Ten tips for Tenants

1. Be very careful who you share the property with, particularly if you are all signing the same tenancy agreement - by doing this you are making yourself liable for their share of the rent as well as your own. You should only sign a tenancy agreement with someone you can trust.

2. Make sure you understand the tenancy agreement before you sign it. If there is anything you don't understand, take advice - e.g. from a Citizens Advice Bureau, a Law Centre, your local Shelter Officer, or a solicitor (many of them offer a free or fixed price initial interview)

3. If your landlord takes a damage deposit after 6 April or your tenancy is renewed after this date, the deposit will normally need to be protected by one of the government authorised tenancy deposit schemes. Find out which scheme your landlord or agent is using and check the rules. Make sure that the deposit is actually protected by checking with the scheme administrators if you are suspicious.

4. When you first go into the property, check the contents and condition of the property carefully against the inventory (if there is one). If anything is damaged or in poor condition, make sure you notify this to the landlord immediately in writing and keep a copy of the letter. This will help you if you have any dispute regarding the damage deposit at the end of the tenancy.

5. If there are any gas appliances in the property, your landlord must have these inspected by a CORGI registered plumber every year and give you a certificate confirming this, both when you go into the property and annually after that. Make sure he does this. If not, you can complain to your local Health and Safety Executive.

6. Once you are in the property, you are entitled to live there without any interference from the landlord. For example he is not entitled to enter the property without your permission.

7. Your landlord is required by law to keep in proper repair the exterior and structure of the property; the installations for the supply of water, gas, electricity and for sanitation; basins, sinks, baths and other sanitary installations; and heating and hot water installations. If this is not done you can complain to either your local environmental heath department or the tenancy relations office at your local authority.

8. It is a criminal offence for your landlord to evict you other than by getting a possession order through the courts or to harass you or do anything likely to make you vacate the property. You may also be entitled to an injunction and/or damages to compensate you if this happens.

9. If you have children or are disabled or are vulnerable in some other way, you will be entitled to be re-housed by the local authority if you are evicted by your landlord from your home. Speak to the Homelessness Officer (or equivalent) at your local Authority. However take note that you may lose this right if the eviction could have been avoided e.g. if you are evicted for rent arrears when you could have paid the rent.

10. When you leave the property, make an appointment with the landlord or his agent to check over the property and its condition. If there is any dispute regarding the repayment of the damage deposit, for example if you consider your landlord's proposed deductions are unfair and your landlord will not negotiate, contact the scheme administrators of the tenancy deposit scheme used by your landlord and let them know. You are entitled to ask that the dispute be referred to arbitration. Do not delay in dealing with this as there may be a time limit.