Fenton Marsh Legal Q&A

Landlord & Tenant

Private renting, tenancy rights, deposits, repairs, possession, rent, enforcement and housing disputes.

334 question pagesPlain-English guidanceUpdated September 2026

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Housing disputes depend heavily on the type of occupation, the UK jurisdiction, the tenancy terms, the date the tenancy began, and the exact notice or enforcement step being used. In England, major private-renting reforms took effect on 1 May 2026, so older online guidance can now be misleading.

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Jump straight to the part of Landlord & Tenant that matches your issue.

21 questions

Deposits and holding deposits

Deposit protection, prescribed information, deductions and holding deposits.

26 questions

Repairs, damp and disrepair

Repairs, mould, damp, leaks, heating, structural problems and compensation.

22 questions

Eviction and possession

Section 21, section 8, possession claims, notices, warrants and eviction.

11 questions

Rent, increases and arrears

Rent increases, arrears, rent repayment and rent disputes.

17 questions

Tenancy status and agreements

Tenants, lodgers, licences, fixed terms, periodic tenancies and break clauses.

25 questions

Access, privacy and harassment

Landlord access, locks, viewings, harassment and quiet enjoyment.

8 questions

HMO and licensing

HMO rules, selective licensing, rent repayment orders and unlicensed properties.

4 questions

Gas, electrical and safety duties

Gas safety, electrical safety, smoke alarms, heating and urgent hazards.

7 questions

Pets, subletting and use of the property

Pets, Airbnb, subletting, alterations and other use restrictions.

8 questions

Sale, agents and landlord changes

Property sales, letting agents, landlord changes and management disputes.

4 questions

Neighbours and antisocial behaviour

Noise, nuisance, antisocial behaviour and problems caused by other occupiers.

125 questions

More Landlord & Tenant questions

Additional practical questions that do not sit neatly inside one of the main topics above.

C

Can my landlord evict me without a court order?Can my landlord enter without permission?Can I withhold rent because repairs are not done?Council involved because of housing conditions Can landlord increase rent during fixed term?Can I claim compensation for an unprotected deposit?Can landlord demand a guarantor?Can landlord chase me for another tenant's rent?Can my landlord stop my partner staying over?Constant messages from landlord CCTV covering private areas of rented home Can landlord photograph my belongings?Can I stay after my fixed-term tenancy ends?Can landlord refuse my notice?Check-out report contains things I disagree with Can photos prove the property condition?Can I take action against the letting agent?Can I refuse viewings during my notice period?Can I stop paying rent if property is uninhabitable?Carbon monoxide alarm missing Condensation or landlord repair issue?Council tax included but landlord has not paid it Can I Airbnb my rented property?Cash rent payments with no receipts Can someone rent out a property they do not own?Can landlord ban visitors?Can landlord impose a curfew?Can I put shelves up in rented property?Can I change the locks myself?Company let and tenant rights Council tenant facing eviction Council refusing repairs Can I take over a tenancy after someone dies?Can landlord recover legal costs from me?Court bailiffs coming to evict me Can an eviction be stopped?County Court Judgment for rent arrears Can I challenge a rent arrears judgment?Cash for keys offer from landlord Can I claim against landlord for mould?Can I claim rent back from an unlicensed landlord?

