Landlords and tenants rights and responsibilities

Renting from a private landlord

Good-quality private rented accommodation is available in Salford.

Is there a guide with help and advice for private renting (including the Renters’ Rights Act)?

Yes, the government produce a guide for people who are renting a home privately. The guide includes advice on ways to rent a property, things to check when looking for a new home, landlord responsibilities, tenant responsibilities and what to do if things go wrong. From 1 May 2026, most private rented tenancies in England move to assured periodic tenancies under the Renters’ Rights Act, and tenants may also be given a government Information Sheet explaining the changes. More information on the impacts to tenants can be found here - Information for tenants about the Renters’ Rights Act 2025.

Government guidance for tenants can be found here - Renters’ Rights Act overview for tenants - GOV.UK.

Tenant rights

When you sign your tenancy agreement, you have rights as a tenant. Your landlord is legally required to do certain things throughout the tenancy, including:

• Provide all paperwork relating to your tenancy, for example, tenancy agreement, copy of how to rent guide, gas certificate, energy certificate, EICR and deposit paperwork.
• Maintain the structure of the outside of the building.
• Evidence that smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are fitting and in working order at the start of the tenancy.
• Deal with any problems with the water, electricity, and gas supply.
• Maintain any appliances and furniture that the landlord has supplied.
• Carry out most repairs – Landlord and tenant responsibilities for repairs - Shelter England. The council has a duty to take action if the landlord is not maintaining the property that is a threat to you and people living in the property.
• Annual gas safety check.
• Give you at least 24 hours’ notice of any visits to the property.
• Consider any written request to keep a pet and respond in writing within 28 days, and must not refuse without a fair reason.
• Fair treatment and non-discrimination: your landlord (and any letting agent) must not unlawfully discriminate when letting, managing, or ending a tenancy.
• Follow the legal process to increase rent no more than once every 12 months.
• Cannot use a Section 21 ‘no-fault’ notice and must use a valid legal ground and follow the correct legal process to end the tenancy.
• If you live in a rented property and your landlord has committed a relevant offence or if your landlord has been convicted in court, you may be entitled to apply for a Rent Repayment Order to reclaim up to 12 months of the rent you paid to your landlord. A relevant offence includes:
  
  • Renting out a property that should be licensed but is not
  • Failing to comply with Enforcement Notices, such as Improvement Notice or Prohibition Notice
  • Illegal evictions or landlord harassment

Tenant responsibilities

As a tenant you have responsibilities for the following actions:

• Paying the rent on time.
• Paying any other bills.
• Look after the property – keep the property clean and tidy make sure no damage to the property.
• Be considerate to your neighbours and not cause any noise or nuisance.
• Not take in a lodger.
• Make sure you understand how all the appliances work in your property.
• Regular testing of your smoke alarms (at least once a month). It is your responsibility that the fire alarm is working. If not, report it to your landlord.
• Report any repairs and allow access to the property for the repairs to be completed. (reporting repairs may be part of your tenancy agreement and if you do not report the repairs, your landlord may try to claim the costs back from your deposit).

Help and advice

If your property is rented from a social housing provider (housing association) you must first report your repairs to them directly. For a private landlord, you must report any repairs in the first instance to your landlord. If you are not satisfied with their response, you can make a complaint to the council when a landlord is failing to complete the repairs.

Make a complaint about a rented property

You can also contact the following agencies.

• Citizens Advice: Citizens Advice is the main legal charity in the UK. You will generally find a Citizens Advice office in most cities, towns, and large villages.
• Shelter: Shelter is a national housing charity. It offers a housing advice telephone helpline on 0808 800 4444 as well as face-to-face advice services. You can find out here if Shelter has an advice centre near you.
• Law Centres Network: Not-for-profit Law Centres can work for you when taking legal action, at no charge. You may be eligible for legal aid if you need it.
• Solicitors: Although solicitors are businesses that need to charge for their services, they do offer some free services. Many firms will offer an initial interview either free of charge or for a fixed fee.
• Money Advice Service: This provides free and impartial advice to help you manage your finances better.
• Your insurance company: Insurance policies often come with free legal help as part of the package.
• Which?: Run by the Consumers’ Association, Which? champions the interests of consumers across many areas of our lives.
• Expert help and advice about debt: If you owe money (you are in debt) then the Debt Advice Team, which is part of the Welfare Rights and Debt Advice Service, can help you.
• Housing Options Service, see our page: Information for tenants about the Renters’ Rights Act 2025.

Harassment and illegal eviction

Help and advice

• Citizens Advice
• Your local trading standards
• The Law Society
• Lets with Pets (for advice on renting to pet owners)
• Money Advice Service

How do I know if a landlord is accredited?

You can contact the Landlord Accreditation team by emailing landlord.accreditation@salford.gov.uk.

Or, find out more about the landlord accreditation scheme.

What is a deposit?

A deposit gives your landlord some security against any financial loss they may suffer if you damage the property or don't pay your rent.

