This consolidated guidance is for landlords and tenants in the private rented sector (PRS). The government is committed to making sure everyone who rents can have a safe, secure, warm and dry place they call home. This guide is just one way in which we have boosted support for landlords, tenants and local authorities to set and maintain high standards in private rental properties.
The PRS is an important part of the housing market, accounting for 4.5 million homes and representing around 19% of all housing in England. For many tenants it can provide a range of benefits, including flexibility and choice, while offering a sound business opportunity to those landlords who maintain their properties to a high standard. The relationship between landlord and tenant is essential to make this work, however. This guide aims to ensure both landlords and tenants know their rights and their responsibilities, and that the landlord-tenant relationship can be a professional and positive one.
We want to help make sure tenancies get off to a good start, and any issues that arise are dealt with quickly and properly. The vast majority of tenancies work well. Sadly, there remains a small minority of criminal landlords who choose not to comply with the law, and whose tenants suffer as a result. There are also some tenants who do not uphold their side of the bargain. In situations where things do go wrong, this guide will point you to the laws which apply to you, and help you find further guidance on how to deal with the issue. It will also help you to avoid those situations in the first place by making sure that, whether tenant or landlord, you are aware of your responsibilities.
As you will see from this guide, there is a wide range of supporting material about the law that applies to private renting. Our How to rent and How to let guides are a great source of information on the steps you can and should take to make sure your rental or tenancy is on the right track. We have worked in partnership with stakeholders from across the sector to develop this document. We would like to thank the Residential Landlords Association, National Landlords Association and Shelter for agreeing to be part of this process, and the Chartered Institute of Housing and our local authority partners for giving us the benefit of their expertise too.
This guide is part of the government’s work to ensure that both tenants and landlords are able to benefit from being part of a flourishing private rented sector.
Mrs Heather Wheeler MP
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
Minister for Housing and Homelessness