Renters' Rights Guides
Free guides to renting in England, written for the law as it actually stands after the Renters' Rights Act came into force on 1 May 2026.
No advertising, no sign-up, no paywall. Every guide says plainly what the rules are, what to do about them, and where the free routes are when a landlord will not act.
Start here if something has gone wrong
- Problems with your landlord, and which free body handles which problem
- When a landlord will not repair
- If you have been served with an eviction notice
- Getting your deposit back
- What to do about a rent increase
Start here if you are about to rent
- A tenant's guide to renting in England, the whole picture in one place
- Finding a good rented property
- Checking a landlord is legitimate
- What you can and cannot be charged
- Moving into student accommodation
What changed in May 2026
The biggest change to renting in thirty years, and a lot of advice online has not caught up with it.
- Section 21 no-fault eviction is abolished. A landlord needs a specified ground and has to prove it in court.
- No fixed terms. Tenancies are periodic, and you leave on two months' notice.
- Rent in advance is capped at one month, and bidding above the advertised rent is illegal.
- You can request a pet, and it cannot be unreasonably refused.
- Awaab's Law sets statutory timescales for damp, mould and emergency hazards.
The full list, and what is still to come.
How these are written
Every guide is checked against primary sources, GOV.UK, legislation.gov.uk and the deposit schemes, and the source links sit at the bottom of each one so you can go and read them yourself.
They cover England. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate systems, and each guide says so. This is general information rather than legal advice, and where something has a deadline attached the guide says to get advice from Shelter or Citizens Advice rather than relying on us.
Written by Ben Yarrow, who founded Marks Out Of Tenancy after his own bad tenancy.
The thing the guides cannot tell you
They set out what a landlord must do. They cannot tell you what a particular landlord actually does when the boiler fails in December.
Only the last tenant knows that. Search an address, a landlord or a letting agent, and when your own tenancy ends, write the review you wish you had been able to read.
AllPrivate Rental SectorHousing AssociationCouncil / Social HousingDepositsUnauthorised EntryRent IncreaseHousing ConditionsRepairsHarassmentTenancy AgreementsDLUHCQuiet EnjoymentTenants Fees Act 2019Damp and MouldPaying RentSmoke AlarmsComplaintsGardensRent Repayment OrdersWhite GoodsProperty OmbudsmanDecorating
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Neighbour's Tree Blocking Your Light? Your Options
Is a neighbour’s tree blocking light in your rented home? Learn what UK tenants can do, when to contact landlords, and how to resolve the issue.
How Often Can My Landlord Increase The Rent In 2026?
Find out how often landlords can increase your rent and what limits apply under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, plus the legal protections for tenants.
Housemate Ignores The Cleaning Rota? What To Do
Is your housemate ignoring the cleaning rota in a shared rented home? Learn practical steps to resolve cleaning disputes and protect your tenancy without causing problems with your housemate.
Can A Landlord Say No To Benefits, Children Or Pets?
Not sure if a landlord can refuse you as a renter because you’re on universal credit, have kids or want a pet? Here’s what the changes to the new Renters’ Rights Act 2025 means for tenants.
What Counts As An Emergency Repair In A Rental?
Unsure if your housing problem is an emergency? This guide explains urgent repairs, landlord responsibilities, and what tenants can do if issues aren’t fixed promptly.
Can I Move More Easily Now Fixed Terms Have Gone?
Find out how the new Renters’ Rights Act 2025 makes it easier for tenants to move out with open-ended tenancies, two months’ notice, and the end of no-fault evictions.
Neighbour's Kids On Your Property? What Renters Can Do
Do your neighbour's kids keep playing on your driveway or in your garden? Learn your tenant rights, legal options, mediation routes and practical steps for resolving issues.
Served With An Eviction Notice? How To Check It's Valid
Facing an unfair eviction in 2025? Understand your current tenant rights, how to challenge invalid eviction notices from your landlord, what changes under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, and where to get reliable rental support.
