Rent

On this website we when we say rent we mean the amount you have to pay each week or month which is set out in your tenancy agreement. This payment might just be rent but some tenants also have to pay service charges.

You need to agree with the landlord the rent and arrangements for paying it, before the signing the tenancy agreement. When you sign a tenancy agreement you have entered into a legally binding contract with the landlord. One of your responsibilities as the tenant is to pay the rent on time each time it is due.

It is important that you consider whether you can afford the rent before you sign the tenancy agreement.

The details of your rent and any service charges should be included in the tenancy agreement. If the tenancy is for a fixed term, the agreement should say either that the rent will be fixed for the length of the term or that it will be reviewed at regular intervals. During the fixed term the landlord can only put the rent up if you agree. If you do not agree he will have to wait until the fixed term ends before the rent can be raised.

A landlord must give at least a months' notice of the increase if the rent is paid on a monthly basis or 4 weeks' notice if the rent is paid weekly.

The landlord is only legally obliged to provide a rent book if the rent is payable on a weekly basis but you should get a receipt for any rent paid which is not being entered in a rent book as this can avoid disputes later.

You need to bear in mind that as the tenant it is your responsibility to pay the rent when it is due. If you fail to pay the rent your landlord can serve a Section 8 Notice and once this expires they can apply to the County Court to get a Possession Order.