L

Landlord telling me to leave immediately Landlord changed the locks while I was out Locked out of my rented home Landlord threatening to remove my belongings Landlord keeps letting themselves into the property Landlord turning up without notice Landlord has a key and uses it whenever they want Landlord refusing to carry out repairs Leaking roof landlord is ignoring Landlord refusing to deal with pests Landlord blaming me for disrepair Landlord increasing the rent suddenly Landlord asking for extra money on top of rent Landlord charging fees I was not expecting Landlord refusing to return my deposit Landlord wants to keep the whole deposit Landlord says deposit was used for last month's rent Landlord wants another deposit after renewing tenancy Letting agent refusing to refund holding deposit Landlord pulled out after taking holding deposit Landlord wants six months' rent upfront Landlord refusing to remove someone from tenancy Landlord says no children allowed Landlord says no pets allowed Landlord refusing permission for an assistance animal Landlord discriminating against me as a tenant Landlord refusing tenants on benefits Landlord refusing reasonable adjustments Landlord refusing to make the property accessible Landlord harassing me to make me leave Landlord threatening me over complaints Landlord says I must leave because I complained to council Landlord cutting off electricity or water Landlord removing doors or facilities Landlord interfering with my post Landlord contacting my employer Landlord contacting my family about rent Landlord sharing my personal information Landlord installed CCTV around the property Landlord wants to inspect my bedroom Landlord taking photographs during inspection Landlord refusing to give me a tenancy agreement Landlord says I am only a lodger Living with landlord and being asked to leave Landlord calling tenancy a licence Landlord says tenancy ends automatically Leaving before fixed term ends Landlord refusing to release me from tenancy Landlord says my notice is invalid Landlord chasing rent after tenancy ended Landlord says I abandoned the property Left belongings behind after moving out Landlord disposed of my belongings Landlord charging storage fees for belongings Landlord wants payment for new carpets Landlord charging for old furniture Landlord wants professional cleaning Landlord charging for repainting Landlord charging for garden work Landlord claiming for damage I did not cause Landlord blaming me for damage already there Landlord refusing to provide receipts for deductions Letting agent ignoring my deposit dispute Letting agent not passing repairs to landlord Landlord and letting agent blaming each other Landlord selling the property while I am renting Landlord wants viewings while I still live there Landlord wants viewings every day Landlord wants builders in while I am living there Landlord wants me to move out temporarily Landlord refuses to insure my belongings Landlord has no EPC Landlord refusing to fix security problems Landlord refusing to replace broken windows Landlord charging me for emergency repairs Landlord says I caused the mould Landlord refusing to deal with antisocial behaviour Landlord converted property without permission Landlord renting out unsafe room Landlord charging separate utility fees Landlord refusing to show utility bills Landlord overcharging for electricity or gas Landlord says tenant must pay service charges Landlord changing access to parking Landlord refusing access to communal areas Landlord removed use of garden Landlord moved someone else into part of property Landlord renting out another room without warning Landlord says relatives are moving in Landlord accusing me of illegal subletting Landlord says I breached tenancy conditions Landlord threatening eviction over a minor breach Landlord refusing my rent arrears payment plan Landlord wants rent paid directly by benefits Landlord adding interest to rent arrears Landlord charging late payment fees Landlord says I owe rent that I already paid Landlord refusing to provide rent receipts Landlord wants rent paid in cash only Landlord changed bank details unexpectedly Landlord does not appear to own the property Landlord's mortgage lender contacting me Landlord has gone bankrupt Landlord died during my tenancy Landlord divorcing and ownership is disputed Landlord refuses to give an address for service Landlord lives abroad and ignores problems Letting agent disappeared with my rent Letting agent holding my deposit Landlord forcing me to sign a new fixed term Landlord refusing periodic tenancy Landlord wants a much higher rent for renewal Landlord changed tenancy terms without agreement Landlord says I cannot work from home Landlord objects to home working Landlord says I cannot decorate Landlord wants me to repaint before leaving Landlord says I cannot change the locks Landlord refuses to provide spare keys Landlord charging for replacement keys Landlord wants payment for changing locks Landlord entered because they said it was an emergency Landlord opening my bedroom while I was asleep Landlord showing strangers around without warning Landlord recording conversations with tenants Landlord threatening to report me to immigration Landlord asking for passport repeatedly Landlord refusing to return personal documents Landlord charging rent after student course ended Landlord refuses to deal with mice in student house Landlord refusing repairs because tenancy is ending Living in employer-provided accommodation Losing accommodation after leaving a job Landlord wants property back after tenant dies Landlord threatening court action for possession Landlord says bailiffs will arrive tomorrow Landlord using High Court enforcement for eviction Landlord chasing former tenant for damages Landlord obtained judgment without me knowing Landlord offering money for me to leave Landlord promised to return deposit if I leave early Landlord changed their mind after I moved out Landlord refusing compensation Landlord refusing to comply with council notice Landlord failed licensing requirements Landlord says tenancy is not covered by housing law Landlord registration problems in Northern Ireland

S

Section 21 notice and what happens next Section 8 notice and rent arrears Serious damp and mould in rented property Smoke alarms not working Shared house problems with other tenants Storage area included in tenancy being taken back Subletting without landlord permission Scam concerns over landlord payment request Student tenancy problems Student house deposit dispute Student landlord refusing early release Service occupancy and eviction Succession to council tenancy Settlement agreement with landlord Should I accept landlord's offer to move out?Selective licensing and tenant rights Scotland private residential tenancy problems Scottish landlord trying to evict me

