Tenants have responsibilities when they enter into a tenancy agreement and move into a property.  If you abuse the responsibilities then you may be evicted from your home.  Some of your responsibilities as a tenant are set out below.

Rent - You should keep up with your rent and pay on time.  If you fall behind with the rent the landlord may seek to evict you before your tenancy agreement comes to an end.  If you are having trouble with meeting rent, you may be able to claim benefits such as Universal Credit, or Local Housing Allowance.

Bills - You should keep up with the bills such as electricity, gas or Council Tax, if these are not included in your rent.  If you do not keep up the payments, you may be cut off and have to pay for reconnection. It will not be your landlords responsibility to pay for reconnection if you have been disconnected due to your non-payment.

Use of property - You have a responsibility to use the property in a responsible way and take care of it.  If the property is not looked after, the landlord may be able to seek possession of the property and you may be liable for the cost of the repair.  Some examples of what this means are:

  • Minimising the risk of burst pipes from cold weather when you go away for example by ensuring they don’t freeze
  • Unblocking a clogged up sink
  • Making sure you, your family or any visitors do not damage the property in any way. (Excepting through fair wear and tear)
  • Removing rubbish regularly and not allowing it to build up

Tenancy agreement - You should not abuse any fair term of your tenancy agreement for example regarding sub letting, damage or use of a garage. The landlord may be able to seek possession of the property before your tenancy agreement comes to an end if you break the agreement and you may lose your deposit and have to pay for any disrepair.

Antisocial behaviour - You must take care not to behave in an antisocial way that could upset your neighbours.  You must also take care to ensure that any family members or visitors to your home also behave appropriately.  If you or your visitors do not behave in a reasonable manner you could find yourself evicted with limited notice.

Ending tenancy - You also have a responsibility to end the tenancy in the correct manner.  If you do not end the tenancy in the correct manner, or in agreement (in writing) with the landlord you may end up being liable for rent payments even if you no longer live at the property.  See ending your tenancy.