What are my obligations as a landlord?
Your main legal obligations are to:
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Look after the property - to keep the exterior of the property in good condition, making sure you maintain the roof, drains and gutters.
- Make sure services are available - it is a landlord’s obligation to make sure that the property is supplied with services like gas, electricity, water, sanitation and heating.
- Leave your tenants in peace - a 'covenant of quiet enjoyment' is part of most tenancy agreements. It means a landlord must not interfere with the tenants. For example, you cannot:
- Enter the rented property without their consent, except in an emergency
- Do anything that affects the tenant’s rights, e.g. cut off services to force a tenant to leave