When you’re renting, the rules are different from acquiring ownership of a property. Both the renter and the landlord have a number of rights and responsibilities when entering an agreement. It’s important to be aware of what’s expected of you – and the landlord – when you enter the tenancy agreement to avoid getting into any unnecessary difficulties.
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What are your legal rights as a renter?
Your tenancy agreement will provide you with a number of rights. Some refer to the condition of the property. You have the right to live in a property that’s safe and in a good state of repair. At the same time, you’ll have the right to live in the property undisturbed and be protected from unfair eviction. You also have rights concerning your dealings with the landlord. There’s the right to know who your landlord is, the right to challenge any excessively high charges, and the right to have your deposit returned at the end of the tenancy.
How to prepare when you’re looking into renting?
There are different grey areas that you should research beforehand if you’re looking into renting. This will ensure that you’re prepared for every scenario. One such area is a reasonable repair request – something that most rental agreements have. A reasonable repair request should be for something you can’t fix yourself. This might be for water supply, gas, or electricity. In return for these repairs, you should allow your landlord enough time to arrange repairs and provide access to whoever comes to fix the issue.
It’s also worth investigating whether your agreement will include content cover. In most cases insuring your personal items will be your responsibility; your agreement won’t usually protect your personal belongings from any accidents or unfortunate situations. In this case, you should look into covering contents against theft with renters’ insurance.
What should you be doing yourself?
There are certain responsibilities for the property that the renter will need to look after. Obviously, you’ll need to pay the property bills outlined in the agreement. But you’ll also need to carefully maintain the property – e.g. turn off the water at the mains while you’re away. If the property is furnished, then you’ll also be required to maintain fittings. This will involve changing lightbulbs, cleaning furniture, and letting the landlord know if something’s broken.
Renters’ rights can be complex. There’s a lot of documentation to sift through when you sign an agreement and you don’t want to miss small print and find yourself caught out. But by following the above advice, and knowing what your rights are as a renter, you should be set up for a more successful and peaceful tenancy.
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