Complaints about dodgy landlords are on the increase with Citizen’s Advice Scotland (CAS) saying it now deals with an average of 24 cases every day. To help tenants it has published a guide revealing the five basic rights that all landlords must observe.
1. Landlords must provide you with a Tenant Information Pack which contains details about your home, tenancy and landlord, and the responsibilities of you and your landlord
2. Landlords must ensure the property is in a good state of repair, is fit to live in and complies with safety regulations.
3. Landlords can only enter your home if they have a good reason for doing so (like carrying out repairs) and only after giving reasonable notice (usually at least 24 hours)
4. Landlords must give you correct notice before they are able to end your tenancy and usually must receive a court order before they can evict
5. Landlords cannot change the terms and conditions in your tenancy agreement or add new terms and conditions without your permission
If your landlord has failed to carry out necessary repairs, has harassed you or has restricted your use of the property, they may be in breach if your tenancy agreement. Before challenging your landlord you should get specific advice. Contact your local CAB. A full list of landlord responsibilities can be found on cas.org.uk.
