Tips & Info For Tenants [Written By A Professional Landlord]

Yup, I’m a landlord. Not a tenant. WAIT!! DON’T SHOOT!!

But that’s exactly why, I believe, I’m the perfect [self-appointed] delegate to share my insights; I know when landlords are misbehaving; I know what landlords should and shouldn’t do; and I know when tenants deserve to be unequivocally evicted.

While this website is mostly dedicated to helping my fellow landlords be the best they can be, it’s also a safe and useful place for private tenants. I’m unbiased, I’m impartial and I’m pretty.

I believe that more landlords need to appreciate the value of their tenants, and more tenants need to appreciate the value of their landlord. But more importantly, I believe it’s critical for both landlords and tenants to know their rights, and how to identify and manage any abuse.

On that basis, I’d be amiss if I didn’t use my experience of being a landlord of a over decade to help and guide tenants [as well as landlords]. So that’s exactly why I’ve put this section together, just for tenants.

Below you can find a number of useful blog posts, which provide advice, support and tips for tenant in a private rented property.

Tenant Categories

Deposit-Free Renting Schemes Explained (And Why They Suck) 25 May 2023 22 Deposit Info & Disputes

Deposit-Free Renting Schemes Explained (And Why They Suck)

Do I Have To Sign A New Tenancy Agreement? 21 May 2023 6 Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreements

Do I Have To Sign A New Tenancy Agreement?

Best UK Rent Guarantor Companies (For Tenants) 18 May 2023 0 Tenant Insurance

Best UK Rent Guarantor Companies (For Tenants)

Are Landlords Allowed To Ask For Bank Statements & Payslips? 05 Jan 2023 0 "How To Find Tenants" Guide For Landlords

Are Landlords Allowed To Ask For Bank Statements & Payslips?

Can I Change My Mind After I’ve Signed A Tenancy Agreement? 27 Nov 2022 0 Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreements

Can I Change My Mind After I’ve Signed A Tenancy Agreement?

Letting Agents Legal Obligation To Disclose Fees Upfront! 15 Sep 2022 0 Letting Agents

Letting Agents Legal Obligation To Disclose Fees Upfront!

Do Tenants Need To Use End Of Tenancy Cleaning Services? 06 Aug 2022 0 Deposit Info & Disputes

Do Tenants Need To Use End Of Tenancy Cleaning Services?

Do Tenants Really Need Renters Insurance? 27 Jun 2022 0 Tenant Insurance

Do Tenants Really Need Renters Insurance?

Section 48 Notice – Tenant’s Right To Know Landlord’s Address 07 May 2022 0 Landlord Complaints

Section 48 Notice – Tenant’s Right To Know Landlord’s Address

How To Get A UK Guarantor For Student Accommodation 04 May 2022 1 Introduction For New Tenants

How To Get A UK Guarantor For Student Accommodation

Can My Tenant Run A Business From A Residential Rental Property? 24 Apr 2022 0 Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreements

Can My Tenant Run A Business From A Residential Rental Property?

I Have Noisy Neighbours, Is My Landlord Responsible? 16 Feb 2021 1 Landlord Complaints

I Have Noisy Neighbours, Is My Landlord Responsible?

Can My Landlord Increase My Rent? Can I Refuse To Pay? 02 Dec 2020 0 Tenant Fees & Rent

Can My Landlord Increase My Rent? Can I Refuse To Pay?

“Rent Repayment Orders” (RRO) Guide For Tenants 16 Apr 2020 2 Landlord Complaints

“Rent Repayment Orders” (RRO) Guide For Tenants

How And When Do I Tell My Landlord I Want To Leave & Move Out? 28 Jan 2020 3 Ending Tenancies & Evictions

How And When Do I Tell My Landlord I Want To Leave & Move Out?

What Tenants Need To Do When Moving Out [Checklist] 29 Dec 2019 0 Introduction For New Tenants

What Tenants Need To Do When Moving Out [Checklist]

Can I Change Energy Suppliers (Gas & Electric) Without My Landlord’s Permission? 07 Aug 2019 0 Tenant Fees & Rent

Can I Change Energy Suppliers (Gas & Electric) Without My Landlord’s Permission?

Tenancy Deposit “No Win, No Fee” Recovery Service For Tenants 06 Aug 2019 2 Deposit Info & Disputes

Tenancy Deposit “No Win, No Fee” Recovery Service For Tenants

How & When To Sue Your Landlord For Damages & Maintenance Issues 21 Jan 2015 33 Landlord Complaints

How & When To Sue Your Landlord For Damages & Maintenance Issues

My Landlord Evicted Me Because I Asked For Repairs, Is That Legal? 23 Jun 2014 56 Ending Tenancies & Evictions

My Landlord Evicted Me Because I Asked For Repairs, Is That Legal?

My Landlord Is Sending Me Inappropriately Sexual Text Messages! 24 Feb 2014 13 Landlord Complaints

My Landlord Is Sending Me Inappropriately Sexual Text Messages!

This Is The Worst Kind Of Landlords All Tenants Should Avoid! 21 Nov 2013 10 Introduction For New Tenants

This Is The Worst Kind Of Landlords All Tenants Should Avoid!

