Living in your rented home Sample Clauses

Living in your rented home. The tenant must… □ Pay the rent on time. If your rent is more than 14 days late, you could be liable for a default fee. A default fee for late payment of rent is limited by the Tenant Fees Act to interest on the outstanding amount, capped at 3% above Bank of England base rates. The landlord/agent cannot charge any other fees. For more information, please read the Government’s guidance for tenants on the Tenant Fees Act 2019. Further, you could lose your home because you have breached your tenancy agreement. If you have problems, XXX.XX has links to further advice. Check out these practical steps for paying your rent on time. □ Pay any other bills that you are responsible for on time, such as council tax, gas, electricity and water bills. If you pay the gas or electricity bills, you can choose your own energy supplier. □ Look after the property. Get your landlord’s permission before attempting repairs or decorating. It’s worth getting contents insurance to cover your possessions too, because the landlord’s insurance won’t cover your things. □ Be considerate to the neighbours. Anti-social behaviour may be a reason for your landlord to evict you. □ Not take in a lodger or sub-let without checking whether you need permission from your landlord. The tenant should… □ Make sure you know how to operate the boiler and other appliances and know where the stopcock, fuse box and any meters are located. □ Regularly test your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors – at least once a month. □ Report any need for repairs to your landlord. If you think there are any repairs that are needed, you should report these to your landlord. Failure to report the need for repairs could be a breach of your tenancy agreement. In extreme circumstances there may be a risk to your deposit if a minor repair turns into a major problem because you did not report it. □ Consider obtaining insurance for your contents and belongings – the landlord will usually have insurance for the property but it will not cover anything that belongs to you. □ Consider if having a smart meter installed would save you money, if you are responsible for paying the energy bills. Read guidance about your rights and information about how to get a smart meter. We’d recommend that you tell your landlord before you get one. □ And don’t forget to register to vote. The landlord must… □ Maintain the structure and exterior of the property. □ Ensure the property is free from serious hazards from the start of and througho...