If you have a problem with the place you rent

Problems can easily arise when you rent a property. Perhaps your landlord wants to impose a rent increase that you can’t afford, or which you don’t think is fair. Maybe you’ve received an eviction notice and don’t know your rights. You could be living in poor conditions or in a property that you think is unsafe, or want to end your tenancy sooner than agreed and don’t know how to go about it. Or you may need advice on whether you’re obliged to collect items you left behind when your tenancy ended.

Understand the small print

As a tenant, you have rights, but you also have obligations. That’s why it’s important to read your rental agreement carefully and check you understand what the different terms mean so you‘re clear what you’re signing up to. Most private student lets are an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) in England and Wales, or a Private Residential Tenancy (PRT) in Scotland, and we can give you expert advice on these. The same goes if your agreement is a resident landlord agreement, where the landlord shares the accommodation with you, or if your agreement is with an educational institution – you’re renting a room on campus for instance.

How we can help

We can help you understand your rights and obligations as a tenant, give you expert advice on all aspects of your tenancy agreement and explain how to use it to your advantage. Whether you want to respond to an eviction notice, end your tenancy early or make your landlord repair the property, we’ll steer you away from potential pitfalls. We’ll:

• listen to what the situation is
• give you clear guidance on your rights and obligations
• tell you what your options are