Know Your Rights
How can we help?
Lots of things can go wrong in a rented home, and knowing what your rights are will help you feel more in control. This page lists some of the most common questions we get asked.
These pages have been updated following the Renters’ Rights Act coming into force on 1 May 2026.
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If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for here, drop us an email on [email protected].
Please note we cannot provide individual advice. If you need urgent advice we have some helpful links here
Most housing laws are devolved to the four nations of the UK. The information on these pages relate to England – the following links will take you to information about renters’ rights in the rest of the country:
If you are in Scotland and have received a rent increase notice from your landlord, we have mapped rent adjudication cases on this page, which may help you decide whether the notice is worth challenging via Rent Service Scotland.
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Has Section 21 been abolished yet?
Yes. The Renters’ Rights Act has come into force and landlords are no longer able to serve Section 21 notices since 1 May 2026. From this date landlords will...
My landlord wants to put the rent up
I won't be able to afford to stay here.
My landlord is not fixing something
I told my landlord about a leak/broken boiler/mould outbreak/infestation and they won't do anything about it.
I’ve been asked to move out
I've received a section 21 notice asking me to leave. What can I do?
The landlord won’t return my holding deposit
My tenancy didn't go ahead but the landlord won't return my holding deposit – what can I do to get it back?
Can I pay less for my gas and electricity?
Energy prices are rising and I can’t afford to keep the heating on
Do I have to renew my tenancy?
I’m coming to the end of my tenancy but don't think I want to commit to another year. Can I stay in my current home on a monthly basis?
How do I pay rent if my income has fallen?
I cannot work and am worried about being able to pay my rent
My landlord is turning up unannounced
My landlord is letting themselves into my house or turning up at my home without warning. What should I do?
My landlord hasn’t protected my deposit
I don't think my landlord has put my deposit into a protection scheme – what can I do?
My home has a mould problem
No matter what I do I can't stop condensation, avoid damp and prevent mould in my rented home
I’ve been asked to pay a fee
is that allowed?
How do I end my tenancy agreement?
My circumstances have changed and have to move
My landlord is not returning my deposit
My landlord will not return my deposit/wants to make deductions from the deposit. What do I do?
I’m moving home – what do I need to know?
I'm moving home soon but I'm not sure what I can expect from my landlord. What should I know?
I’ve been asked for a guarantor
My landlord has asked me to send details of a "guarantor" for my rent. What does that mean?
A member of our houseshare is moving out
My housemate is moving out, so what do I need to do now?
My landlord has banned me from …
registering to vote/switching utility/having a pet...
Can I own a pet while renting?
Can I get a pet in my current rented home? And, how can I persuade a new landlord to rent to me with a pet?
Report your local criminal letting agent
Our successful campaigning has won laws that stop letting agents from ripping off tenants – such as the 2019 bans on unfair fees in England and Wales. But there...
How can I tell if a property advert is a scam?
Property advert scams become more common when rents are rising or demand is high, such as late summer. They are easy to encounter, particularly on social media and informal...
What are my rights as a lodger?
Lodgers, or excluded occupiers as they are legally known, are different from private renters in a number of ways. Unlike private tenants, lodgers live in the same properties as...
What are my rights as a Property Guardian?
Property Guardians live in a property under a licence to occupy, with a role to make sure that the property is properly looked after and not damaged. Properties occupied...
I’ve been asked to offer more than the advertised rent
I heard this was getting banned
Should I use a deposit alternative scheme?
When starting a tenancy, tenants are typically asked to provide a deposit of up to five weeks’ rent, which is protected and returned at the end of the tenancy,...
How does the Renters’ Rights Act affect students?
The changes to tenancies and evictions under the Renters’ Rights Act (RRA) that come in on 1 May 2026 affect students differently from other types of renters – exactly...
Watch our renters’ rights webinars
Watch webinars from our latest Renters Rights Awareness Week, which took place April-May 2026
Renters’ rights factsheets
We are currently updating this section. Please check back later.