Complete UK Tenant Guide 2026

Register for Free

1. Go to BravoHomesUK.com/register
2. Select “Tenant” as your account type
3. Enter your name, email, phone, and a strong password
4. Verify your email address (check spam if you don't see it)

If your landlord invited you:

Click the invite link in the email, create your password, and you'll instantly see your property, rent charges, and documents.

Browse Available Properties

1. Go to Properties
2. Filter by location, price range, bedrooms, property type, available date
3. View full details: photos, EPC rating, deposit amount, local amenities
4. Contact the landlord directly via the secure messaging system

What to Check Before Applying

• EPC rating: The property must be at least EPC band E. A band D or above means lower energy bills
• Council Tax band: Check the band for the postcode at gov.uk — you typically pay this yourself
• Deposit amount: Must be no more than 5 weeks’ rent (Tenant Fees Act 2019)
• Any admin fees: These are banned. Report illegal fees to your local Trading Standards office

The Application Process

You'll typically need:

• Photo ID: Passport or UK driving licence
• Proof of income: Last 3 months’ payslips, employment contract, or benefits award letter
• Proof of address: Recent utility bill or bank statement
• References: Previous landlord and/or employer
• Right to Rent: Documents proving you have the legal right to rent in the UK

Holding Deposit

A landlord may ask for a holding deposit to reserve a property while referencing takes place. Under the Tenant Fees Act 2019:

• Maximum holding deposit: 1 week’s rent
• Must be returned within 15 days (the “deadline for agreement”) unless you withdraw, fail referencing due to false information, or fail to respond in time
• It should be deducted from the first month's rent or security deposit when you move in

Your Tenancy Agreement

Most private tenancies in England are Assured Shorthold Tenancies (ASTs). Before signing:

• Read the full agreement carefully
• Check: rent amount, deposit, lease term, break clause, pet policy, permitted alterations
• Check who is responsible for which utilities and repairs
• Any term that contradicts your statutory rights is unenforceable

What the Landlord Must Give You Before Move-In

• Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
• Gas Safety Certificate (if property has gas)
• Current edition of the government How to Rent guide
• EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report)
• Prescribed Information about your deposit (within 30 days of paying it)

The Inventory Check-In

The inventory is a record of the property's condition at the start of your tenancy. This document is crucial if there is any deposit dispute when you leave.

What to Do on Move-In Day

1. Go through the inventory with the landlord or agent and check every room
2. Note any damage or issues that already exist (stains, scratches, broken fittings)
3. Take your own timestamped photographs of every room
4. Check meter readings (gas, electricity, water) and note them in writing
5. Sign the inventory only if you agree with it — add any disagreements in writing
6. Get a copy of the signed inventory for your records

Test the Following on Day One

• Smoke alarms on every floor (legally required to be tested & working)
• Carbon monoxide alarm (legally required in any room with a gas appliance)
• Heating and hot water
• All locks, including windows

How to Pay Rent via BravoHomesUK

1. Log in → Dashboard → Rent & Charges
2. See your outstanding rent charges
3. Click “Pay Now” and enter your card details (secured by Stripe)
4. Receive instant email receipt

Set Up Auto-Pay (Recommended)

1. Go to Dashboard → Payment Settings
2. Save your card details securely via Stripe
3. Choose your auto-pay date (e.g., 1st of each month)
4. Rent is charged automatically each month — you get email confirmation

Rent Increases

Your landlord can only increase rent:

• During a fixed term: only if the agreement includes a rent review clause
• On a periodic tenancy: via a Section 13 notice with at least 1 month's notice
• Under the Renters' Rights Act 2025 (from 1 May 2026): increases limited to once per year via Section 13 notice with at least 2 months' notice
• If you think an increase is unfair, you can challenge it at the First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber) — it's free to apply

If You Can’t Pay Rent on Time

1. Contact your landlord immediately — don't ignore it
2. Propose a payment plan in writing
3. Check if you qualify for Universal Credit (includes a housing cost element)
4. Contact Citizens Advice for free debt advice
5. Contact Shelter if facing homelessness risk

Your Landlord's Legal Repair Obligations

Under Section 11, Landlord & Tenant Act 1985, your landlord must keep in repair:

• Structure and exterior (roof, walls, windows, exterior doors)
• Heating and hot water systems
• Gas, electricity, and water supply
• Sanitary fittings (toilets, baths, sinks)
• Common areas and shared facilities

Under the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018, the property must be fit for human habitation throughout the tenancy. This covers 29 hazard types including damp, mould, excess cold, structural collapse, and more.

How to Report an Issue via BravoHomesUK

1. Log in → Dashboard → Report an Issue
2. Fill in: issue type, priority, description, location, and photos
3. Submit — your landlord receives instant notification
4. Track status in real time

Reporting in Writing

Always report issues in writing (email, platform message) — not just verbally. If you have a written record, you have evidence. Keep all correspondence.

