FAQs
Use the categories below to find relevant articles relating to your questions. All the link lead to the Citizens Advice Website
Before you start your tenancy:
- Should I rent from a landlord or letting agent?
- How to search for a property?
- What to do if you are on benefits?
- What should I ask my landlord or letting agent?
- What checks will my landlord or letting agent make?
- How to prove you have the right to rent?
- What are references will my landlord need?
- Will I need a credit check?
- What will I need to pay before I move in?
- What about hidden costs?
- What if I need a guarantor?
- Can I negotiate with my landlord or letting agent?
- What if I can't afford to pay a deposit or rent in advance?
During your tenancy
- What should I do if I think my home is unsafe?
- How should I ask my landlord to make repairs?
- What should I do if my landlord won’t do the repairs?
- What steps do I need to take before I complain?
- How can I complain to my landlord?
- What should I do if my landlord won’t fix the problem?
- When can I contact the council?
- What should I do if my landlord still wont do the repairs?
- Can I get Universal Credit for housing costs?
- Am I eligible for council tax reduction?
- What should I do if I can’t pay the rent?
- What should I do if I can’t pay the bills?
- Can my landlord increase my rent?
- How can I negotiate with my landlord?
- What will happen if I don’t pay my rent increase?
- What if I have a rent review clause in my tenancy agreement?
- How can I check if my S13 notice is valid?
- How can I challenge a S13 notice?
Rent Arrears and Evictions:
- Am I responsible for paying my rent arrears?
- What support is available to help me deal with my rent arrears?
- How should I pay back my rent arrears?
- What help if available if I cannot afford to pay back my rent arrears?
- When can I be given a S21 notice?
- What should I do if I receive a S21 notice?
- How do know if my S21 notice is valid?
- How can I challenge a S21 notice if it is invalid?
- What should I do if I receive court papers?
- What should I do if my landlord is trying to force me to leave without an eviction warrant?
- When can I be given a S8 notice?
- How much notice should I be given for a S8 notice?
- How can I check if my S8 notice is valid?
- How can I challenge my S8 notice?
- What should I do if I receive court papers?
- What should I do if my landlord is trying to force me to leave without an eviction warrant?
Deposits:
- What is the deadline for my landlord to protect my deposit?
- How can I find out if my deposit is protected?
- What should I do if my landlord hasn’t protected my deposit?
- What can I do to ensure I get all my deposit back?
- What can my landlord take money from my deposit for?
- What can I do if I disagree with the deductions my landlord wants to take?
- Should I notify that my landlord didn’t follow the deposit rules before the end of my tenancy?
- Can I negotiate with my landlord outside of court?
- What do I need to do to take my landlord to court?
- What can I do if my landlord does not pay?
Issues with your landlord or letting agent:
- What can I do if I think I am evicted because I asked for repairs?
- What should I do before making a complaint?
- What steps should I follow to make a complaint?
- What can I do if my landlord hasn’t responded to my complaint?
- What should I do before making a complaint?
- What steps should I follow to make a complaint?
- What can I do if my letting agent hasn’t responded to my complaint?
At the end of your tenancy:
- What notice do I need to give?
- How do I give notice to my landlord?
- Can I leave before the end of my tenancy?
- What should I do when I’m moving out of my property?
- Am I entitled to financial support to try to stop my eviction?
If you require support with any of the steps given above, Shelter has lots of template letters and guidance available to assist you in writing to your landlord, letting agent or the council on topics such as:
Repairs
Harassment
Rent Increases