Advice for private landlords

Rights of the landlord

Your basic rights include:

• charging a market rent
• agreeing the terms of the tenancy
• receiving rent when it is due
• being advised of necessary repairs
• being given proper notice to quit by the tenant

More information can be found on the following:

• the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) website (opens new window)
• the Being a landlord and renting out a room information on GOV.UK (opens new window)

Responsibilities of the landlord

As a landlord you must:

• protect any tenancy deposits in a Deposit protection scheme
• repair and maintain gas pipe work, flues and appliances
• ensure an annual gas safety check on each appliance is carried out and keep a record of the checks
• ensure furniture meets fire safety standards (opens new window)
• give adequate notice if you need to visit the property
• ensure repairs to the exterior or structure of the property (for example, roof, drains, chimneys) are carried out
• ensure the equipment for supplying water, gas and electricity is in safe working order
• carry out annual gas safety checks, a requirement under the Gas Safety Regulations 1998
• have a valid Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) that must be renewed every five years or at the change of tenancy, whichever comes first; this has been a requirement for all tenancies in England since 1 April 2021