Tenancy Agreement Checker

Your tenancy agreement must contain the following:

• Landlord name and a contact address
• Names of all tenants
• Property address
• Contract start date
• Rent amount
• When rent is due
• Deposit amount

These details must be provided before you agree to the tenancy, either in the contract or separately. Contact your landlord/agent immediately if any are not present.

Before signing your tenancy agreement, consider whether: 

• All information has been clearly provided 
• Any details are unclear or incomplete 
• You received this information before agreeing 

It is important to understand the type of tenancy you have, as this affects how long you can stay in your home and the circumstances in which a landlord can regain possession of your student rental.

Private sector tenancies created after 1 May 2026 are legally periodic (rolling). This means they have no fixed end date and continue until they are ended through the proper legal process.

However, some student lets operate differently. As student tenancies are typically contracted around the academic year (often July to July), there are specific legal provisions that allow landlords to regain possession for incoming students under certain conditions.

To support this, the law includes a specific possession ground (Ground 4A) which allows landlords to recover possession in time for the next academic year.

Important: Ground 4A applies only in limited circumstances and does not cover all student accommodation.

Ground 4A can be applied if:

• The property is a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) (three or more tenants forming one household)
• All tenants are full-time students
• The intended possession date falls between 1 June and 30 September, in line with the academic year changeover period.

Ground 4A does not apply if:

• The property is not an HMO, for example:
• A studio or one-bedroom flat rented by a single student
• A two-bedroom property rented by two sharers
• Not all tenants are full-time students

A tenancy does not automatically end at the end of the academic year or any stated fixed period.

To regain possession of their property via Ground 4A, landlords are legally required to:

• Give tenants at least 4 months’ notice.
• Apply to the court for a possession order after serving 4 months’ notice.
• Seek possession for a date that falls between 1 June and 30 September, in line with the academic year changeover period.

Before Signing your Tenancy Agreement, you should consider whether:

• The agreement clearly states that the property is intended for student use each academic year
• There is any reference to Ground 4A or the landlord’s intention to regain possession for the next cohort
• The property type (e.g. HMO vs self-contained flat) means Ground 4A is likely to apply

Your tenancy agreement should clearly set out how much rent you will pay, when it is due, and what your rent payments cover.

Your agreement should state:

• The amount of rent
• When it is due
• Whether bills are included

If bills are included:

• It should state which bills are covered

If bills are separate:

• If bills are paid separately, it should explain which bills you are responsible for arranging and paying outside of the tenancy agreement

Rent increases (legal requirement)

Landlords must follow a formal legal process to increase rent:

• Rent can only be increased once per year (every 52 weeks)
• You must be given at least 2 months’ notice before a rent increase
• The increase must be made using a formal Section 13 notice (Form 4A)
• You have the right to challenge increases through a tribunal

Furthermore, landlords cannot invite, encourage, or accept offers above advertised rent.

Before signing your tenancy agreement, consider whether:

• The rent amount is clearly stated and matches what was advertised
• The agreement explains when rent is due and how it must be paid
• Any payment schedule (e.g. monthly or instalments) is clearly set out
• The agreement states what, if anything, is included in the rent (such as bills)

It’s important to understand what fees you can legally be charged, so you know exactly what costs to expect before and during your tenancy.

By law, only certain payments are permitted, including:

• Rent
• Tenancy deposit – money paid at the start of a tenancy held by the landlord as protection against damages, unpaid rent or contract breaches.
• Holding deposit – a payment made to reserve a property while referencing and checks are carried out. This is capped at 1 weeks’ worth of rent.
• Limited additional costs (such as lost keys)

Before signing your tenancy agreement, consider whether:

• All charges are clearly explained
• Any additional or unexpected fees are included

Your tenancy deposit is protected by law, and there are clear rules about how much can be charged, how it must be handled, and how it should be returned.

