FAQs

What do I need to do when I move in to the property?

• Read the gas, electricity, water and phone meters on the first day of your tenancy, even if you are not moving in until later.
• Find out where the water stopcock, electricity switch, fuse box and the gas isolator valve are, so that they can be easily located in an emergency.
• Ensure that you have the landlord’s or manager’s telephone number in case of an emergency.

What are the responsibilities of my landlord?

Your landlord has certain responsibilities to follow to ensure that he is meeting his obligations to you as his tenant. These are to:

• Provide their name and address and their agent’s, where applicable.
• Provide a written statement of the conditions of the tenancy.
• Provide a rent book if you pay weekly or a receipt for the rent payment if you pay fortnightly or monthly.
• Respect the fact that you need peace and quiet in your home.
• Give you plenty of notice, in writing, if they need to get into your home to do repairs and so on.
• Provide a legal notice if they want you to leave the property.
• Ensure that your mail is secured and not interfered with by making suitable arrangements.
• Make sure that gas appliances are tested once a year and provide a copy of the gas safety certificate within 28 days of the test taking place.
• Ensure that any upholstered furniture is fire resistant and has a sewn in label to prove this.
• The landlord’s insurance will not cover your possessions, so you will need to insure them yourself.

What are my responsibilities as a tenant?

There are several things you must do to meet your obligations as a tenant and keep on good terms with your landlord. These are listed below:

• Pay your rent on time.
• Behave in a sensible and reasonable manner and do not cause nuisance to neighbours or others.
• Do not damage the property’s fixtures, fittings or furniture. If there is furniture you do not want in the property, ask the landlord to remove it. Do not store it elsewhere without their permission.
• Get your landlord’s permission to make changes to the property. Do not just assume it will be ok.
• Always inform the landlord, as soon as possible, if repairs are needed.
• At reasonable times and preferably by appointment, allow the landlord to have access to the property, to carry out repairs etc.
• Do not sub-let or take in a lodger without asking your landlord’s permission.
• Give the landlord the required amount of notice if you wish to leave the property.
• If the landlord has any other responsibilities for you to follow, they should be included in the tenancy agreement.

How do I keep my property safe?

• Keep the fire escape route clear at all times.
• Do not overload your electric sockets.
• Use the locks and bolts provided whenever possible, to avoid unwanted visitors from entering the property.

Is the landlord allowed to enter the property at any time?

The landlord is not allowed to enter the property at any time. However, a landlord has right of access to the property to check for necessary repairs. To do this, they must give you twenty four hours’ written notice. This could be less in an emergency but the landlord cannot enter the property until they have sought your agreement.

What do I do if the living conditions in the property are unsatisfactory?

The property you rent should be a healthy and safe environment and free from unavoidable hazards. If the property is affecting your health and safety or is in need of repair, contact the landlord in writing, and keep a copy of this letter. You can contact the Bond Board if you need help with this. The landlord should respond promptly by arranging for repairs or other actions to take place. If the landlord does not respond promptly or refuses to fix the problem(s), you could follow the following advice:

• Do not stop paying the rent – the landlord could have grounds to take you to court to evict you if this happens.
• Contact the Bond Board who will contact the landlord to request that any remedial action is carried out within a reasonable time period.
• Further enforcement action may be taken by the Council if the landlord still refuses to cooperate – this would require a full inspection of your home.

What should I do if my neighbours are excessively noisy?

You do not have to put up with excessive noise or antisocial behaviour from your neighbours – it is your right to live in a peaceful environment. If your neighbours are causing you nuisance or harassment, tell your landlord and contact your local Environmental Health Team for advice.

I have not paid my rent. What will happen now?

It is your responsibility to pay your rent on time. If you do not pay the rent, for any reason, the landlord can start possession proceedings to evict you from the property.

If the landlord refuses to accept rent from you, write to the landlord stating that you want to pay and keep a copy of the letter. Try to pay and if the landlord still refuses, make sure you have an independent witness. Keep your rent money in a separate account so that you can pay when asked. If the case then goes to court, you can prove that it was the landlord who acted incorrectly, not you.

I want to end my tenancy and move to another property. What do I do?

You need to give at least 28 days’ written notice to your landlord, to end your tenancy. You should keep a copy of this notice. However, if you have a fixed term agreement, for example, an assured shorthold tenancy, you do not have the automatic right to surrender your tenancy within the fixed term, and therefore, may have to pay rent until the end of the agreement, unless it contains a clause allowing you to leave early. Once this period is up, you need to give 28 days’ written notice as before.

What should I do if the landlord wants to end my tenancy or evict me?

Your landlord must give you a valid written notice, which matches what is stated in the tenancy agreement. The length and type of notice you should receive will depend on what type of tenancy you have.

In most cases a court order is required before you can be legally evicted. Make sure you get advice from the Bond Board if you are unsure about anything.

Remember that it is a criminal offence for your landlord to evict you without following the correct legal procedure or tries to get you to leave by threatening you or cutting off the fuel supplies and so on. If this happens, make a detailed note of the situation(s), get witnesses if possible, and get advice from the Bond Board and/or your local Council straight away.

What do I need to do before I leave the property?

There are several things you need to do before you leave the property. These are listed below:

• Ensure the property is clean and that everything is as you found it when you first moved in.
• Ask the landlord, in writing, to inspect the property (keep a copy of this). If the landlord is unhappy with the property, ask how to put things right, so that you can get your deposit back in full (deductions would be made for unsatisfactory factors).
• Make sure that any pre-payment meters in the house are paid off in full, or if you pay bills for gas, electricity, water, phone and so on, arrange to have the meters read on the day you move out and get the final bills sent to your new address.
• Do not rely on the deposit to pay your last month’s rent. You have to pay rent until the end of your tenancy, and you may not get the whole deposit back if the landlord considers something to be unsatisfactory and makes a deduction from it.
• Return all keys to the landlord when you leave, either in person or by registered post.