Your tenancy explained
Tenancy types, who owes what, joint tenants, lodgers, sublet, guarantors, pets and what happens when the tenancy ends.
Guides in this topic
43 plain-English guides. 3 to 5 minute reads, no jargon, free to use.
What is the difference between a council and a housing association?
Council tenant or housing association tenant? Here's the legal difference, why it matters for repairs, and how to find out which you are.
Read · 2 min
Assured tenancy vs Assured Shorthold Tenancy, what is the difference?
Assured tenancies and Assured Shorthold Tenancies are not the same. Here is what each gives you and why it matters for eviction.
Read · 3 min
Joint tenants, what happens when one of you moves out?
Joint tenants are 'jointly and severally liable' for everything. Here is what happens to the tenancy and the rent when one of you leaves.
Read · 3 min
Can I sublet my rented home?
Most tenancy agreements say you cannot sublet without your landlord's permission. Here is what is allowed, and the risks if you don't follow the rules.
Read · 1 min
Subletting without your landlord's permission, what happens?
Subletting without consent is a tenancy breach and, for social tenants, a criminal offence. Here is what counts, what the risks are, and how to do it lawfully.
Read · 4 min
Taking in a lodger, the rules and what to think about first
A lodger lives with you and shares your home. Here is what your tenancy and benefits say, what the Rent a Room Scheme covers, and how to set it up.
Read · 4 min
What is a guarantor, and do I need one?
A guarantor is someone who agrees to pay your rent if you don't. Landlords often ask for one if you are a student, new to renting, or on benefits.
Read · 1 min
Guarantor problems, when your guarantor cannot pay or refuses
If your guarantor's situation changes, or they will not pay when asked, here is what happens and how to handle it.
Read · 3 min
Can I have a pet in my rented home?
You can ask your landlord for permission to have a pet, and they can only refuse on reasonable grounds. Here is how to ask, in writing.
Read · 1 min
How do I end my tenancy?
To end your tenancy you usually need to give notice in writing and the right amount of time. Here is a simple guide and where to check the details.
Read · 1 min
Section 20 consultation: your rights when your landlord plans major works
If your landlord or management company plans major works that you will be charged for through your service charge, they must consult you first. Here is how the process works and what you can do.
Read · 4 min
The Renters' Rights Act 2025: what changes for tenants
The Renters' Rights Act 2025 is the most significant change to private renting law in England for a generation. Below we set out what the Act does, what it
Read · 4 min
How to read your tenancy agreement: a plain-English guide
A tenancy agreement is a legal contract between you and your landlord. It sets out what each of you must do. Many tenants never read it properly, and some
Read · 4 min
Right to Manage: leaseholders taking over building management
If you own a leasehold flat and your landlord or managing agent is failing to maintain the building, not spending service charge money properly, or making
Read · 4 min
Selective licensing: what it means for you as a tenant
Some local councils require private landlords in certain areas to hold a licence before they can legally rent out a property. This is called selective
Read · 3 min
Rent Act 1977: protected tenancies explained
If you or a family member has lived in a privately rented home since before 15 January 1989, you may have a protected tenancy under the Rent Act 1977. This
Read · 4 min
Renting without a written tenancy agreement: do you still have rights?
Many tenants have never been given a written tenancy agreement. Some landlords never issue one. Others issue verbal arrangements, shake-hands deals, or
Read · 4 min
What is a periodic tenancy?
A periodic tenancy has no fixed end date. It rolls over automatically from one period to the next (usually month to month) until the landlord or tenant gives
Read · 4 min
Fixed-term tenancies and the Renters Rights Act: what changes
The Renters' Rights Act 2025 makes significant changes to the way fixed-term tenancies work in England. Once the relevant provisions come into force, new
Read · 3 min
Succession rights: taking over a council or housing association tenancy
When a council or housing association tenant dies, a family member may have the right to take over the tenancy. This is called succession. Below, we set out
Read · 3 min
Forfeiture of a residential lease: what it means and your rights
Forfeiture is a legal process by which a landlord can bring a long lease to an end because a leaseholder has breached one of the terms of the lease. It is
Read · 4 min
No-pets clauses in tenancy agreements: your rights and how to challenge them
Many tenancy agreements contain clauses that prohibit tenants from keeping pets. The law on this has been changing, and from 2025 the Renters' Rights Act
Read · 3 min
The right to quiet enjoyment: what it means for tenants
Every rented home comes with an implied legal term that you have the right to "quiet enjoyment" of the property. This right protects you from interference
Read · 4 min
Tenancy deposit protection schemes: explained
Since 2007, private landlords in England and Wales have been legally required to protect tenancy deposits in a government-approved scheme. Understanding how
Read · 4 min
What happens if my landlord goes bankrupt or becomes insolvent?
