As a student, renting a house can be an experience that you’re not used too and, as a tenant, there are certain responsibilities that come with the property. Private renting usually means that the landlord or agent deals with most repair problems but as the tenant you will also have some things you need to do when it comes to keeping your home in tip-top condition. So read more to find out what your responsibilities are as a student tenant.

1. Not Disturbing Your Housemates
One of the biggest responsibilities as a tenant is to make sure you are courteous and considerate to your housemates. Respecting their property and privacy is ideal for maintaining a happy atmosphere in you student house. Annoyed housemates lead to arguments and uncomfortable living arrangements.

2. Looking After Your Student Home
The law implies a condition into every tenancy agreement that the tenant must use their home in a ‘tenant-like’ way. Using your home in a tenant-like way generally means:

  • Using what inventory is provided in the house correctly and for its intended purpose such as not blocking a toilet by flushing something unsuitable down it or placing hot items on leather furniture.
  • Keeping your home in a good state of repair and reasonably clean for example, making sure you wipe surfaces in the bathroom and making sure it’s aired out to prevent the appearance of black mould.
  • Doing minor repairs yourself, for example, changing light bulbs and batteries in fire alarms.
  • Not causing any unnecessary or malicious damage to the property and making sure your friends and family members who visit don’t cause any damage either. You are responsible for the people you invite into the property so please ensure that they are trustworthy.
3. What Maintenance Work is Your Landlord/Agent Responsible For?
Generally, your landlord is responsible for repairing:
  • The structure and exterior of your home, for example, the walls, roof, guttering, windows and external doors 
  • Water and gas pipes, electrical wiring, water tanks, boilers, radiators and any leaks that may occur.

Any problems like this are not usually the result of damage done by the tenants and it is a responsibility of the landlord or agent to deal with so the cost of any repair work will be theirs and not yours.

4. Reporting Repairs to Your Landlord/Agent
It’s imperative that any maintenance issues that you have are reported as soon as possible to you landlord or agent as your they cannot be held responsible for repair work until they are notified of it, so it's up to you to tell them about any repairs that are needed, the quicker you are to report it the quicker they’ll be to act on the problem.

5. What Happens if You Can’t Pay Rent?
If there are any extenuating circumstances as to why you cannot make rent, please let us know as soon as possible, as it is better we know they situation so we can act accordingly. 

If you do manage fall behind on your rent and we are not notified, we operate by a 3 step warning process. We will first send a text message informing you that you have missed rent day, then a phone call and finally a hand delivered reminder letter with an additional charge of £25. After this point a daily interest will be added on top of your due rent. 

Should this happen, your co-tenants and guarantors will be informed. If in doubt about anything, please refer to your tenancy agreement. 

Hopefully you are now aware of what you are responsible for as a tenant. Follow us on Twitter for regular tips @Student_House.