What makes a good tenant?

The one thing all landlords expect from their tenants is for them to pay their rent in full and on time every month.

If you’re unable to pay your rent, always speak to your landlord or letting agent as early as you can and explain the situation.

Good communication is a key ingredient of a healthy landlord and tenant relationship, and your landlord is far more likely to be understanding if you speak to them openly about why you’re unable to pay.

By taking pride in your rental property and treating it as if were your own, you’ll give yourself the best chance of receiving your deposit back in full.

Good tenants will always notify their landlord or letting agent of maintenance problems right away.

Even if it’s a small problem, telling your landlord immediately can stop it becoming a bigger issue further into your tenancy.

When you sign a tenancy agreement, you’re saying that you will abide by the terms for the fixed time of your tenancy.

So, always read the tenancy agreement in full before you sign it and raise anything you don’t understand.

By understanding your obligations, you’ll be less likely to breach any of the tenancy agreement terms and cause friction with your landlord.

Cleanliness, or lack of it, is one of the most common reasons for landlords deducting money from tenancy deposits.

Good tenants will keep their rental property clean throughout their fixed term tenancy – rather than frantically trying to clean it just before they move out.

When you move in, make a note about the condition of the property, and always leave it in the same condition as you found it when it’s time to move out.

Your landlord or letting agent will almost certainly inspect the property periodically, too, so keeping it clean on a weekly basis will ensure they’re kept happy throughout your agreement.

You have needs as a tenant and can rightly expect your landlord to be considerate towards them.

But the landlord and tenant relationship is a two-way street – so you should also be mindful of your landlord’s needs, too. For example, not paying your rent on time could have a hugely detrimental effect on your landlord’s cashflow or financial circumstances.

It’s likely they’ll have a mortgage to pay on the property you’re renting and by not paying on time, you could be putting them at risk of a black mark on their credit history.

All your obligations and details of what you can and can’t do when living in your rental property should be outlined in your tenancy agreement. But if you’re unsure, always ask your landlord or letting agent.

For example, if you want to keep a pet in your rental home, don’t just move one in without being certain it’s something you’re allowed to do. Or if you want to change a light fitting, or paint a room, and you’re unsure if you’re allowed, ask before you do anything.

Your landlord must give you:

• an energy performance certificate (EPC) unless you are a lodger
• a gas safety certificate if your home has gas appliances
• also give you a copy of the How to rent guide.

Your landlord must protect your tenancy deposit in a deposit protection scheme.

Repairs:

Your landlord is responsible for most repairs in your home.

If your landlord needs to come in to check the property they should:

• give you at least 24 hours' notice in writing
• speak to you about a time to visit

Letting you enjoy your home:

Landlords must let you live in your home without disturbing you. Your landlord should not come into your home unless you agree. Your landlord should not harass you or make it hard for you to live in your home.

For more information please visit the Shelter England website on this page.