CribCheckQuiet enjoyment
Once you pay rent and hold the property, the landlord cannot treat it as their own space. Entry should be arranged, not sprung on you, except in a genuine emergency.
Notice and eviction
A tenancy is ended by valid written notice, followed by court proceedings if you do not leave. Changing locks, removing the roof, cutting power or water, or throwing out belongings are not lawful remedies, however far behind the rent is.
Repairs
The landlord is generally responsible for the structure and the installations they supplied — roof, walls, plumbing, wiring, pump. Tenants are generally responsible for what they damage and for small consumables. Your agreement can shift this, which is why the repair clause matters.
Rent increases
Rent for a fixed term cannot be changed mid-term unless the agreement says so. At renewal, an increase can be proposed, and a tenant who considers it unreasonable can contest it in court rather than simply paying or leaving.
Deposits
A caution deposit is security, not extra rent. Deductions should be for damage you caused or bills you left unpaid, and should be itemised.
Where disputes usually start
- No written agreement, or an agreement nobody kept a copy of.
- No record of the property's condition at entry.
- Verbal promises about repairs that were never written down.
- Payments made in cash with no receipt.
General information for house hunters, not legal advice. Tenancy law differs by state and reforms are debated regularly — confirm the current position in your state, and take advice from a lawyer before acting on a dispute.