Tenant rights
Issues can arise for both landlords and tenants and it’s important to know your rights in the event of a dispute or a problem. Our guides can help you find out all you need to know about your rights as a tenant.
Answers to your problems
-
What should I know before I start renting?
Over four million homes in the UK are being privately rented. It pays to know your rights as a private tenant - use or checklist before you rent.
-
Do I have to pay a holding deposit?
Letting agents may ask you to pay a holding deposit if you want to reserve a property. Read our guide on what happens and how you can protect your deposit.
-
How do different tenancy agreements impact my rights?
There are different types of tenancies in the UK for private renters, including assured shorthold tenancies, HMO tenancies and lodger agreements. Each has an impact on what your rights are
-
I want to move out before the end of my tenancy, can I do this?
If you want to leave before the end of your tenancy, read the Which? advice to make sure you're not liable for months and months of rent.
-
My landlord has increased the rent, do I have to pay it?
If your landlord has increased the rent and you believe it to be excessive, read the Which? guide on what you can do.
-
My landlord wants to evict me because of rent arrears
If you have rent arrears, you need to act quickly. Read the Which? guide on what you should do to avoid being evicted.
-
My landlord won't return my security deposit, what can I do?
If you're in dispute with your landlord over a security deposit you can use an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) service. Read on to find out how.
-
There’s damp and mould in my rented home, who's responsible?
Damp and mould are common problems in rented properties. Whether you or the landlord are responsible for fixing it depends on the type of damp it is and what caused it. We share the dos and don'ts for dealing with damp and mould.
Step by step guides
-
How to complain about your landlord
It is an offence for your landlord to do anything they think would make you leave the home. Follow these steps if you have grounds for complaint.
-
How to claim against your landlord for disrepair
If your rented property is in disrepair it's your landlord's responsibility to fix it. Follow the Which? guide on what to do to ensure repairs are carried out.
-
How to complain about your letting agent
If you don't feel your letting agent has done their job properly, follow the Which? step-by-step on what you can do next.
Letters
-
Letter to report repairs to be carried out by the landlord
If your rented property is in disrepair, use the Which? template letter to notify your landlord or letting agent and to request they repair the property.
-
Letter asking for your deposit back if paid after 6 April 2007
If you paid your deposit after 6 April 2007 your landlord should have put it in a tenancy deposit protection scheme. Use this letter to get it back.
-
Letter asking for your deposit back if paid before 6 April 2007
If you’re in dispute with your landlord over the return of your deposit and you paid it before 6 April 2007, use this template letter