If you’re looking to rent a flat or a house in London, then it’s important to know your rights as a tenant! And with so many different things floating around the Internet and so many different estate agencies to rent from, it can be tough to know exactly what they are! Renting in London can be overwhelming, but luckily there are sources that can help you know exactly what your rights are! And this is one of them…
Renting in London: Know Your Rights!
So one of the most important things to note is a chance that took place on June 1, 2019.
Parliament passed the Tenant Fees Act. It now applies to any new or renewed tenancy agreements signed on or after June 1, 2019. The Tenant Fees Act bans most letting fees and it caps deposit amounts.
So the only things that a landlord or letting agent can charge you as a tenant are the following:
- Rent
- a refundable deposit capped at no more than 5 weeks rent if your annual rent is less than 50 thousand pounds or 6 weeks if its 50,000 or above
- A refundable holding deposit which will reserve the property capped at no more than one week’s rent
- Payments associated with early termination of the tenancy when requested by you, the tenant
- utilities, communication services, tv license and council tax
- And a fee for late payment of rent or lost keys
That means that you shouldn’t be charged any reference fees when applying for a lease!
Some other things you should know:
- When you’re starting a new tenancy, you should be given a copy of the How to Rent Guide from your landlord or estate agent. If you’re renting from an agency, you should always be told what your landlords name is. You should also be given an Energy Performance Certificate.
- If your landlord wants to see the property, they must give you at least 24 hours notice unless its an emergency.
- Both you and the landlord need to agree on the lease that you both will sign. Hold onto your copy to keep in case you need to reference it!
- When you put your deposit in, find out if it will be in a protected scheme! If it is, you should receive paperwork about it!
Renting in London doesn’t have to be as confusing as it often is. Ensuring that you know your rights before even looking for a flat will make the whole process go a lot smoother!
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