Landlord's responsibilities
The landlord is responsible for:
- repairs to the structure and exterior of the property, heating and hot water systems, basins, sinks, baths and other sanitaryware
- safety of gas and electrical appliances
- fire safety of furniture and furnishings provided under the tenancy
- ensuring that the property is fit for habitation
- repairing and keeping in working order the room and water heating equipment
- the common areas in multi-occupancy dwellings
Landlord Registration Scheme
All private landlords must register before letting a new tenancy. To check if your landlord or their property is registered, go to:
Protecting a tenant's deposit
The landlord must protect your deposit in a tenancy deposit scheme and give you information about the scheme.
Living in a house in multiple occupation
If you rent your home from a private landlord and it's a house in multiple occupation (HMO), the landlord must license the property as a HMO with the local council.
You can ask the council if your home is licensed as a HMO:
Tenant's responsibilities
The tenant is responsible for:
- paying the rent and taking care of the property
- bills such as gas, electricity and telephone if this was agreed with your landlord
Renting a room in the owner's home
If you rent a room in a property and the landlord also lives there, you're a licensee, not a tenant. You don't have the same rights as a tenant. The landlord can ask you to leave but doesn't need to give you written notice to quit.
Deciding to rent privately
Before you start looking for accommodation, you should know:
- size
- type
- location
of accommodation you need.
You need to decide how much you can afford as rent. When deciding the area, think about how close this is to:
- where you work
- bus and train stops
- schools and shops
- your friends and family
- medical care
- where you socialise
As some owners don't advertise property to rent, tell friends or colleagues you want to rent accommodation.
Finding a home to rent
You can find private rented accommodation:
- in local newspapers under 'property to let' columns
- on property websites
- on classified advertising websites
- in shop window or notice board advertisements
- through estate agents or letting agents
- if properties have 'to let' signs outside
Letting agent's fees
If you use a letting agent to find you a property to rent, they might charge you certain fees. Where the fees are for work the letting agent did for your landlord, you might get these fees refunded to you by the letting agent.
Fees paid to a letting agent
If you paid fees to a letting agent in the last six years and kept evidence of:
- how much you paid
- what you paid for
you can ask the letting agent to refund what you paid.
For more information about getting fees back from letting agents, go to:
Finding student accommodation
To read more about student accommodation, go to: