What is a tenancy agreement?
A tenancy agreement is a contract between you and your landlord. It will usually tell you some of your rights and responsibilities including how much rent you need to pay and how often.
Tenancy agreements can be for a fixed term, often six or twelve months, or run periodically, say, from month to month. If you do not have a written tenancy agreement, you still have rights and responsibilities.
Implied or express terms used
It is good practice for a written tenancy agreement to include the following:
• your name and your landlord’s name
• the address of the property
• the date the tenancy began
• the amount of rent payable
• the duration of the tenancy
• how to end the tenancy.
Some responsibilities should be considered to be in the contract even if they are not written down. These include:
• your landlord must carry out basic repairs,
• you have the right to live without nuisance from your landlord
• you should not cause damage
• you should provide access for repair works.
Ending a tenancy agreement
To end your tenancy, it is usual to give notice to your landlord.
Fixed term tenancies that run for say, a twelve month period, can usually be ended on the last day of the agreement, but check the terms of your tenancy. Periodic tenancies that run from, say, month to month can usually be bought to an end with notice in writing that should usually be at least one month. The notice should expire on the last day of the period of your tenancy.
More information on ending your tenancy agreement.
Is my tenancy agreement unfair?
Tenancy agreements should be written in clear, plain English that is easy to understand.
The agreement should not contain unfair clauses that would disadvantage you.
More information on unfair tenancy agreements.
Discrimination in tenancy agreements
Your landlord must not discriminate against you because of your age, disability, gender reassignment, maritial status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.
More information on discrimination.
Further information
More information on your rights and responsibilities.