By law:

• The maximum deposit your landlord can ask for is:
  • up to 5 weeks’ rent if the rent for the year is less than £50,000
  • up to 6 weeks’ rent if the rent for the year is £50,000 or more
  • It must be protected in a government-approved Tenancy Deposit Scheme within 30 days of receiving your deposit payment
  • You must be given information about where it is protected

Before signing your tenancy agreement, consider whether:

• The deposit amount is clearly stated
• You will receive confirmation of protection within 30 days
• The process for returning the deposit is explained

It’s important to understand how and when a tenancy can legally be ended, including the notice periods and requirements that apply to both tenants and landlords.

For you (the tenant):

• Tenants must provide a minimum of 2 months’ notice

For the landlord:

• They cannot request a notice period exceeding 2 months’ notice
• They must rely on a valid legal ground
• They will normally need a court order to regain possession

Before signing your tenancy agreement, consider whether:

• Notice periods are clearly stated
• The process for ending the tenancy is explained
• The agreement reflects current legal requirements

Both landlords and tenants have clear legal responsibilities to ensure the property is safe, well-maintained, and properly managed during the tenancy.

By law, landlords are responsible for:

• Keeping the property safe and fit to live in
• Maintaining:
• Structure (walls, roof)
• Water, gas and electricity systems
• Heating and hot water systems

As a tenant, you are responsible for:

• Taking reasonable care of the property
• Reporting repairs or issues promptly
• Using the property in a reasonable way
• Avoiding damage beyond normal wear and tear
• Allowing access for inspections or repairs when proper notice is given

Landlords are legally required to provide tenants with 24 hours written notice before a landlord or a tradesperson can enter your property to inspect or carry out repairs

Before signing your tenancy agreement, consider whether:

• The agreement sets out the respective responsibilities of the landlord and tenant for maintenance and repairs
• It explains how repairs should be reported and what steps to take if issues arise during the tenancy
• It includes information about access to the property for inspections and repairs, including notice requirements

Your tenancy agreement will also set out how the property can be used and how responsibilities are shared between tenants.

This may include:

• Whether tenants are jointly liable, meaning each tenant can be held responsible for the full rent and any breaches of the agreement
• Any rules about visitors, such as limits on overnight guests or long stays
• Restrictions on subletting or taking in lodgers
• Conditions relating to pets, including whether permission is required
• Rules on noise, anti-social behaviour, or nuisance, particularly in shared accommodation or HMOs
• Any restrictions on making changes to the property, such as decorating, putting up fixtures, or altering furniture

Before signing your tenancy agreement, consider:

• What shared responsibilities (such as joint liability) may affect you
• Any limits on how the property can be used or occupied, and whether they fit your circumstances
• Whether you need permission for certain actions (e.g. pets, subletting, or making decorative changes)

Before agreeing to a tenancy, it is important to check that all required legal documents have been provided and that the property meets basic safety standards.

You should receive or be able to confirm the following:

• Gas Safety Certificate (if the property has gas)
• Must be provided before move-in
• Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
• Must be provided before the tenancy is agreed
• Electrical Safety Report (EICR)
• Must be provided and renewed at least every 5 years
• Renters’ Rights Information Sheet
• Must be provided at the start of the tenancy

Before signing your tenancy agreement, consider whether:

• All relevant documents have been provided
• Any documents are expected to be provided later

Before signing your tenancy agreement, take a moment to review everything carefully and make sure you are comfortable with the terms.

Before you proceed, ensure that:

• You understand all key terms of the agreement, including your rights and responsibilities
• Any questions or unclear points have been addressed by the landlord or agent
• All required documents have been received or confirmed
• The agreement reflects what was advertised and agreed in advance
• You are confident you can meet the financial and contractual commitments

Important

A tenancy agreement is legally binding. You should only sign once you are satisfied that:

• The information provided is complete and accurate
• The terms are fair and workable for you

If anything is unclear or missing, you should seek clarification from your landlord / letting agency before signing.