During the tenancy

Landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that every adult occupant aged 18 or over has the right to rent property in England. Right to Rent checks are carried out before the tenancy begins, and follow-up checks may be required in certain circumstances depending on your immigration status.

You must not assign or transfer your tenancy to another person without the landlord’s consent. Only those named in the tenancy agreement are permitted to occupy the property. If one of the named tenants wishes to leave, whether or not they are being replaced, you should inform your landlord or letting agent as soon as possible so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

Tenants are responsible for day-to-day household maintenance and general upkeep, including tasks that would reasonably be expected during normal use of the property.

This may include replacing light bulbs and fuses, keeping the property clean (including windows), maintaining the garden where applicable, and dealing with minor pest issues that arise during the tenancy.

Where reasonably accessible, you should also help prevent blockages in drains and gutters. You are expected to take reasonable steps to ventilate the property to reduce condensation, such as opening windows or using extractor fans. However, landlords remain responsible for investigating and addressing any underlying structural issues that may contribute to damp or mould.

If the property includes a garden, it should be kept in a tidy and well-maintained condition throughout the tenancy.

You must not remove established plants, trees or shrubs, or carry out significant alterations without the landlord’s consent.

If you experience any issues with the structure of the property or items provided by the landlord, you should report these promptly to your landlord or letting agent so that they can arrange the appropriate repairs.

For more significant repairs, the landlord may need to obtain quotations or arrange further inspections before work can proceed. You should cooperate with reasonable access requests to allow contractors to attend. If an appointment is arranged and access is not provided, contractors may charge for missed visits.

You should not arrange repairs yourself unless there is a genuine emergency that presents an immediate risk to health, safety, or the property. In non-emergency situations, unauthorised work may not be reimbursed.

Landlords are legally required to ensure that smoke alarms are installed on each floor of the property and that carbon monoxide alarms are fitted in rooms containing fixed combustion appliances, such as gas boilers or solid fuel appliances. These must be in working order at the start of the tenancy.

During the tenancy, you are responsible for testing alarms regularly and replacing batteries where required. It is recommended that alarms are tested at least once a month. If an alarm is not working and replacing the batteries does not resolve the issue, you should report this promptly to your landlord or letting agent.

By law, landlords must ensure that gas appliances, systems and flues are checked at least once every 12 months by a Gas Safe registered engineer.

You should be provided with a copy of the Gas Safety Certificate and must allow reasonable access for inspections.

These requirements do not apply to appliances that you own. For safety reasons, it is advisable to have any personal gas appliances checked regularly by a qualified engineer.

You must obtain the landlord’s written consent before carrying out any redecoration, alterations or improvements to the property.

If changes are made without permission, you may be required to return the property to its original condition at your own cost at the end of the tenancy.

If you lose your keys or access fobs, you should notify your landlord or letting agent as soon as possible.

You will usually be responsible for the cost of replacement keys, and where necessary, locksmith services. This may include replacing keys held by the landlord and, in some cases, communal access devices.

In the event of a break-in or vandalism, you should report the incident to the police and obtain a crime reference number, as this is often required for insurance purposes.

You should also inform your landlord or letting agent promptly so that any damage to the property can be secured and repaired.

If windows or glazing are damaged during the tenancy, this should be reported promptly, particularly where safety or security is affected.

You may be responsible for the cost of repairs where the damage has occurred during your tenancy, and any replacement should be carried out on a like-for-like basis.

Most tenancies now continue on an ongoing (periodic) basis unless ended in line with the law. Under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, all assured tenancies operate on a rolling basis.

From time to time, landlords may review the rent in accordance with current legislation. Rent increases must follow the correct legal process, typically by providing formal notice, are generally limited to once per year, and cannot be raised within the first year.