Landlord rights and responsibilities
As a landlord or agent you have rights and responsibilities. Visit GOV.UK to read the guidance: Renters' Rights Act: an overview for landlords
Tenancy deposits
As a landlord, you must put your tenants deposit in a government-approved tenancy deposit scheme (TDP). In England and Wales your deposit can be registered with:
- Deposit Protection Service
- MyDeposits- including deposits that were held by Capita
- Tenancy Deposit Scheme
If you don’t rent your home on an assured shorthold tenancy, you can accept valuable items (for example a car or watch) as a deposit instead of money. The items won’t be protected by a scheme. See tenancy deposit protection on GOV.UK for more information.
What to do if my tenant is in arrears?
We advise you to speak to your tenant first. They may be struggling to pay their rent due to a multitude of reasons, and may be entitled to some help to.
Your local Citizens Advice centre may be able to provide support and advice to both you and your tenant. There are also national landlord associations and bodies that are dedicated to providing advice and support specifically to landlords.
Notices and evictions
The government has guidance on the procedures for evicting tenants depending on the type of tenancy.
Houses in multiple occupancy
Houses that are occupied by three or more people who do not live as a single household are known as Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO). They must be licenced if:
- they are rented to five or more people who form more than one household,
- tenants share toilet, bathroom or kitchen facilities
Find more information on HMOs and licensing requirements
Redress scheme
It is a legal requirement for all letting agents and property managers in England to belong to one of two government approved redress schemes.
The two schemes are:
The requirement to belong to a redress scheme will enable tenants and landlords with agents within the private rented sector, and leaseholders and freeholders dealing with property managers in the residential sector, to complain to an independent body about the service they have received.
Ultimately the requirement to belong to a redress scheme will help identify bad agents and property managers and improve standards within the private rented sector.
Failure to belong to one of the approved government schemes is an offence and we will impose a fine of up to £5,000 where an agent or property manager who should have joined a scheme has not done so.
For further information visit the GOV.UK website.