Renting and leasehold
This content applies to England only.
Housing laws vary between England and Scotland. Get advice relating to Scotland
If you rent your home or are a leaseholder, you have a legal agreement with the landlord or freeholder. This gives you rights and responsibilities.
Check any agreement you have carefully and ask questions about anything you're not sure of. But bear in mind that you may have more rights than you think - there are laws to regulate how renting and leasing work. If your agreement doesn't comply, it may not be legally binding. This could make a big difference if the landlord or freeholder is being unreasonable, or wants you to leave.
You also need to remember that the rights you have will depend on the type of tenancy you have. You can check this using our online tool.
Leaseholders' rights
Find out what the law says about service charges, ground rent, repairs, extending a lease, or buying the freehold.
Renting agreements
Do you have a tenancy or a licence? Is it written or verbal? Is it legally binding? What happens when it runs out? Find out what to look out for.
Joint tenancies
If you signed a single tenancy agreement when you moved in, you have a joint tenancy. If each of you signed a separate agreement with the landlord, you have separate tenancies.
Rights and responsibilities
If you rent your home, you have certain rights and responsibilities - even if they're not mentioned in your agreement.
Council tenancies
Councils provide three different types of tenancy, which give you very different rights. They also provide temporary housing for homeless people.
Housing association tenancies
Not all housing association tenants have the same protection from eviction. The type of tenancy agreement you have will affect many of your rights,
Private tenancies
There are several different types of private tenancy. Some of them give you more rights than others.
Mobile home tenancies
This page helps you work out what kind of tenancy you may have if you rent a mobile home from a landlord.
Tied accommodation
information about the rights you have if you live in property which is provided to you by your employer.
Agricultural tenancies
This page explains the rights you have if you are classed as an agricultural tenant or an agricultural occupier.
Sharing and subletting
Sharing a home can be great, but it's important to choose who you live with carefully and to check that you understand your rights.
Ending a tenancy or licence
You must end your agreement properly if you want to leave. If you don't, you may still be liable to pay the rent – even after you've moved out.