Finding out your landlord has gone bankrupt, or is heading that way, can be scary. You may worry about being evicted at once, about where your deposit has
Read · 4 min
Licence to occupy vs tenancy: what is the difference?
The distinction between a tenancy and a licence to occupy is one of the most important in housing law. It determines what legal protections you have, whether
Read · 4 min
Unfair terms in your tenancy agreement: what you can challenge
A tenancy agreement is a contract, but that does not mean everything in it is enforceable. Consumer protection law gives tenants rights to challenge terms
Read · 4 min
Section 13 rent increase notice: what it is and what to do
If you have an assured or assured shorthold tenancy on a periodic (rolling) basis, your landlord cannot simply tell you your rent is going up. They must
Read · 4 min
Break clause in a tenancy agreement: what it is and how it works
A break clause is a provision in a fixed-term tenancy agreement that allows one or both parties to end the tenancy early, before the fixed term is up. Not
Read · 4 min
Right to Acquire: housing association tenants
The Right to Acquire is a scheme that allows eligible housing association tenants to buy their rented home at a discount. It is similar to the Right to Buy
Read · 3 min
Challenging a rent increase: your rights as a tenant
Landlords can increase rent, but they must follow the correct procedure and cannot raise it to an arbitrary amount. Below, we walk through how private
Read · 3 min
HMO tenancy rules: what tenants in shared houses need to know
A house in multiple occupation (HMO) is a property where three or more people from two or more different households share facilities such as a kitchen or
Read · 3 min
Your landlord's right to enter your home: what you need to know
Tenants often feel uncertain about whether their landlord can enter the property, and if so, how much notice they must give. Here is how the rules on
Read · 3 min
Belongings left behind in a rented property: tenant and landlord rights
When a tenancy ends and a tenant leaves belongings behind, both sides need to know what the rules are. We set out what a landlord can and cannot do with
Read · 4 min
Assured shorthold tenancy: what it is and what it means for your rights
Most private renters in England live under an assured shorthold tenancy. Understanding what this type of tenancy means, and what rights it gives you, can
Read · 3 min
Lodgers: what are your rights and how do they differ from tenants?
A lodger lives in someone's home, they share the space with the owner or head tenant rather than having exclusive use of the whole property. The rights of a
Read · 4 min
Private rented sector database: what tenants need to know
The Renters Rights Act is creating a new database of private landlords and their properties in England. Here is what the database is, what it will contain,
Read · 3 min
Joint tenancies explained: rights, responsibilities, and what happens when things go wrong
A joint tenancy is where two or more people are all named on the same tenancy agreement. This is common among couples, friends sharing a house, and family
Read · 4 min
Inventory and check-in: your rights as a tenant
When you move into a rented home, one of the most important steps is the inventory check-in. This is where the condition of the property and its contents are
Read · 3 min
Rent review clauses in tenancy agreements: what they mean and your rights
Some tenancy agreements include a rent review clause, a term that allows the landlord to increase the rent at set intervals during the tenancy. Here is how
Read · 4 min
Excluded occupiers: what rights do you have?
Not everyone who lives in a rented home has the same legal protections as a standard tenant. If you are an "excluded occupier," the normal rules about notice
Read · 3 min
Tenancy deposit disputes: how to get your deposit back
At the end of a tenancy, disputes over the return of a deposit are very common. Here we run through your rights, what deductions are lawful, and what steps
Read · 3 min
Tenant improvements: do you need your landlord's permission?
Many tenants want to make changes or improvements to their rented home, decorating, installing shelves, making structural changes, or upgrading appliances.
Read · 3 min
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