01
Your rights as a tenant — and a landlord's obligations — are set by statute. A contract can add detail but cannot take away what the law gives you.
Key topics
A deposit must be protected in a government-approved scheme within 30 days of receipt. Failure carries a penalty of one to three times the deposit amount. The landlord must return it within 10 days of agreement on deductions.
Under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, landlords must keep the structure, exterior, and all gas, water, electricity and heating systems in repair. Clauses passing this obligation to the tenant are void.
Under the Renters' Rights Act 2024, Section 21 no-fault evictions are abolished for new tenancies. A landlord must have a statutory ground to end a tenancy and give the required notice period.
For assured tenancies in England, rent can only be increased once per year and the tenant must receive at least two months' written notice. Any increase above market rate can be challenged at the First-tier Tribunal.
Guides
Stage 02 · rights
A deposit is your money held as security. When the tenancy ends, the landlord must return it, less any amounts the law a…
Stage 03 · notice
A Section 8 notice is the first formal step a landlord takes to seek possession through the courts. Receiving one does n…
Stage 04 · notice
Private and social landlords have a statutory duty to keep the structure, exterior, and certain installations of a rente…
Stage 05 · resolve
Persistent, unreasonable noise from a neighbour can be addressed through your local council (statutory nuisance), your l…
Stage 03 · rights
Secure tenants of local councils in England may have the right to buy their home at a discount under the Right to Buy sc…
Latest news
The Bill rewrites deposit-return rules across England. Landlords will have 10 days from the end of a tenancy to repay, with automatic penalty interest if they miss it.
4 min read →Regulations under the Renters' Rights Bill extend the minimum notice period a landlord must give before ending a periodic tenancy from two months to four months.
2 min read →Regulations reduce the maximum Right to Buy discount for social housing tenants in England. The change is part of a broader review of the scheme announced in the Housing Strategy.
3 min read →A significant Upper Tribunal decision holds that s.19 Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 overrides broad lease provisions — leaseholders can always challenge whether service charges are reasonable.
4 min read →Articles
How-to
Where to begin, which parts to skip, and how to tell a rule from its exceptions. A method you can use on any law.
Explainer
The order in which rules apply, and what happens to a clause that goes against the law.
How-to
What to include, what to leave out, and how to prove it was received.
Know your rights
Deposit, notice, repairs, rent increases and who else may live there.
FAQ
General answers with links to official sources. Not legal advice.
Official resources
Free advice on tenancy rights, eviction and homelessness.
Plain-language guidance on your rights as a private tenant.
Official guide covering deposits, repairs, eviction and rent.
Free guidance for leaseholders on service charges and rights.