What Information Must Landlords Give To Tenants?

There are rules which govern the information which landlords have to give to their tenants.

Needless to say, many of these rules relate to money, and how a landlord is obliged to deal with a tenant's deposit. At the start of a residential tenancy, if a landlord takes a deposit from the tenant, it must be deposited in a recognised tenant deposit scheme.

Where such a deposit is taken, there is also a requirement upon the landlord to provide the tenant with certain prescribed information.

Following the enactment of the Deregulation Act 2015 the the landlord should provide the tenant with the following information at the start of a tenancy:

• Within 30 days of the commencement of the tenancy, the landlord has to give the tenant information about the deposit scheme in which their deposit money is held. A failure so to do may lead to a fine and would be a breach of the Housing Act 2014.
• Copies of gas certificates, energy performance certificates, as required by regulation.
• The government's leaflet dealing with “how to rent”.

If the landlord ever wants to give the tenant notice pursuant to Section 21 of the Housing Act 1988, which is known as a “no fault” eviction, their ability to do so may be affected if they haven't provided the tenant with the prescribed information set out above.

It is therefore very important for both landlords and tenants that the right information is given to a tenant by a landlord, at the start of a tenancy arrangement. 

At Samuels Solicitors LLP, we regularly act on behalf of both landlords and tenants in circumstances when Section 21 Notices have been served and the relevant prescribed information has not been provided. We are therefore able to provide advice to both sides in this type of dispute.  

If you are a landlord or a tenant who is affected by the rent deposit scheme, or if you think the correct information has not been given to a tenant at the start of a tenancy agreement, contact us for specialist advice about what can be done.