Your rights as a tenant will vary according to what kind of tenant you are, but the vast majority of UK renters will be Assured Shorthold Tenants, which means you are renting the property you live in for a fixed term. The fixed terms can vary in length, but will never be less than six months.
Examples of tenancies that are not Assured or Shorthold would be those of a holiday property you let for just a few weeks at a time, or a property rented for you by a company. Also not counted as Assured or Shorthold are rooms or properties let to you by an educational facility such as a college or university, or the temporary accommodation provided for the homeless. Also be aware that renting a property that has a resident landlord also disqualifies you from being an Assured Shorthold Tenant (such as lodging in somebody’s home).
Rights of Assured Shorthold Tenants
For starters, you have the right to remain in the property until the contractually agreed fixed term comes to an end. Once the fixed term has ended, you can remain in the property until the landlord gives you notice (or you sign for another fixed term). A landlord will have the right to evict you only if:
Rent has not been paid
The property has been damaged
Any other terms of the tenancy agreement have been broken
Assured Shorthold Tenants also have the right to have the property kept in a reasonable condition, which the landlord is responsible for. You can insist on repairs (assuming they were not needed due to damage caused by yourself). Do bear in mind that insistence of such things that aren’t particularly necessary can often lead to a landlord being unwilling to renew your fixed term agreement once the original one has ended.
You also have the legal right not to be discriminated against due to your gender, a disability, sexual orientation or nationality. Other areas covered by this anti-discrimination law are pregnancy and maternity, gender reassignment or religious beliefs.
Your spouse also has the right to take over your tenancy in the event of your untimely demise via the right of succession.
Tenancy Deposit Protection Rights
The law now requires a tenant’s deposit to be held securely until they move out of the property. Landlords are required to either pay it into a government-backed tenancy deposit scheme or to pay an insurance premium to guarantee its availability at the end of the tenancy. It is still technically possible (though rare) for landlords to accept non-cash items as a deposit (such as a car or other valuable item), but these kinds of deposits are not covered by the government protection.
Seeking advice on tenancy agreements and rights through a professional letting agency can be a good way to ensure you understand everything in your agreement before signing on the dotted line.
