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Advice and Information for Tenants

Do you rent or are you thinking of renting a property from a private landlord?

Before renting a property, you need to know what you can afford and have an understanding of the tenancy agreement which sets out the main terms of the tenancy, including the duration of the tenancy, the amount of rent and how often the rent can be increased.

Booklet: Do you rent or are you thinking of renting from a private landlord

• Tenants Responsibilities and Landlord Responsibilities
  Find out what you and your Landlord are responsible for.
  
  
• Housing standards in rented accommodation
  

  The Landlord has a responsibility to ensure that the property is free from serious hazards and in good repair.

  
  
• Problems with your Property, Landlord or Neighbours
  Advice is available if you are having problems.
  
  If you are having problems with disrepair to your property you should contact your Landlord or Agent to try to resolve the matter first before contacting the Council.
  
  To make a complaint to the Council please download, complete and return to us by e-mail /post the Tenant Complaint Form.
  
  
• Living in Shared Accommodation - Houses in Multiple Occupation
  

  If you live in a bedsit, share facilities, e.g. a bathroom or kitchen with other occupants in your house, live in a property divided into flats, then you probably live in a house in multiple occupation (known as an HMO). Landlords have extra responsibilities to ensure properties are properly managed.

• Energy Certificates (pdf, 437kb)

Landlords must provide an Energy Performance Certificate to people who want to rent a home from them. An energy performance certificate (EPC) gives you information about the energy efficiency of the home you want to rent.

Other useful information for tenants

• Renting from a Social Landlord
  Social Rented housing is provided by Dover District Council and Housing Associations. It is allocated on the basis of need and the rent levels are usually lower than rents in the Private Rented sector. Due to the shortage of Social Rented Housing, you may have to wait to get a home.
  
  
• HomeBuy (0845 359 6161)
  A programme that helps people who wish to buy a property but cannot afford to, and those who wish to rent but cannot afford to pay market rents. Most of the people eligible are either public sector key workers, or people in other priority groups, for example council or housing association tenants. 
  
  
• Rent Deposit Scheme
  The rent deposit scheme offered by Dover District Council enables homeless people to rent from private landlords by providing a repayable rent deposit and where appropriate, one months rent in advance.
  
  
• What to do if you are homeless or about to be made homeless
  If you are being threatened with being made homeless or if you are homeless you need to contact the Housing Needs team immediately.
  - Do not leave it until the last minute to act.
  - Do not give up your home until you are legally obliged to do so (usually by court order) as this may damage any application for help that you make to this or any other council.
  For advice or to make a homeless application, you will need to come to the Gateway. You do not need an appointment for your first visit.
  
  
• Repossession by your landlord's mortgage lender
  Advice for Tenants facing eviction because their landlord has mortgage arrears. 
  

Further Information

• CAB - Renting from a private landlord
• Direct Gov - Private Renting

Contact

Tel: 01304 872 397

Email: privatesectorhousing@dover.gov.uk