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What Are My Legal Rights as a Tenant?

DJP Solicitors

Renting from a private landlord should be a simple process in theory, but unfortunately this isn’t always the case. With plenty of complications possibly arising, alongside disputes which you may have no control over, familiarising yourself with your legal rights as a tenant may be a smart move before entering into any sort of agreement. To avoid legal repercussions and make sense of your responsibilities and allowances, read ahead. DJP Solicitors are here with you every step of the way, from reviewing a contract to acting as lawyers representing you in court should we need to.



General Rights

As a tenant, you have a distinctive set of rights while residing in a private tenant’s property, and this may relate to everything from payments and repairs to written agreements and eviction information. In basic terms, any tenant is entitled to live in a property which is safe and in a good state of repair, while every tenant is entitled to have their deposit returned when the tenancy ends. From the beginning of a tenancy agreement you should legally know who your landlord is, while living in the property undisturbed and protected from unfair eviction or unfair rent. Does any of this sound like something you have been deprived of? It may be time to consult our legal services.


Your Responsibilities

Of course, the set of rights you are given as a tenant exist alongside certain responsibilities, which may pertain to repairs, routine inspections and reasonable behaviour. First and foremost, your landlord should give you a 24 hour notice period before inspecting your rental property - unless the circumstances are recognised as an emergency. Individually, you should always strive to take good care of the property, and pay the previously agreed rent, alongside utility bills or any other additional agreed costs. There are other actions which can have legal consequences should you not inform a landlord, such as subletting their property without permission.


Repairs And Rent

Two regular points of conflict between tenant and landlord are repair costs and rent disputes, with both of these topics likely to cause some tension if disagreements arise. If your landlord is responsible for repairs, they should do them in an amount of time deemed reasonable, and this will likely vary from issue to issue. What counts as reasonable depends on the problem itself, for example a broken boiler during the Winter should be fixed sooner than a leak or broken door hinge.

 

In terms of the rental agreement, your landlord might be able to legally evict you if you don’t pay your whole rent on time, therefore if you think you may miss a rent payment, you should talk to them immediately and try to resolve matters.

 

Looking to find a solicitor locally? Our experienced and friendly legal professionals may be able to assist. Contact us as soon as you require representation or advice.

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