Your Rights As A Disabled Renter
Understand your rental rights as a disabled tenant in England, including reasonable adjustments to rented properties, protection from discrimination, and what landlords must legally allow.
Flatmate Been In Your Room? How To Handle It
Worried your flatmate is going through your things or entering your room without permission? Discover how to recognise snooping, protect your private space, understand your tenant rights and confidently deal with boundary-crossing behaviour.
Housemate Hogs The Bathroom Every Morning? Fix It
Sharing a bathroom with numerous housemates? Learn how to handle shared house bathroom hogging with routines, communication tips and clever products to smooth busy mornings.
Renters' Rights Act: What Changed, And What's Coming
Want to know how the new renters’ law will affect you as a tenant? Read our quick guide to understand what’s changing, when it starts, and what you should do now.
Housemate's Partner Always There? What Are Your Rights
Housemate's partner always staying over? Find out what UK renters can do, your rights as a tenant around overnight guests, and how to set fair boundaries in a shared home when a guest becomes a flatmate.
Renters' Rights Act: What It Actually Means For You
The Renters’ Rights Act 2025 transforms renting in England - ending no-fault evictions, improving housing standards, and giving tenants stronger rights, fairer rents, and greater security.
Boiler Broken In A Rental? What To Do, And How Fast
Boiler broken in your rented home this winter? Find out what renters can do, your legal rights as a tenant, how long landlords have to fix heating, and where to get help fast.
Neighbour's Cat In Your Garden? What Renters Can Do
Our guide explains what tenants can do when a neighbour’s cat keeps entering their home or garden, covering practical steps, tenant rights, and respectful ways to resolve the issue.
Flatmate's Alarm Wakes You Every Morning? What To Do
Frustrated by your flatmate’s alarm going off all morning? Find out how to handle noisy wake-ups politely, set boundaries, and maintain a calm, respectful home in a shared rented property.
Someone Keeps Parking In My Space: What Can I Do?
Tired of your neighbour parking in your space? Discover practical steps tenants can take to handle parking disputes calmly, know their rights, and get their space back without conflict.
Housemate Keeps Taking Your Food? How To Handle It
So your flatmate keeps stealing your food. Discover practical ways to stop food theft, set house rules, protect your food, and understand your legal rights as a UK tenant living in a shared house.
Shared House Rights: What Every HMO Tenant Should Know
Living in a shared house? Discover your legal rights as a tenant in an HMO. Learn about safety, deposits, evictions, repairs and rent to protect yourself as a renter.
Renting On Universal Credit: What You Need To Know
A clear, comprehensive guide to renting while on Universal Credit: find out how the housing costs element works, who’s eligible, how much you can expect, dealing with shortfalls and delays, and where to get extra help.
Moving Into Student Accommodation: What To Check
Starting university or moving into student housing? Our complete guide to moving into student accommodation covers checklists, deposit protection, utilities, safety, and settling in tips.
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How Often Should Things Be Replaced In A Rental?
Knowing when items should be replaced in a rented home helps ensure safety, comfort, and fairness. From appliances and carpets to smoke alarms and detectors, there are clear timelines landlords should follow. This guide explains what tenants can expect and what landlords are responsible for.
Asking Your Landlord About A Pet: How To Get A Yes
Want to keep a pet in your rented home? This tenants' guide shows you how to approach your landlord the right way - covering tenancy terms, legal rights, negotiation tips, and what to do if your request to have a pet is refused.
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Locked Out Of Your Rental? What To Do, And The Cost
Locked out of your rented property? It’s a frustrating situation, but knowing your rights and the right steps to take can make it easier. This guide explains what to do next, who to contact, your responsibilities as a tenant, and how to prevent future lockouts.
Renters' Insurance: What Tenants Should Know
Thinking about renters' insurance but not sure if it's worth it? This in-depth guide explains everything UK tenants need to know—from what renters' insurance actually covers, to why it might be required by your landlord, and how to choose between individual or joint policies.
