What are my responsibilities?
Keeping up to date with the rent
You must pay your rent on time. Rent is usually paid in advance, normally every month or week. Your tenancy agreement should tell you when the rent is due. If you are having any difficulty paying, it is important to get help straight away as the landlord can take steps to have you evicted for not paying the rent.
You should get a receipt from your landlord for all rent payments or forms of payment such as housing benefit.
Paying the bills
Your tenancy agreement will tell you which bills you are responsible for.
Usually you will pay:
- gas bills
- electricity bills
- water bills
- telephone/internet/TV bills
- council tax.
Council tax
The amount of council tax you pay depends on the house you live in. Each property is placed in a 'valuation band', from A to H, which sets the amount of tax. To find out how much your council tax is, ask the landlord or visit Gateway at the Civic Centre. There are some discounts for council tax. If you are a student living in a rented property, you may not have to pay council tax. You may also be entitled to council tax benefit if you are on a low income. To find out more, visit:
www.southampton.gov.uk/benefits/counciltax/default.asp
Television licences
If there is a television, you must pay for a television licence. You can do this by going to the post office or using the online website. You can be fined up to £1,000 if you don't pay.
www.tvlicensing.co.uk/index.jsp
Insurance
You should take out contents insurance to cover all your personal belongings. The property itself, and the furniture, should be covered by the landlord's insurance, but you should check this before you sign the tenancy agreement.
Taking care of the place
- Always keep the property as clean as possible.
- Don't damage it or your neighbour's property.
- Make sure your guests don't damage the property.
- Look after internal decorations, furniture and equipment.
- Report any repairs or problems to the landlord in writing and keep a copy for yourself.
- Throw rubbish away properly.
- Keep the property well ventilated to avoid damp problems.
- You must tell the landlord when something needs repairing.
Anti-social behaviour
You should not act in a way that could cause nuisance or annoy your neighbours. This may include, among other things:
- loud noise from TVs and stereos
- violence
- vandalism
- not disposing of rubbish properly.
The landlord can take steps to evict you for anti-social behaviour.
What can I do about anti-social behaviour?
If you suffer anti-social behaviour or see anyone behaving in an anti-social way, you should tell the police. In an emergency, ring 999. If it is not an emergency, ring 101. You should also report it to your landlord.
What if I am suffering from racial harassment?
"A racist incident is any incident which is perceived to be racist by the victim or any other person." (Definition from the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry report, 1999)
If you are suffering from racist intimidation or damage to your property, you should report it to the police. You can also contact Southampton City Council's Communities Team. You should also report it to your landlord.
www.southampton.gov.uk/people/keepingyousafe/kys-individual/hatecrime.asp
Can the Council do anything if my landlord refuses to carry out repairs?
If your landlord refuses to do any repairs even after you have asked them to do so, you can contact Private Sector Housing at Southampton City Council. They may take action if they think the house is not fit for people to live in, or its condition affects your health and safety.
You can also instruct a solicitor to write to your landlord requiring him to do repairs.
If you are having serious problems with your landlord and want to take action against them, you should always talk to an experienced adviser before doing so. They will be able to tell you what to do.
Allowing access to the property
You have to allow your landlord access to inspect or do repairs. The landlord should give you at least 24 hours' notice unless it is an emergency.