Problems with a Private Landlord or Agent

Your landlord, or their agent, has legal responsibilities to manage your tenancy fairly and to keep your home up to a decent standard. As a private tenant you also have rights and responsibilities too.

If your landlord or agent doesn’t come up to the standards, get advice straight away. If:

• Your deposit is not protected: see the Shelter website: tenancy deposit
• You don’t have a tenancy agreement, or you don’t understand it, see the Shelter website: renting agreement
• Your landlord hasn’t done the repair you have requested
• Your landlord is not meeting safety standards, see the government website: landlord’s safety responsibilities
• Your landlord or their agent is bothering you at home or harassing you, see the Shelter website: harassment by a private landlord
• Your landlord is trying to evict you, see the Shelter website: eviction of private tenants
• You asked your landlord for repairs or complained about conditions in your home, see the Shelter website: revenge eviction if you asked for repairs
• You rent from a letting or management agent and they have not resolved a complaint about their service, see the independent letting agent redress scheme 

Rights and Responsibilities

You can find out more about private renting rights and responsibilities, and dealing with landlord and agent problems, here:
Shelter website: private renting 
Government website: private renting 

Make a Complaint

If you want to make a complaint about a private landlord or agent, get in touch with them directly.