Private tenants
Find out more about having a fixed-term tenancy, as well as your rights and responsibilities as a private tenant.
Your tenancy agreement sets out your legal rights and responsibilities as a tenant.
You’ll receive a copy of the agreement when you sign up to your tenancy and you should check the specific rights and responsibilities listed. As it’s a legal document, you should keep it safe in case you need it in the future.
Fixed-term tenancies
A fixed-term tenancy lasts for an agreed number of years, usually one, two, or three years. At the end of your tenancy, you may have the option to agree a new fixed-term tenancy.
Periodic tenancies
If a further fixed term isn’t agreed at the end of your tenancy, you’ll automatically move to a periodic tenancy. These are month-to-month contracts based on the terms of your previous agreement, but without the security of a fixed-term tenancy.
Joint tenancies
A joint tenancy allows more than one person to rent a home. Under a joint tenancy, a single rent is paid and all the named tenants have joint rights and responsibilities. This means that if there's a breach by one person, it results in a breach by all tenants.
Rights and responsibilities
Rights
Although the property is owned by us, it’s your home and you have the right to live in it without interruption from us, as long as you keep to the terms of your tenancy agreement.
Responsibilities
There are a number of things you agree to as part of your tenancy agreement, such as:
- paying your rent and service charges on time
- treating your neighbours with consideration and respect
- dealing with pests, such as mice or rats.
Repairs
We’re responsible for the structure of your property, communal areas, and any fixtures and fittings we supplied. For example, we’ll look after:
- plumbing
- electric heating
- communal areas, like entrances or lifts
- roofs, gutters, and drains
- keeping your home secure and weatherproof.
You’re responsible for interior decoration, looking after your garden, and maintaining any goods you bring into your home. This means you have to look after things like door handles, locks, and blocked sinks.
Ending your tenancy
Your individual tenancy agreement sets out how and when you can end your tenancy. Usually, you’ll have to send us written notice in line with your tenancy’s agreed notice period. You can’t end your tenancy during a fixed-term tenancy, unless your agreement contains an agreed break clause.
After you give us notice, we’ll phone you to chat everything through. We’ll then send you a written reply within three working days that confirms the last day of your tenancy. This will also include the date and time of your check-out inventory, which is usually on your last day.
Getting your deposit back
The check-out inventory compares the condition of the property with the inventory done when you moved in. If there are any issues, we’ll discuss them on the day and let you know of any potential deductions from your deposit. Any deductions will then be confirmed in writing within three days.
We then complete the landlord part of the deposit release process with the Deposit Protection Service (DPS), while you complete the tenant part on the DPS website. The DPS then releases your deposit. If there’s a disagreement over your deposit repayment, you should raise a dispute with the DPS.
Deposit Protection Service: www.depositprotection.com
Getting your deposit back
To end a fixed-term joint tenancy, all the named tenants must sign the written notice.
If your fixed term has ended and your joint tenancy has become a periodic tenancy, one person can end the tenancy as a whole.
Anyone wanting to remain in the property will need to complete a new application process before the end of the notice period.