Tenant FAQs.

Yes, you can ask. Since 1 May 2026 you can ask your landlord in writing to keep a pet, describing it (type, size, how much space it needs). The landlord must answer in writing within 28 days and can only refuse for a good reason. GOV.UK gives examples of reasons that may be fair: another tenant in the home has an allergy, the home is too small for the pet, the animal is illegal to own, or the landlord is a leaseholder and the freeholder doesn’t allow pets. Simply not liking pets, or worrying the pet might cause damage, isn’t a good enough reason. A blanket “no pets” rule isn’t allowed, and an assistance dog can’t be refused.

If the landlord asks you for more details, they then have the rest of the 28 days or 7 days after you reply, whichever is later. If they don’t get your reply, they don’t have to consider the request. Once a pet is agreed, the agreement can’t be withdrawn; a second pet needs a new request. Keeping a pet without asking may break your tenancy agreement. If you think a refusal is unreasonable, raise it with the landlord or agent first; you also have the right to take it to court. Source: GOV.UK: if a tenant wants a pet to live with them.

Use our pet request form: it counts as asking in writing, it starts the 28-day clock on our side, and we pass it to the landlord straight away. We’ll reply in writing (WhatsApp or email) within 28 days. Any damage a pet causes is treated like any other damage at the end of the tenancy and can come out of your deposit; the landlord can’t claim the same damage twice from you and their insurer.

Once a year at most, and not at all in the first year of the tenancy. The landlord must use the official notice, Form 4A (“Landlord’s notice proposing a new rent”), and give you at least 2 months’ notice. Rent review clauses in agreements no longer work: every increase has to go through this process (GOV.UK calls it the section 13 process), even one you’ve agreed to. If you think the proposed rent is more than the home would fetch on the open market, you can ask the First-tier Tribunal to decide what the rent should be; apply before the date the new rent is due to start. The tribunal can set the rent at the landlord’s figure or lower, not higher, and the new rent then applies from the tribunal’s decision rather than being backdated (check the current position with Shelter or an adviser before you apply, as the fee and forms can change). Source: GOV.UK: rent increases.

Nothing before you’ve signed. A landlord or agent must not ask for, encourage or accept any rent before both of you have signed the tenancy agreement. Between signing and the day the tenancy starts, the most that can be asked for is one month’s rent (or 28 days’ rent if you don’t pay monthly). Before signing, the only money that can be taken is a holding deposit of up to one week’s rent, to reserve the home while references are done. Source: GOV.UK: rent in advance and deposits.

No. Every written advert (online, printed, social media) must state one specific rent, not a range. A landlord or agent cannot ask for, encourage or accept an offer above the advertised rent, hint that others have offered more, or make you feel you have to bid. Councils enforce this, with fines of up to £7,000 for a first offence. At AH&L the advertised rent is the rent. Source: GOV.UK: rental bidding.

Tenancies in England now run month to month with no fixed end date. To leave, you give written notice of up to 2 months: your agreement can’t ask for more than that, and if it says nothing, 2 months applies. The notice must end on a rent day or the day before. You and the landlord can agree a shorter notice or an earlier leaving date, but put it in writing. Rent is still due for the whole notice period unless the landlord agrees otherwise. Source: GOV.UK: if your tenant wants to leave.

The tenancy deposit is capped at 5 weeks’ rent, or 6 weeks’ if the rent for the year is £50,000 or more. The landlord or agent must put it in one of the three government-approved schemes (Deposit Protection Service, MyDeposits or Tenancy Deposit Scheme) within 30 days of receiving it, and give you the scheme’s details in writing. At the end of the tenancy it must be returned within 10 days of you both agreeing how much comes back; if you can’t agree, the scheme’s free dispute service decides. Sources: GOV.UK: tenancy deposit protection and GOV.UK: private renting, deposits.

At most one week’s rent, held for up to 15 days (or longer if you both agree in writing) while references are done. You get it back within 7 days of the tenancy being agreed or falling through, or it goes towards your first rent or deposit if you agree. It can only be kept if you give false or misleading information, fail a Right to Rent check, pull out, or don’t respond to reasonable requests, and the landlord must tell you why in writing within 7 days. Source: GOV.UK: Tenant Fees Act, guidance for tenants.

“The Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet 2026” is a 4-page government document explaining how the Act changed tenancies in England. Landlords had to give it to every tenant whose tenancy started before 1 May 2026 by 31 May 2026 (the sheet itself, not a link to it). Tenancies that start on or after 1 May 2026 get a written statement of the key terms before signing instead. A landlord who doesn’t provide the right paperwork can be fined up to £7,000. The old “How to Rent” guide is no longer used. Sources: GOV.UK: the Information Sheet and GOV.UK: written information for your tenant.

The landlord is always responsible for the structure and outside of the home; basins, sinks, baths and toilets, with their pipes and drains; heating and hot water; gas appliances, pipes, flues and ventilation; and the electrical wiring. You look after day-to-day things like changing light bulbs and keeping the home clean and aired, and you pay for damage you or your guests cause. Tell us about a problem as soon as you spot it (report a repair or call 01727 761816): small things get worse, and we can’t fix what we don’t know about. If repairs aren’t done, your council’s environmental health team can inspect and make the landlord act. Source: GOV.UK: private renting, repairs.

Only these, and nothing else: rent; a refundable tenancy deposit (capped as above); a refundable holding deposit (up to one week’s rent); £50 for changing the tenancy at your request (more only if the landlord shows the real cost was higher); the landlord’s reasonable costs if you leave early by agreement; a late-rent charge once rent is more than 2 weeks overdue, capped at 3% above the Bank of England base rate on the overdue amount; the reasonable cost of replacing lost keys; and bills (utilities, council tax, TV licence) if the agreement says you pay them. Charging anything else is banned: a landlord or agent can be fined up to £5,000 for a first offence, and you can get the money back through your council or the First-tier Tribunal. Our own charges are listed on our fees page. Source: GOV.UK: fees you can charge as part of a tenancy.

Ask us: 01727 761816, info@attewellhardwickeandleahy.co.uk, or send a message. How renting with us works, from viewing to moving in, is on Renting with AH&L. If we get something wrong, here’s our complaints procedure.