18-07-2025
Your legal rights as a tenant from how to avoid unexpected landlord visits to eviction
The Government has issued fresh guidance designed to give tenants in England confidence to challenge bad practice and ensure homes remain safe, secure, and affordable
Tenants have been urged to brush up on their rights after the Government published fresh guidance aimed at protecting renters from unfair treatment, hidden costs, and illegal evictions. The advice, released by spells out in detail what landlords must – and must not – do when letting out a property in England.
It is designed to give tenants confidence to challenge bad practice and ensure homes remain safe, secure, and affordable. From avoiding surprise visits by landlords to understanding rules on rent rises, evictions, safety standards and deposits, here is what every tenant needs to know.
Your key rights as a tenant
A safe home: Your landlord must ensure the property is in a good state of repair and free from health hazards.
Quiet enjoyment: You have the right to live undisturbed – landlords must give 24 hours' notice before visiting unless there's an emergency.
Protected from unfair eviction: Tenants can only be evicted through proper legal procedures, and only with adequate notice.
Deposit protection: Deposits must be kept in a government-approved scheme if you're on an Assured Shorthold Tenancy.
Rent fairness: Rent must be realistic and in line with local market rates. You can challenge unfair increases.
Know your landlord: You're legally entitled to know who owns the property. If they don't tell you within 21 days of asking, they can be fined.
Landlords are legally required to:
Repair structure, plumbing, heating, and electrics
Maintain gas appliances with annual safety checks by a Gas Safe engineer
Ensure electrical systems and appliances are safe
Fit smoke alarms on every floor and carbon monoxide detectors where needed
Provide safe escape routes and fire-safe furnishings
If problems like damp, mould, faulty wiring, or broken heating aren't fixed, tenants can contact their local council's environmental health team, which must act if conditions are dangerous.
Rent increases and arrears:
For rolling tenancies, rent can usually only go up once a year unless you agree otherwise.
For fixed-term contracts, rent rises must wait until the term ends unless the agreement allows increases.
Landlords must give at least one month's notice for changes, or six months if you pay rent annually.
If you can't afford rent, help is available through Universal Credit, discretionary housing payments, or council support.
Missing rent payments puts your tenancy at risk. Landlords can issue a Section 8 or Section 21 notice and apply to court for eviction. But they must follow legal procedures and give proper notice.
Avoiding illegal evictions
Landlords cannot evict you without proper notice or harass you into leaving. A Section 21 notice gives at least 2 months; a Section 8 notice (for rent arrears) requires 2 weeks. If you're taken to court, a judge will consider if the eviction is fair. You may be allowed to stay if you repay arrears or agree to conditions.
Deposits and what you're owed
Maximum deposit: 5 weeks' rent (or 6 if annual rent is £50,000+)
Holding deposit (to reserve a home): 1 week's rent
To get your deposit back, you must:
Meet tenancy agreement terms
Not damage the property
Pay your rent and bills
Landlords have 10 days to return your deposit once the tenancy ends. Disputes can be taken to the deposit scheme, First-Tier Tribunal, or letting agent redress scheme.
When you start a tenancy
Landlords must give you:
A copy of the How to Rent guide (in England)
Confirmation of deposit protection
Contact details of who manages the property
Gas safety, electrical safety, and energy performance certificates
Tenant responsibilities
Tenants must:
Pay rent on time
Look after the property (e.g., turn off water when away in winter)
Report repairs and allow access with 24 hours' notice
Not sublet unless agreed
Pay for any damage caused by themselves, family or guests
What to do if things go wrong
Try resolving issues directly with your landlord or letting agent
If that fails, contact your local councillor, MP, or a tenant panel
Seek help from:
Shelter
Citizens Advice
MoneyHelper
Civil legal advice
The new guidance is part of a wider government effort to crack down on rogue landlords and improve conditions for England's 11 million private renters. For full details, visit here or contact your local housing authority.