N

Notice to quit looks wrong No heating and landlord will not fix it No written tenancy agreement Notice period when tenant wants to leave No check-in report when I moved in New landlord says I need a new tenancy agreement New owner wants me out No electrical safety certificate Neighbour noise in rented property New tenancy contains worse terms Northern Ireland landlord and tenant dispute Notice to quit in Northern Ireland

B

Boiler broken for weeks Breaking a tenancy agreement early Break clause wording is confusing Broken front door lock Bedroom is too small to rent out

D

Dangerous electrics in rented property Deposit was never protected Deposit deductions seem unfair Deposit dispute over cleaning Deposit dispute over damage Deposit dispute over decorating Deposit scheme says landlord has made a claim Deposit protected late by landlord Disabled tenant and access problems Do I have to allow estate agent viewings?Do I have to renew my tenancy?Domestic abuse and joint tenancy problems Damaged belongings caused by landlord's failure to repair Deposit protection problems in Scotland Deposit protection in Northern Ireland

P

Property feels unsafe to live in Paying for repairs and deducting it from rent Partner moved in and landlord objects Paying rent after moving out Property sold with tenant still living there Property becoming uninhabitable during repairs Parking space taken away by landlord Paid deposit to someone who did not own property Property inherited while I am a tenant Private halls and tenancy rights Possession hearing coming up Property licensing problems

R

Rent increase seems too high Rent increase without proper notice Rent paid in advance and tenancy fell through Replacing a tenant in a shared house Retaliatory eviction after asking for repairs Rent arrears and repayment plan Rent arrears after losing my job Rent statement does not match my payments Receiver appointed over rented property Running a small business from rented property Right to rent checks and tenancy problems Rent-to-rent landlord problems Renting a room in shared accommodation Relationship breakdown and social housing tenancy Rent arrears after eviction Rent repayment order against landlord Rent increase under Scottish tenancy Repairs and tolerable standard in Scotland Rent increase in Northern Ireland

I

I never received deposit protection information Inventory was never done at start of tenancy Is my shared house an HMO?I cannot contact my landlord Injury caused by defective rented property Illegal eviction compensation

H

Holding deposit not being returned Housemate stopped paying their share of rent HMO landlord not following the rules HMO licence problems Housing benefit problem causing rent arrears Holiday let being used as main home Housing association tenant facing eviction Housing association repair problems Harassment by landlord compensation

G

Guarantor being chased for rent Guarantor wants to get out of the agreement Gas safety certificate was never given Ground rent being demanded from tenant

J

Joint tenancy and one tenant wants to leave

E

Ex-partner moved out but still on tenancy Excluded occupier and notice rights Energy meter controlled by landlord Executor wants me to leave rented property Emergency access by landlord Eviction date has been set

O

One tenant wants to end a joint tenancy Overcrowding in rented property One joint tenant giving notice without telling the other Occupation rights after relationship breakdown

K

Keeping a pet without landlord's permission Keys not returned by previous tenant

A

Am I a tenant or a lodger?Another tenant is making my life unbearable Agricultural tenancy housing problems

F

Fixed-term tenancy ending soon Fair wear and tear or damage?Fire or flood damaged rented property Furniture supplied by landlord is unsafe Fake landlord or fake tenancy concerns Former partner refusing to leave rented home

U

Using a break clause in tenancy agreement Utility bills included but landlord stopped paying them Unexpected service charges in tenancy Universal Credit rent payments delayed University accommodation problems

T

Tenancy agreement says I must pay for professional cleaning Too many people living in the property Taking in a lodger as a tenant Two landlords giving me different instructions Tenancy renewal fees Tied accommodation and dismissal Temporary accommodation and tenant rights Tenant has died and family still living there Tenant refusing to leave after notice expires Tenant belongings after eviction Tenant wants compensation for disrepair Tenant rights after landlord prosecution

M

Major works being done during tenancy Missed one rent payment and landlord threatening eviction Mortgage repossession and tenant rights

W

Who pays for alternative accommodation during repairs?Who is responsible for damaged belongings?Who is responsible for council tax?Who becomes my landlord if landlord dies?