The purpose of this page is to give general advice on renting a property in the private rented sector, to explain private rented sector access schemes and hopefully to answer any queries. It is not intended to be an exhaustive guide. There are many things to think about when you live in the private rented sector, and the links below will lead you to more information about some of the things you may be worried about.
Renting in the private rented sector doesn't need to be confusing and there is a lot of information on your rights and responsibilities as a tenant that you can access. For tenants in Scotland, the
Scottish Government and
Shelter Scotland have specific information for you.
FirstStop Advice is an independent, free service providing advice and information for older people, their families and carers about care and housing options in later life.
Settling into your new home
Moving house can be exciting but there is also lots to think about. For some guidance on settling into your new home go to the
OSW website. You might be able to get some help furnishing your new home from the
Furniture Reuse Network. You can search for your local re-use organisation on their website.
Help with finances
Managing your finances is an important part of making a success of your tenancy. This can be tough, especially if your are on a low income or in receipt of benefits. Advice about your finances can be found at
Credit Action and OSW's
Passport to Renting a Private Home.
Information about bills
It is important to set up your bills as soon as you move into the property and ensure that you manage them effectively. Even if you get behind paying for your bills you may often be possible to set up a new payment to clear any of your debts. Find out more information on
household bills.
Support after you've moved into your home
There may be a range of services that you can access to provide you with support and assistance when you move into your new home. To find out more about this go to OSW's
Passport to Renting a Private Home.
Property standards and repairs
Your home should be fit for human habitation and you have a right to a certain standard of property and for all reasonable repairs to be made. For more information on this go to the
Directgov website.
Ending your tenancy
Most tenancies end amicably. However it is important to know the procedures required to end a tenancy if you want to leave or if your landlord gives you notice to leave. More on this can be found on
Shelter's website.
Scotland specific information can be found on a different part of Shelter's website.
A dispute with your landlord does not have to mean the end of a tenancy. However it is important that you know your rights and responsibilities about dealing with any disputes.
If you still have questions contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau or your local tenants group if there is one. You can also download Your Passport to Renting a Private Home which is a short guide developed by OSW and the London Housing Foundation for anyone who is making the transition from homelessness or hostel accommodation to renting accommodation in the PRS.