Key takeaways:
- Go through the 7 United Kingdom tenant’s rights that landlords must know.
- Associate with professional property management services that can help you manage your apartment from marketing to guest screening to maintenance.
Understanding the importance of tenant rights is a legal obligation for landlords and a key factor in maintaining a positive landlord-tenant relationship.
According to a study, a one-unit increase in the Tenant-Right Index reduces eviction rates by 8.9%.
So don’t you want to ensure consistent occupancy rates in your rental property?
Do you want to know the important United Kingdom tenant’s rights?
Let’s dive into the nitty-gritty aspects of tenancy laws in the UK.
7 Important Tenant Rights You Must Know
Being a landlord, you don’t want to get into a legal spat with your tenant. So you must be aware of the top seven tenancy laws in the UK. Here are the important tenant rights you must know:
1. Right to a safe and well-maintained property
Your tenants have the right to live in a property that is safe and in good repair. Being a landlord, you must ensure that your property meets the necessary health and safety standards.
For example, you can regularly check the heating system or ensure the electrical wiring is safe for the tenants. Similarly, you can regularly check other aspects of your property, ensuring that your tenets have the best and safest living space.
2. Right to deposit return and protection
You must return the deposit when your tenant’s tenure period ends. But before that, check that they meet the tenancy agreement terms.
Although they have the right to have their deposit returned, you must be sure. Also, certain situations can give you the right to protect the deposit if the tenant has intentionally damaged your property.
3. Right to challenge excessive charges
You must know that your tenants can question if they feel you are charging too much or if the price increase does not match the general market sentiment.
As a landlord, you should be prepared to justify any charges or fees. Keep the process transparent and justify your actions related to the rental prices.
For example, if you charge extra for property maintenance, the cost should be reasonable and the tenants should know the price.
4. Right to know about the landlord’s details
Tenants have the right to know their landlord’s original identity. If they don’t know who their landlord is, they can write to you or the company you are associated with for property management.
You have 21 days to reveal your information to the tenants, or else you will be fined by the government for hiding your identity from your tenants.
Being transparent with the process can help you build trust and ensure your tenants know who to contact if they have a major issue related to the property.
5. Right to live undisturbed
Tenants in the UK have the right to enjoy the property without unnecessary interference. It means you should avoid frequent unannounced visits or inspections. You can contact them via text or voice to avoid physical interaction and give them space.
Continuously failing to respect a tenant’s right to live undisturbed can lead to legal issues. Tenants may seek legal advice or action if they feel their rights are being violated.
For example, you can give advance notice before visiting the property. But in case of emergencies, you can skip this part.
6. Right to fair treatment eviction
Tenants are protected from any unfair eviction, like evictions based on discriminatory reasons, such as the tenant’s race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or disability.
If you want to evict them, you should provide them with proper legal documents, depending on the circumstances. The notice should be given in writing and mention the date your tenant is expected to leave the property.
7. Right to a written agreement
A tenant with a fixed-term tenancy of more than 3 years has the right to a written agreement outlining important things about the tenancy. You should provide them with one.
But what’s written in the agreement?
It is a detailed document outlining the terms and conditions under which the tenant rents the property. It includes the duration of the tenancy, rent amount, payment intervals, and any other conditions or rules pertinent to the tenancy.
These are the important tenant rights in the UK you must know. However, knowing and following all laws can be complex.
That’s where you can trust property management services from Pluxa Apartments.
Associate with Pluxa Apartments
At Pluxa Apartments, we offer property management services to help you escape the hassles of managing your apartment and complying with the laws.
From marketing to guest screening to maintenance, our support team can help you ensure you focus on what you do best.
So what’s making you wait?
Contact our team and adhere to all the tenant’s laws without legal complications.
FAQs
What rights do tenants have in the UK?
There are multiple tenant rights in the UK, but you must be aware of a few important ones:
- The tenancy agreement should be fair and comply with the law.
- The tenant has the right to know who the landlord is.
- They are protected from unfair eviction and unfair rent
- The written agreement has a fixed-term tenancy of more than 3 years.
What are the new tenancy laws in the UK?
The new Renters Reform Bill was introduced by the UK government in 2023 to improve the renting experience for both landlords and tenants. Here are the important updates:
- Tenants can only be evicted on specific grounds, such as landlords selling, moving back in, or refurbishing.
- In the case of a rent increase, the notice period is doubled.
- The new bill abolishes Section 21 “no fault” evictions.
- Now, there are minimum housing standards.
