Many people living in privately rented accommodation are unsure of their rights and where they can go for help. Also, many landlords renting out accommodation are not aware that the council can offer impartial advice on any problems they may experience with their tenants.
We provide the following help and advice:
General information on residential tenancies
We can provide information on:
- The different types of domestic tenancy that exist.
- The rights of the landlord and tenant in such circumstances.
Notices to quit accommodation
This includes:
- Notices given to tenants because a tenancy is coming to an end.
- Tenancy agreements that have expired or are expiring.
- Issues where tenants may have breached the terms of their tenancy agreement (for example, by not paying rent).
- Issues where the landlord has not done something they should have done (for example, not carrying out repairs).
Rent increases
In most situations, a landlord will have to follow a set procedure if they want to increase the rent.
Disrepair
There are often problems with disrepair in private rented accommodation. We can advise landlords and tenants on their obligations in relation to repairs at their property. This is under the requirements of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985.
Gas safety
The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 places a duty on certain landlords to ensure that gas appliances, fittings and flues provided for the tenants’ use are safe. Essentially, any lease under seven years is covered by the regulations.
The landlord is required to have an annual gas safety check carried out on each gas appliance/flue. Any installation, maintenance and gas safety check must be carried out by a CORGI registered gas installer. (CORGI is the Council for Registered Gas Installers). Appliances owned by the tenant are not covered.
The duties of the landlord under the regulations can't be delegated to a residential tenant.
If you smell gas or suspect that there is a gas leak, you should immediately do the following:
- Open all doors and windows.
- Shut off the gas supply at the meter control valve (if you know where it is).
- Call Transco on the gas emergency freephone number - 0800 111 999.
If you would like further information or advice please contact the council's Environmental Health service on 01724 297629
Alternatively ring the HSE Gas Safety Advice Line on 0800 300 363.
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Note: The above documents are in Portable Document Format (PDF). You will need a suitable reader to view it. A reader can be downloaded free from the Adobe website (full instructions for downloading the reader are provided on the site).
Deposits
At the end of a tenancy deposit money is often not returned. The council can give advice to landlords or tenants in relation to this matter.
Homelessness
The council provides a housing advice and homelessness service. The service can be contacted on 01724 296188 or 296189.
Disrepair/suitability for occupation
For a property to be suitable for human habitation it has to satisfy the requirements of the Housing Act 1985.
Very soon the method of assessing a property for occupation will change. This is due to the introduction of the Housing Act 2004 and the Housing Health and Safety Rating System.
If you would like more information about the new assessment or the contents of the Housing Act 2004, visit the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) website or contact Environmental Health on 01724 297629.
Overcrowding
In some situations, where a house is occupied by too many people, it can be overcrowded. The Housing Act 1985 sets out limits to the number of people that can occupy rooms of a certain size. If the council finds that a house is overcrowded, it can take action to have the number of people living in it reduced.