independent home, so it's worth getting contract details down in writing in case something goes wrong.
  
• Assured short hold tenancy: if you don't share with your landlord or their family, you'll probably have this type of tenancy.  The 'shorthold' bit means that there may be a specific time limit given to the agreement, after which the lease can be renewed or ended.  The usual and shortest period is six months. 
  

Paying rent and bills

• To avoid being evicted, pay the rent on time.  Ask for a rent book, which can be signed by the landlord as proof of payment; otherwise, make sure you get receipts and keep them in a safe place. 
  
• When you move out, the landlord will deduct the cost of any broken or missing items from the deposit - but if everything is as it should be, you should get your full deposit back.
  
• If you're a tenant in a bedsit or flatshare, your landlord may pay the bills and pass the cost on to you - so you need to be sure you're being charged the right amount. 
  
• As soon as you move in, get the landlord to come and read the gas, electricity and (if there is one) water meter with you, write the figures down and keep them in a safe place.

 

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