Students may often feel nervous about communicating with landlords and can lead to students avoiding challenging landlords on their responsibilities and obligations with the upkeep of a property.
Your landlord is obliged do anything your tenancy agreement says they have to do.
Your landlord is also generally responsible for keeping in repair:
- The structure and exterior of your home: the walls, roof, foundations, drains, guttering and external pipes, windows and external doors
- Basins, sinks, baths, toilets and their pipework
- Water and gas pipes, electrical wiring, water tanks, boilers, radiators, gas fires, fitted electric fires or fitted heaters.
These repair responsibilities can't be removed by anything your tenancy agreement says.
Your landlord only has to make repairs when they know there’s a problem - so make sure you tell them! They are not allowed to pass on the cost of any of this repair work to you.
If your landlord is not responding or you are having difficulties with them, then you can contact the Students' Union Advice and Support Centre.
Dealing with Rent Increases
As costs have risen in recent months, your landlord may be trying to increase your rent. A landlord can't simply demand a higher rent whenever they like, there are processes that they need to adhere to depending on your rental agreement. You can read more on challenging rent increases here.
The best approach for any dispute or complaint is always to try and communicate directly with your landlord. If this is done in person then be sure to take notes and email them after the conversation, otherwise liaise over email so you have a record of everything that has been said.