Your landlord must put your deposit in a government-approved tenancy deposit scheme (TDP) if you rent your home on an assured shorthold tenancy that started after 6 April 2007. In England and Wales your deposit can be registered with:

• MyDeposits - including deposits that were held by Capita
• Tenancy Deposit Scheme
• Deposit Protection Service

If you do not rent your home on an assured shorthold tenancy, your landlord can accept valuable items (for example a car or watch) as a deposit instead of money. The items will not be protected by a scheme.

They make sure you’ll get your deposit back if you:

• meet the terms of your tenancy agreement
• do not damage the property
• pay your rent and bills

Your landlord or letting agent must put your deposit in the scheme within 30 days of getting it.

What about property condition?

Landlords must ensure that the accommodation they provide is free from serious hazards, including damp and mould, and that homes are fit for habitation. They must treat cases of damp and mould with the utmost seriousness and act promptly to protect their tenants’ health. Get more information on housing standards and dealing with damp and mould.

What if my landlord is not doing repairs?

We aim to ensure that landlords who provide rented accommodation in the city supply a good quality service to their tenants. If your landlord is not doing repairs, you can make a complaint to us.

Advice for landlords

You are responsible for ensuring your rented property is safe, fit for human habitation and properly managed. If a property is unsafe or unfit, you may be committing a civil or criminal offence and could face enforcement action by the local authority. From 1 May 2026, the Renters’ Rights Act changes how private tenancies begin and end, removes Section 21 ‘no-fault’ notices, and introduces new information requirements for landlords and agents. Further information can be found here: Information for landlords about the Renters Rights Act 2025. 

Key points

• Provide a safe home: keep the property free from serious hazards and in a reasonable state of repair. The council may inspect using the Housing Health and Safety Rating System and take enforcement action where necessary.
• Maintain the property: keep the structure, exterior, heating, hot water, sanitary fittings and landlord-provided installations in good repair. Give at least 24 hours’ notice before non-emergency visits.
• Meet gas safety duties: arrange annual gas safety checks by a Gas Safe registered engineer and provide tenants with the gas safety record.
• Meet electrical safety standards: ensure the electrical installation is inspected and tested by a qualified person at least every five years (unless stated otherwise), provide the electrical safety report to tenants, and supply it to the local authority if requested.
• Meet fire safety duties: provide required smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, keep escape routes available, and ensure supplied furniture and furnishings are fire safe. Specific guidance on Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Regulations
• Energy Performance Certificate: landlords must provide an Energy Performance Certificate for the property and meet the minimum energy efficiency requirements unless a valid exemption applies.
• Tenancy deposit protection: if a deposit is taken, it must be protected in a government-approved tenancy deposit scheme. The tenant must also be given the required prescribed information about the scheme.
• Right to Rent checks: landlords in England must check that adult occupiers have the right to rent before the tenancy starts and carry out follow-up checks where required - Right to Rent immigration check.
• Provide required documents: give tenants the correct tenancy information, Energy Performance Certificate, gas safety record, electrical safety report and deposit protection information where applicable.
• Check licensing requirements: make sure the property has any required mandatory, additional or selective licence and comply with licence conditions.
• Respect tenants’ rights: do not harass tenants, change locks, remove belongings, cut off services, or try to force tenants to leave without following the correct legal process.
• Manage disputes appropriately: act early, keep records, communicate clearly, consider mediation, and seek advice before serving notice or starting court action.

Assistance for landlords

Good management at the start of a tenancy can prevent problems later. Make sure tenants understand the tenancy terms, rent payment dates, how to report repairs and how to raise concerns. Keep clear records of communication, rent payments, inspections, repairs, certificates, notices and attempts to resolve issues.

If a problem arises, contact the tenant early, try to understand the issue and confirm any agreement in writing. This may include a repayment plan, agreed access for repairs or inspections, or a clear warning about behaviour that breaches the tenancy agreement.

Tenants may be entitled to support, including Universal Credit, Discretionary Housing Payments, debt advice, homelessness prevention advice, or other local services. Signposting tenants to help early may reduce arrears, prevent homelessness, and avoid court action.

What to do if a problem arises

• Act early: contact the tenant as soon as a missed payment, access issue, complaint, or breach occurs.
• Keep records: keep copies of letters, emails, text messages, rent statements, inspection notes, photographs, and repair records.
• Be reasonable and consistent: give the tenant a chance to explain and, where appropriate, agree steps to put things right.
• Check your own compliance: make sure deposits, safety certificates, prescribed information, licences, and tenancy documents are correct and up to date.
• Use the correct legal process: do not change locks, remove belongings, cut off services, threaten the tenant, or try to force them to leave without following the proper court process.
• Seek advice where needed: consider independent legal advice, your landlord association, your letting agent, mediation services, or the court guidance before serving notice or starting possession proceedings.

Frequently asked questions

This page was last updated on 24 July 2026