How Do I Check If My Landlord Has Protected My Deposit? 01 Mar 2013 3 Deposit Info & Disputes

How Do I Check If My Landlord Has Protected My Deposit?

Should I Pay My Landlord Rent In Advance To Secure A Property? 26 Sep 2012 26 Introduction For New Tenants

Should I Pay My Landlord Rent In Advance To Secure A Property?

Should I Rent Directly Through A Private Landlord Or Use A Letting Agent? 31 May 2012 8 Introduction For New Tenants

Should I Rent Directly Through A Private Landlord Or Use A Letting Agent?

Can My Landlord Evict Me? 30 Apr 2012 9 Ending Tenancies & Evictions

Can My Landlord Evict Me?

Tenant Reservation Fees Is A Con! Do NOT Fall Victim! 17 Apr 2012 9 Letting Agents

Tenant Reservation Fees Is A Con! Do NOT Fall Victim!

How Tenants Should Reference Their Prospective Landlord! 09 Mar 2012 21 Introduction For New Tenants

How Tenants Should Reference Their Prospective Landlord!

My Landlord Threatened Me – What Can I Do? 21 Sep 2011 13 Landlord Complaints

My Landlord Threatened Me – What Can I Do?

Beware Of Fake Landlords Illegally Letting Properties To Tenants 05 Sep 2011 19 Introduction For New Tenants

Beware Of Fake Landlords Illegally Letting Properties To Tenants

Rental Scams Tenants Should Be Aware Of 18 Feb 2011 151 Introduction For New Tenants

Rental Scams Tenants Should Be Aware Of

Landlord Enters Property And Demands Rent 24 Nov 2010 9 Landlord Complaints

Landlord Enters Property And Demands Rent

The Best Way For Tenants To Find A Good Landlord 02 Nov 2010 11 Introduction For New Tenants

The Best Way For Tenants To Find A Good Landlord

My Landlord Is A Rude B*tch! 08 Sep 2010 22 Landlord Complaints

My Landlord Is A Rude B*tch!

‘Surrender Of Tenancy’ Notice For Tenants 23 Aug 2010 37 Ending Tenancies & Evictions

‘Surrender Of Tenancy’ Notice For Tenants

Is My Landlord Allowed To Go Through My Underwear Drawer? 19 Aug 2010 26 Landlord Complaints

Is My Landlord Allowed To Go Through My Underwear Drawer?

How Tenants Can Avoid Paying A Tenancy Renewal Fee 24 May 2010 117 Tenant Fees & Rent

How Tenants Can Avoid Paying A Tenancy Renewal Fee

Why Do Letting Agents Charge Tenants Admin Fees? 27 Apr 2010 190 Tenant Fees & Rent

Why Do Letting Agents Charge Tenants Admin Fees?

Tips For DSS/Benefit Tenants That Can’t Find A Property To Rent 08 Mar 2010 235 DWP / DSS & Housing Benefit Tenants

Tips For DSS/Benefit Tenants That Can’t Find A Property To Rent

6 Lies Commonly Told by Landlords That All Tenants Should Be Aware Of! 05 Feb 2010 11 Introduction For New Tenants

6 Lies Commonly Told by Landlords That All Tenants Should Be Aware Of!

Tenant’s Right To Live In “Quiet Enjoyment” 12 Aug 2009 81 Landlord Complaints

Tenant’s Right To Live In “Quiet Enjoyment”

How to Report A Landlord That Doesn’t Comply With Health And Safety 19 May 2009 288 Landlord Complaints

How to Report A Landlord That Doesn’t Comply With Health And Safety

“I Hate My Fu*king Landlord”, He Says 22 Dec 2008 110 Landlord Complaints

“I Hate My Fu*king Landlord”, He Says

My Landlord Wants To Sell The Property I’m Renting 05 Nov 2008 189 Ending Tenancies & Evictions

My Landlord Wants To Sell The Property I’m Renting

HELP, I Can’t Get A Tenant Guarantor – Here’s What You Should Do! 04 Sep 2008 198 Introduction For New Tenants

HELP, I Can’t Get A Tenant Guarantor – Here’s What You Should Do!

Lies That Letting Agents Feed Prospective Tenants 30 Apr 2008 10 Introduction For New Tenants

Lies That Letting Agents Feed Prospective Tenants

Tenant Checklist BEFORE Signing A Tenancy Agreement 25 Apr 2008 24 Introduction For New Tenants

Tenant Checklist BEFORE Signing A Tenancy Agreement

How & When To Sue Your Landlord 28 Sep 2007 213 Landlord Complaints

How & When To Sue Your Landlord

Tenants Without A Written Contract- Verbal Tenancy Agreement 24 Jul 2007 169 Assured Shorthold Tenancy Agreements

Tenants Without A Written Contract- Verbal Tenancy Agreement

The Advantages & Disadvantages of Renting Vs Buying Property 02 Apr 2007 1 Introduction For New Tenants

The Advantages & Disadvantages of Renting Vs Buying Property

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