If you are renting or thinking of renting a privately owned property, the Private Sector Housing team can advise you on:

Preventing homelessness

If you are feeling overwhelmed and at risk of eviction please contact the Housing Advice Team for assistance. You can call us 01926 456129 or email hadvicesupport@warwickdc.gov.uk

If you are worried about being unable to pay you rent, advice is available from specialist providers such as:

  • Shelter – 0808 800 4444 (8am to 8pm weekdays, 9am to 5pm on weekends)
  • Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) - 0800 144 8848 (10am to 3pm weekdays)
  • The Money Advice Service – 0800 138 7777 (8am to 6pm weekdays)

If you are struggling with your rent, it is advisable to talk to your landlord at an early stage. You may be able to negotiate a rent reduction or payment plan to deal with arrears over an agreed period.

Financial support for tenants in private sector housing

Universal Credit

CAB have a Help to Claim service which can support you in the early stages of your Universal Credit claim, from the application through to your first payment. It’s free, independent, confidential, and impartial.They have online advice about claiming Universal Credit or you can contact an adviser through their free national Help to Claim phone service, 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday on 0800 144 8 444

Alternatively, you can make your application directly online.

Council Tax Reduction

The amount of reduction that you may receive will depend on your circumstances and how much Council Tax you pay. For further information and advice, visit our website for the online entitlement calculator and application form.

Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP)

The amount awarded for the housing element of Universal Credit may not always cover the full rent, that you need to pay. If you are struggling to pay the rent and in need of temporary help, DHP could be available to cover the shortfall between your benefits and rent. Each application is considered on its own individual circumstances, and in particular the effect the shortfall in the housing element of Universal Credit would have on the household.  For further information and the application form, visit our benefits section.

Looking for privately rented accommodation

The guide How to Rent: the checklist for renting in England will explain what you can expect and some considerations when signing up for a property. Residents usually  search for privately rented property in a variety of ways:

  • Visiting lettings agents
  • Searching websites such as Rightmove , Zoopla and Openrent
  • Looking for single rooms in shared houses on Spareroom
  • On social media groups

Check the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)

It is a legal requirement that the agent or landlord displays a valid EPC when they market the property. You can find out if the property has an EPC on the Governments register. The EPC will tell you how energy efficient a property is. This is important because properties that are not efficient are harder and more expensive to heat. properties with an F or G rating are illegal to rent out. 

Tenant fees banned

Landlords and agents are prohibited from charging the following fees; application fee, inventory fee, guarantor fee, credit check fee, referencing fee and fees for services such as gardening and cleaning. These fees have been made illegal in any form by the Tenant Fees Act 2019. Landlords are prohibited from taking higher initial rents to cover these charges. The deposit a landlord or agent can ask for is capped at 5 weeks rent. If a landlord initially takes a holding deposit, this is capped at 1 week's rent. If you are being asked to pay a banned fee, you can report this to Warwickshire Trading Standards.

Renting a safe property

The guide ‘How to rent a safe home’ explains some of the responsibilities your landlord has in maintaining the property and some of the hazards to watch out for. If you have reported disrepair to your landlord, and they have not taken any action, contact the Private Sector Housing Team for further advice. If we have health and safety concerns, we may be able to visit the property to complete an inspection. Your landlord should keep the porpetry in a good state of repair, the gas and electrical safety certification up to date and ensure you have working smoke and carbon monoxide detection in the property. 

Shared House - check the licence

If you are looking to rent a property with friends or a room in a shared house check the licence. Properties housing three or more tenants from two or more households (3 unrelated sharers or a couple plus a friend) require a licence. If the landlord failed to apply or maintain the licence you can apply for repayment of your rent.

Tenancy Agreement

This usually specifies who the tenants and landlord/s are, the term of the letting and sets out the rules for both parties. It is not currently a legal requirement to have a tenancy agreement, however it is strongly recommended. It is a legal contract, read it carefully before signing it. If you do not have a tenancy agreement, this does not mean that you aren’t a tenant or have tenants’ rights providing you have been paying rent and have exclusive occupation of the property. If the fixed term of your tenancy has ended, you are still a tenant and the rules in the agreement still apply.

Deposits

If you are a tenant with an Assured Shorthold Tenancy (this does not include licensees or lodgers), and you have paid a deposit, it must be protected by the landlord/agent within 30 days of them receiving the money. If they do not, then a tenant can take legal action to claim up to 3 times the value of the deposit as compensation via the courts. If a landlord does not protect the deposit, a landlord cannot issue a Section 21 notice to evict you. At the end of the tenancy if the landlord and tenant are in dispute about any deductions, the tenant should contact the deposit scheme holding the monies to raise a dispute. For more information on deposits, see the shelter website.

Access by the landlord and contractors

We are frequently contacted by landlords and tenants who are having disagreements regarding access. Your landlord should give you 24 hours written notice that they intend to visit, if it is not convenient you should reschedule this with the landlord. The landlord or their contractors should not visit unannounced and are not allowed to enter the property without the tenants permission. Separate rules apply if you live in a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO). It is good practice for Landlords to visit and inspect the property to check the property condition. It is recommended that where possible, tenants should make themselves available and not unreasonably prevent access. If your landlord is regularly accessing the property without permission you should start to gather evidence, note down the days and times and consider a doorbell camera. You can report this to us for intervention.

Eviction

Landlords must follow a specific legal process in order to gain possession of their properties. If your landlord has indicated they will be seeking to evict you, or you have been served an eviction notice and you do not have alternative accommodation you should contact the Housing Advice Team, 01926 456129, housing.advice@warwickdc.gov.uk as soon as possible for advice.

If a landlord does not follow this process or excludes you from the property unlawfully, contact Private Sector Housing on 01926 456359.

Your requirements as a tenant

There is a full guide to private renting available to help tenants understand their rights and responsibilities. It is important to build a good working relationship with your landlord as during your tenancy problems may arise such as repair issues and accidental damage. Your landlord will need access to the property periodically to conduct inspections.

Tenants’ rights in privately rented accommodation

For more comprehensive information on tenants’ rights, see the Shelter website or contact the Private Sector Housing Team if you have a specific query.

Contact Us

If you have any concerns regarding your tenancy or issues with your landlord or agent, please contact the Private Sector Housing Team for assistance.

Telephone 01926 456359 or e mail privatesectorhousing@warwickdc.gov.uk

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