If Your Landlord Fails to Repair

1. Send a formal written reminder with a reasonable deadline (e.g., 14 days for non-urgent issues)
2. Contact your local council's Environmental Health team — they can inspect and issue an Improvement Notice
3. Apply to court under the Homes Act 2018 for an injunction and/or damages
4. Contact Shelter or Citizens Advice

Damp & Mould (Awaab's Law)

Following the tragic death of toddler Awaab Ishak from severe mould exposure, Awaab's Law (Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023) introduced strict timescales for social landlords to fix hazardous damp and mould. Extension to private landlords is planned under the Renters' Rights Act 2025 (Phase 3 — commencement date TBC, expected 2035–2037). In the meantime, the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 gives private tenants the right to take legal action if damp and mould poses a health risk.

What You Are Responsible For

• Minor repairs: replacing light bulbs, batteries in smoke alarms
• Keeping the property reasonably ventilated to prevent condensation mould
• Damage or blockages you or your guests have caused
• Reporting issues promptly (you may be liable for worsening damage if you delay)

Deposit Rules (Housing Act 2004)

• Your deposit must be protected in a government-approved scheme within 30 days of payment
• Your landlord must give you Prescribed Information about which scheme is used within 30 days
• Maximum deposit: 5 weeks’ rent (Tenant Fees Act 2019, where annual rent < £50,000)

The Three Government-Approved Schemes

What If Your Deposit Isn't Protected?

If your landlord has not protected your deposit, you can apply to court for a penalty of 1–3× the deposit. Your landlord will also be unable to serve a valid Section 21 notice. This applies even after the tenancy has ended.

Check your deposit is protected at any time using each scheme's online checker.

Getting Your Deposit Back

1. Request your deposit back at the end of the tenancy
2. If there is no dispute, the landlord has 10 days to return it (under the scheme rules)
3. If the landlord proposes deductions, negotiate first — use your check-in inventory as evidence
4. If you can't agree, use the scheme's free Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) service
5. An independent adjudicator will make a binding decision

What Can Be Deducted?

Landlords can only deduct for:

• Unpaid rent
• Damage beyond fair wear and tear
• Cleaning if the property is left in a worse condition than at check-in
• Missing items or keys

Fair wear and tear (normal deterioration with age) cannot be charged to you.

Core Tenant Rights

Your Responsibilities

• Pay rent on time
• Look after the property and prevent unnecessary damage
• Allow the landlord access for repairs (with reasonable notice)
• Report maintenance issues promptly in writing
• Not sublet without permission
• Follow the terms of your tenancy agreement

Key Changes That Benefit Tenants

Types of Eviction Notice

What to Do If You Receive an Eviction Notice

1. Don't panic — a notice is not an eviction. The landlord must apply to court
2. Check the notice is valid (see conditions above for S.21)
3. Contact Shelter (0808 800 4444) or Citizens Advice immediately for free advice
4. Contact your local council's homeless prevention team — they have a duty to help
5. Attend any court hearing — you have the right to be heard
6. Even after a possession order, you have the right to challenge it

Ending Your Tenancy

To end a periodic AST, give your landlord at least 1 month's written notice (or as specified in your agreement, whichever is longer). Notice should be given in writing (email is fine).

Check-Out Process

1. Complete a check-out inspection with the landlord against your original inventory
2. Take timestamped photos of every room
3. Record final meter readings
4. Return all keys
5. Clean the property to the standard it was in at check-in
6. Remove all your belongings

Getting Your Deposit Back

• Your landlord has 10 days to return the deposit (once you've both agreed)
• If they propose deductions you disagree with, negotiate and use your check-in inventory as evidence
• If unresolved, raise a dispute with the deposit scheme's free ADR service
• You don't need a solicitor for deposit disputes — the ADR process is free

Update Your Details

• Inform DVLA, HMRC, your bank, local council, NHS GP, pension provider, electoral register
• Redirect mail via Royal Mail
• Cancel utilities or transfer accounts

Help With Rent Costs

Useful Organisations

Can my landlord enter my home without notice?

No. Except in a genuine emergency, your landlord must give at least 24 hours' written notice and enter at a reasonable time. Entering without permission may constitute unlawful entry and harassment.

What is “fair wear and tear”?

Normal deterioration from everyday use — faded paint, minor scuffs on walls, carpet wearing down over time. Your landlord cannot deduct from your deposit for fair wear and tear. They can deduct for burns, stains, broken items, or damage you caused.

My boiler has broken — what are my rights?

Report it in writing immediately. Under Section 11 LTA 1985 and the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018, your landlord must repair it within a reasonable time (urgently in winter). If they don't, contact your local council Environmental Health team.

Can I redecorate my rented home?

Only with your landlord's written permission. At the end of the tenancy, you may be required to restore the property to its original decoration. Always get permission in writing.

What happens if my landlord sells the property?

If you have a fixed-term tenancy (before 1 May 2026), the new owner must honour it. Once all tenancies become periodic under the Renters' Rights Act 2025 (from 1 May 2026), the new owner must follow Section 8 grounds to end the tenancy. Ground 1A allows possession for sale with 4 months' notice, but not within the first 12 months of a tenancy.

Am I allowed to have pets?

Under the Renters' Rights Act 2025 (from 1 May 2026), landlords cannot unreasonably refuse a tenant's request for a pet. They may require you to take out pet damage insurance. Any refusal must be in writing with specific reasons.

Do I have to pay Council Tax?

Usually yes, unless you are a full-time student (then exempt), sharing with all full-time students, or have a single occupancy discount. Check with your local council. Council Tax is not covered by Universal Credit — apply separately for Council Tax Reduction.