What are my obligations as a landlord?

Your main legal obligations are to: 

• 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