Renting With Children: How To Make A Rental Work
Discover practical ways to make a rented property safe, child-friendly, and functional for your family - without breaching tenancy rules or losing your deposit.
How To Find A Good Letting Agent (And Spot A Bad One)
Choosing the right letting agent is crucial for ensuring a smooth, legally compliant rental experience—whether you're a landlord or tenant. This guide explains how to identify a trustworthy agent and spot the red flags that could lead to costly problems.
How To Document Your Rental's Condition (And Why)
Documenting your rental property’s condition before moving in is crucial for protecting your deposit, avoiding disputes, and clearly establishing tenant rights under UK law. Taking clear photos, videos, and notes ensures a fair tenancy from the start.
Should You Rent Bills-Inclusive? The Honest Answer
Thinking about a bills-inclusive rental home in the UK? Explore the benefits, drawbacks, and key tips for tenants to decide if it’s the right choice for your budget and lifestyle.
How To Save Money When Renting: What Actually Works
Discover practical tips for renters to save money on rent, utilities, and bills, plus how to negotiate, choose locations, share homes, and understand tenant rights.
How To Avoid Rental Scams: The Checks That Matter
Protect yourself from rental scams with practical advice on spotting red flags, verifying properties and agents, and securing your deposit legally in the UK.
Problem Tenants: What Landlords Can Do Since May 2026
Having tenant problems? Learn how to handle late rent, damage, and disputes legally and effectively with clear communication and proper steps in our landlord guide to handling issues with tenants.
Problems With Your Landlord? Escalate In This Order
Are you a tenant struggling with landlord issues in the U.K.? This guide explains your legal rights, how to handle disputes, seek help, and take action to ensure safe, fair rental housing.
Keeping A Good Relationship With Your Tenants
Establishing and maintaining a positive landlord-tenant relationship is essential for a successful and harmonious rental experience. Check out our guide for landlords on how to keep a good relationship with their tenants.
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A Tenant's Guide To Paying Rent
Paying rent is one of the most important responsibilities you have as a tenant. Knowing how, when, and why to pay properly can help you avoid disputes, stay protected legally, and build a good relationship with your landlord.
How To Stay Safe In A Rented Property
Learn essential safety tips for tenants living in a rented property in our guide to staying safe, from landlord responsibilities to securing your rental home and protecting your belongings.
How To Keep A Good Relationship With Your Landlord
Renting is a two-way relationship between landlords and tenants. Take a look at our guide to creating and maintaining a good relationship with your landlord.
Broken Appliance In A Rental: Who Has To Fix It?
Learn your rights as a tenant on broken appliance repairs in rented properties. Understand landlord responsibilities, escalation steps, and insurance options.
Stay Put Or Move On? There's Nothing To Renew Now
If your tenancy is coming to and end and you’re unsure whether to renew your rental agreement or find a new place to rent, our guide will help you decide.
Rental Inspections: Your Rights And What To Expect
If you've got a rental inspection coming up, check out our tenants' guide on what to expect and what your landlord or letting agent is looking for.
A Renter's Guide To Spring
Our guide to spring clean and organising in a rented home can help you maintain your property while also protecting your rental deposit.
Furnished Or Unfurnished? What Actually Differs
When looking for a rental property, both landlords and tenants must consider whether a furnished or unfurnished property aligns best with their needs. This decision can have a significant impact on various factors, including rental income, tenant turnover, initial costs, and overall convenience.
My Landlord Is Selling: What Are My Rights In 2026?
If your landlord decides to sell the property you’re renting, it can feel unsettling, and you might not be sure what steps to take next. The good news is that, as a tenant in the UK, you have certain rights that protect you during this transition.
How Can I Get My Full Rental Deposit Back?
To ensure you receive the entire deposit, it's important to understand the expectations set by your landlord and the laws that govern these agreements. This guide will help you through the steps to take to maximise the likelihood of getting your full rental deposit returned.
