Housing
Having a safe secure home is an important part of life. Below you will find some information about housing in the UK.
Contents
Types of Housing
There are several types of housing in the UK
Private Rented Housing
A private rented house is a property that is owned by a person or company called a landlord, who rents it to another person or family.
There is a wide variety of private rented housing available. Properties may come without furniture, part furnished or fully furnished.
In private rented properties, you may deal directly with your landlord or they may use an agent such as an estate agency.
Social Rented Housing
Social rented housing is owned by a council or Housing Association. There are very few social rented homes. There are rules about who can be a tenant in this type of home. You can find more information about eligibility for social housing on Shelters website
Tenancy Agreements
There are many different types of tenancy agreement in the UK depending on where you live and the type of accommodation. Below are some of the most common:
Assured Shorthold Tenancies (AST)
An AST is usually for a fixed term such as 12 months. At the end of the 12 months, the tenancy will usually run periodically, meaning it continues with the same conditions. An assured tenancy offers you security and some protection from eviction.
Excluded tenancies or License agreements
An excluded tenancy or licence agreement is usually used if you live with your landlord or share a living space with them. You have less protection with this type of tenancy.
Introductory or starter tenancy
Introductory tenancies are usually used at the beginning of a social rented tenancy. They are a bit like a ‘trial’ period. You have less rights and protection on an introductory tenancy.
Secure Tenancy
A secure tenancy usually follows an Introductory Tenancy in social housing. It may be fixed term, say for 5 years, or run until you end your tenancy. Secure tenancies offer a good level of protection.
With all tenancy types the agreement should outline your rights and responsibilities as a tenant as well as your landlords. A tenancy agreement is a legal document, it is important you understand what is in a tenancy agreement before you sign it. You are allowed to seek independent advice before signing any legal document.
Your tenancy agreement should include how much rent you have to pay and how to pay it. Also how long your tenancy will run for, what you can use your property for or how to end your tenancy.
You should always be provided with a copy of your tenancy agreement.
Legal Documents
When you sign for a tenancy there are some documents that the landlord must provide you with. These include your tenancy agreement, an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) for the property, a right to rent booklet and a landlord’s gas safety certificate for the property. The landlord’s gas safety certificate must be renewed every 12 months.
Right to Rent check
Some landlords have a legal responsibility to check your right to rent their property. The landlord may ask to check your passport. If you are not a British or Irish citizen you can provide a ‘share code’ to prove your immigration status and right to rent. You can find more information on how to prove your immigration status on GOV.UK
Deposits and Guarantor
Some landlords may ask for a deposit, usually of one month’s rent. If the landlord takes a deposit off you, they must put the money in a tenancy deposit scheme and provide you with a receipt. At the end of your tenancy, the landlord must return your deposit in full as long as you have paid all your rent and not damaged the property.
If you have limited or poor credit, your landlord may ask you for a guarantor. This is security for the landlord and if you can not pay your rent, your guarantor will be expected to. Your guarantor can be a friend or family member or a company.
Help with Housing
In England and Wales, legal aid is funded by the UK Government to enable people who have a low income to access free legal advice. Legal aid (help to pay for legal advice) is available for asylum cases. A solicitor can explain this, and what they can do under legal aid. If they do not have a legal aid contract, they should refer the person seeking asylum to a firm that does.
Homelessness
If you do not have anywhere to live, you may be considered homeless. If you are homeless, your local council may have a duty to help you.
You can find out who is legally homeless and the support available from your council on Shelters website