10 Tenancy Rights All Student Should Know About

Moving out can be exciting but can also expose you to an unknown world of tenant & landlord disputes (and favourable laws) that you didn’t even know existed. Our platform is built for the renter, so disputes are something we hate to see. So, it’s crucial to know your tenancy rights before signing your lease and moving into your new shared student home. In this article, we have shared the ten most important tenancy rights all students must know about.

10 Student-Driven Tenancy Rights You Need to Know Before Moving Out

Moving into a new rented apartment comes with a lot of chaos and confusion, especially if you are a first-time renter. However, if you choose the right house, sign your tenancy agreement after knowing these ten crucial things, and are well aware of your tenancy rights, no landlord can take advantage of you.

Here are the ten tenancy rights every student must know about to safeguard their interests and save enough money on renting.

1. No Unapproved Visits

Your first tenant-right as a student is that your landlord cannot visit the property without informing you earlier. Although he is allowed to enter your home in an emergency, he cannot forcefully enter your home without prior warning and needs to give you a legal notice 24 hours before coming to your home.

Now that you know this tenancy right, don’t let your landlord just show up as and when he wants. No-one likes living in a place where you feel like your being watched!  

2. Your Landlord is Responsible for Your Safety

Your next important tenancy right is that your landlord is obliged to ensure your safety against criminals and fire hazards by installing CCTV cameras, a smoke alarm, carbon monoxide detector, fire extinguisher, and most importantly, fire escape route in your home.

3. Tenancy Deposit Scheme is a Must

Since landlords have the right to ask for at least one month’s rent in advance as safety against late rents or any damage to the apartment, students have a favourable tenant-right too. The landlord is obliged to register the pre-deposit under a government registered  Tenancy Deposit Scheme so that you can get your complete amount back when the tenancy-period is over.

4. You Cannot Be Unfairly Evicted

Many students who lack knowledge about living as a tenant as discriminated against by unfair eviction without prior notice. However, landlords must inform the tenant of eviction in any case at least 30 days before.

5. Students Are Exempted from Council Tax

Another important tenant-right you get is that if you are a full-time university or college student, your landlord cannot ask you to pay council tax. You can find out more about how to get council tax exemption in our online guide.

6. No Forced Increase in Rent

Most importantly, you own the right to sue your landlord if forcing you for a hike in rent before the period specified in the tenancy agreement. Furthermore, your landlord can not increase the rent unreasonably and there is only a specific percentage of the hike in rent per year so that you don’t end up paying almost double the next year.

7. It is Your Right to Ask for Portable Appliance Testing

Whether you are moving in a partly-furnished or a fully furnished apartment, you own the right to ask your landlord to provide you with a safety certificate on the gas appliances via PAT (Portable Appliance Testing) installed in your home. Furthermore, you own the right to ask your landlord for annual checks and maintenance of all the electrical appliances.

8. Major Repairs are Not Your Fault

In case of some major yet unpredicted faults in your property, your landlord is obliged to get the repairs done without charging you.

9. You Cannot be Discriminated

Many students who come from minority groups and communities are often worried about being discriminated against based on their appearance or background. However, it is your tenant right to not worry about any discrimination or paying extra than other students based on your sex, caste, color, creed, etc.

10. You Can Ask for Regular Data on Your Power Consumption

In case your landlord has installed a smart meter in your apartment, you own the right to ask him to send you regular data so that you can analyse your power consumption habits and be more power-efficient. We’d also advise getting a smart meter installed if you haven’t as you’ll save loads on your energy bills. 

The Bottom Line

We hope we helped you understand the tenancy rights you own as a student. Apart from these rights, you also get pest control rights and can ask for a peaceful possession in your home in case of frequent disturbances. Most importantly, the landlord cannot force you to continue your tenancy in case you don’t want to, once the tenancy period is over.

These rights are sure to help you get legal help in case of misconduct. Please read your tenancy agreement carefully and ask for amendments if you don’t see an important clause. Be confident and don’t refrain from taking legal help if you are exploited against any of your rights. 

If you want to know more about the previous tenants experience with their landlords you can check Resooma’s property, agent and neighbourhood reviews. You can even request for us to get a review for you.