Nightmare Neighbours When You Rent: What Actually Works
Dealing with nightmare neighbours in a rented property can be one of the most stressful experiences tenants face. Whether it’s persistent noise, harassment, or other disruptive behaviours, these issues can significantly impact your quality of life and sense of peace at home.
A Tenant's Guide To Renting In England
If you’re renting a house for the first time then there might be a few things you’re not aware of. Check out our guide for tenants moving into their first rented property.
Living With Housemates: The Guide Nobody Gives You
Renting with a housemate can be a rewarding way to share expenses, split responsibilities, and build meaningful connections, but it also comes with its own set of challenges. Read our guide on living in a shared property.
Sustainable Living When You Rent
By making mindful choices, such as reducing energy consumption, minimising waste, and using eco-conscious products, tenants can play a meaningful role in the global effort to protect our planet.
The Real Cost Of Renting: Every Bill Beyond The Rent
Renting a property comes with numerous costs beyond just the rent. Understanding these costs upfront is essential for avoiding any surprises. In this guide, we’ll explore the various costs that you should factor in when renting in the UK, ensuring you understand the full financial commitment before you sign a rental agreement.
Keeping A Rented Home Right Through Winter
Winter can be a challenging season for maintaining a home, particularly when it comes to rented properties. Both tenants and landlords have roles to play - understanding these responsibilities can help prevent disputes and keep the home in top condition throughout the season.
Get Your Rented Home Ready For Winter: The Checklist
Winter is here, and with the drop in temperatures, renters can face challenges in keeping their homes warm, safe, and energy-efficient.
How To Find A Good Rented Property
Finding a good rental property can be challenging. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you through the process, from defining your needs to signing a rental agreement.
How To Find And Keep Good Tenants
A comprehensive letting guide for landlords about how to find renters, how to advertise their property and how to keep good tenants in their rental homes.
Moving House: The Renter's Timeline
A guide to make moving house easier and less stressful, as well as tips for packing a house to move and information you need to change when you move house.
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Damp And Mould: How To Identify, Treat And Prevent It
Discover how tenants and landlords can identify, prevent and address damp and mould in rented homes — everything from spotting early signs to legal repair responsibilities under the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act.
Landlord Responsibilities for Repairs: A Guide For Renters
Landlords are legally required to ensure their rental properties meet basic standards. Read our 2024 guide that answers the question: "What legal obligations do landlords have for making repairs?"
Decorating A Rental: What Are You Actually Allowed?
Do you need permission from your landlord to decorate your rental property? Check out our handy guide on what to do, what to avoid and how to stay in your landlords good books.
Who Looks After The Garden In A Rented Home?
If you're renting a property, you might be wondering who’s responsible for maintaining the garden. Should the tenant or landlord cut the grass? Is it the landlord or tenant that’s responsible for fixing a damaged wall or fence? Our comprehensive 2024 guide has all the answers, whether you're a landlord, letting agent or a tenant.
Black Mould In A Rental: Who Has To Get Rid Of It?
Black mould in rental properties can be extremely dangerous. Our guide on the how, what, who and where seeks to answer some of the major questions.
Landlord Won't Return Your Deposit? What To Do Next
Navigating the world of renting can be tricky, especially when it comes to getting your deposit back from your landlord. But don't fret - we've compiled the top 10 tips to help you reclaim your deposit with ease. From understanding the Tenancy Deposit Schemes to maintaining regular upkeep and documenting everything, we've got you covered.
Landlord Entering Without Permission: What To Do
Remember, your home is your private space, and your landlord should respect that. If they're forgetting their manners (and the law), by entering your property unannounced and unauthorised, there are tools to help you to handle it.
Landlord Raising The Rent? What You Can Actually Do
Finding out that your rent is going up can feel like a real kick in the teeth.
We get it - it's tough. But take a deep breath, because we're here to help you navigate this tricky situation.
