Tenant and landlord responsibilities

As a tenant, you will have certain rights and responsibilities in relation to your tenancy, and the maintenance of your home. Although these can vary depending on the type of tenancy, the basic rules are always the same.

For the latest information on the rights and responsibilities of private renting and how to deal with landlords and letting agents, you can visit:

• Renting is changing (for landlords) (external link) - new rights and responsibilities for landlords in England
• Renting is changing (for tenants) (external link)
• Shelter (external link)
• Tenants and landlords in the private rented sector (external link).

Please note: If you have a licence rather than an assured tenancy, you may not have all of these rights. Get advice if you're not sure whether you're a tenant or a licensee.

Key tenant responsibilities

• Providing documents for a right to rent check - your landlord has to check you have the right to rent a home (external link).
• Paying rent on time
• Looking after your home
• Asking permission when needed - for example if you want to get a lodger or make improvements
• Taking responsibility for behaviour - you should not behave in an antisocial or aggressive way towards neighbours, your landlord or letting agency, nor should any visitors to your home
• Keep to the rules of your tenancy
• End your tenancy properly and give the required amount of notice - you may still be liable for rent if you don't.

See landlord duties and support for the key responsibilities of a landlord.

Who is responsible for repairs?

Tenants

• Keeping it clean
• Not damaging the property and making sure your guests don’t either
• Carrying out minor maintenance such as replacing smoke alarm batteries
• Using the heating properly
• Not blocking flues or ventilation
• Carrying out minor repairs relating to internal decorations, gardens and furniture.

How-to repair videos

The Council have produced a number of ‘How-to’ repair videos to help with carrying out some basic checks and repairs around the home:

• How to plumb a washing machine in (external link)
• How to check faulty electric fuses and appliances (external link)
• How to fix a loose window handle (external link)
• How to check for heating issues (external link)
• How to tighten a toilet seat (external link)
• How to turn the power supply off in an emergency (external link).

Landlords

• The structure and exterior of the building, including the walls, stairs and bannisters, roof and chimney, external doors and windows, and guttering
• Electrical safety - landlords must supply a current and satisfactory Electrical Installation Condition Report (external link) to their tenant
• A valid EPC Certificate with an energy performance rating of at least a band E - view Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) Regulations
• Carry out an annual gas safety check - view landlord gas safety responsibilities (external link)
• Sinks, baths, toilets and other sanitary fittings, including pipes and drains
• Heating and hot water - equipment supplying water must be in safe working order
• Chimneys and ventilation
• At least one smoke alarm must be placed on each habitable storey of the property used as living accommodation
• Ensure a carbon monoxide alarm is equipped in any room used as living accommodation which contains a fixed combustion appliance
• Significant damp or mould problems - see how to deal with damp and mould in rented homes (external link)
• Ensure the property is safe and free of significant hazards.

My landlord won't carry out repairs

If you have reported repairs to the landlord but they have failed to carry these out, and you feel that this is having a detrimental effect on you, you may be able to report your concerns to the Council’s Housing Standards team.

For further information on the steps you need to take, see our page Private landlord not carrying out repairs.