Rental Home Unfit To Live In? Eight Steps To Take
The Power to Make it Right: 8 Essential Steps for UK Renters in Unfit Homes
Landlord Won't Do Repairs? The Route That Actually Works
We've all heard the stories: a leaky tap that turns into a flooded bathroom, a draughty window that lets the winter chill seep in, or a broken boiler that leaves you shivering in the middle of a cold snap. Let's dive into this topic so you can ensure your rented home remains a comfortable, secure, and habitable haven.
Landlord Harassing You? It's A Criminal Offence
Landlord hassles? You're not alone. Let's take a closer look at how you can deal with landlord harassment in the UK.
What Is Your Landlord Legally Responsible For Fixing?
As a renter, it's crucial to know what maintenance and repair responsibilities fall under your landlord's jurisdiction and what tasks might fall onto your own shoulders. Pull up and chair and let's have a look!
Assured Shorthold Tenancies: What Replaced Them In 2026
The Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST) is a fundamental element of the private rental sector in the UK. It was established by the Housing Act 1988, revolutionising the private rental market by clearly defining the rights and responsibilities of both landlords and tenants.
Is This Landlord Legit? The Checks Worth Doing
Everything might not always seem as legit as it is. Scratch under the surface, see what you can find about your rental property or landlord.
The How To Rent Guide Was Withdrawn. Now What?
There's loads of information about renting available on the internet. So why is the Ministry of Housing 'How To Rent' guidebook so useful?
Running A Business From A Rented Home: The Rules
If you're starting a company from home, do you need permission from your landlord? In a word: 'Yes', but find out some reasons why in the article
Quiet Enjoyment: What It Really Means For Renters
As a tenant, you have the right to ‘quiet enjoyment’ in your rental property.
Your Rental Deposit Rights: The Complete Guide
What are the basic legal rights with tenancy deposits? We dig into the basics of rental deposits here and your rights as a tenant.
Your Right To A Safe Home In Good Repair
What are the basic rights you have as a tenant to live in a safe home? Read our guide for tenants' rights in a rented home.
Why A Written Tenancy Agreement Matters
If you’re renting in England or Wales, it’s important to understand that landlords aren’t under legal obligation to provide written tenancy agreements. Still, not having a tenancy agreement in writing places both the landlord and the tenant at a disadvantage.
The Tenant Fees Ban Explained: What They Can Charge
The Tenants Fees ban. What is it? What fees are banned? What does it all mean for letting agents, landlords and tenants? Click through to read our summary.
Can I Withhold Rent If My Landlord Won't Do Repairs?
Your landlord's not repairing your home, not responding to calls or texts. Your rent's due. Should you stop paying rent until he sorts it out?
Smoke Alarm Batteries: Whose Job Is It In A Rental?
Smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms aren't just for waving tea towels at when they go off - they're potential life-savers, but who's responsible for maintaining them? You or your landlord?
Who Do You Complain To About A Landlord Or Agent?
We're not all perfect. Sometimes things go wrong. If you have a complaint about your landlord, who should you complain to?
Blu Tack Banned In Your Rental? What To Use Instead
Blu Tack - friend or foe? If your landlord won't let you use Blu Tack to hand things on the walls in your rented home, find out some alternatives.
Garden In A Rental: Whose Responsibility Is It?
Who has to trim the Cynodon dactylon? Does the tenant have to cut the Fagus sylvatica? We discuss all things gardeny in this article.
Broken Oven In A Rental: Who Has To Pay To Fix It?
The oven has just broken in our rented flat. Is it the landlord’s or the tenant's responsibility to repair the oven?
How To Claim Money Back From Your Landlord: 5 Routes
Learn how to claim money back from your landlord, whether it's for unlicensed properties, illegal fees, deposit mishandling, or disrepair. Understand your rights and the steps to take for compensation.
10 Things That Get Your Tenancy Deposit Back In Full
Want your full deposit back? A bit of planning goes a long way. From cleaning to small repairs, our quick guide covers simple steps to help you leave your rental in great shape and avoid deductions.
What The Property Ombudsman Does For Renters
Who? Why? Where? How? These questions and more answered in this article about these piggy-in-the-middle organisations.