Renting and tenancies

Summary

Support with starting a tenancy, and getting a guarantor. What rights you have in rented accommodation can depend on what type of tenancy you have. For example, if you are renting from the council or a housing association, or if you are renting from a private landlord. It can be difficult getting started with a tenancy if you cannot find someone to guarantee your rent, or if you are finding it hard to prove that you have the right to enter or remain in the UK. We will help you understand what your options are and work out how to solve any problems you encounter. Getting free one-to-one advice about housing is hard. All advice services are extremely busy. We are here to help everyone who cannot get in at an advice service and cannot afford to pay for legal help. We give you the knowledge, confidence, and skills you need to deal with the issue yourself, or with the help of friends or family. If you need more help than you can get from our advice guides and self-help tools, we explain how to try to find advice.

Key information

• What rights you have in rented accommodation can depend on what type of tenancy you have. For example, if you are renting from the council or a housing association, or if you are renting from a private landlord.
• It can be difficult getting started with a tenancy if you cannot find someone to guarantee your rent, or if you are finding it hard to prove that you have the right to enter or remain in the UK.
• We will help you understand what your options are and work out how to solve any problems you encounter.
• Information Private renting in England – important changes since 1st May If you are a private renter in England, you need to know about important changes to the law since 1st May. 
• Information Right to rent checks This guide will help you to get ready to rent and deal with right to rent checks. We will explain the steps you need to take and what to do if you have problems. 
• Information Guarantors - who they are and what they do A guarantor is someone who agrees to be responsible for your rent and your other legal obligations. Find out what this means. in a tenancy agreement.at a guarantor is and does and what they are responsible for.  Information What to do if you can't find a guarantor There are many different reasons why it might be difficult for you to find someone to be your guarantor. Work through our suggestions for possible solutions.  Information How to show a landlord you will be a good tenant Landlords want to know that you will pay the rent on time and look after their property carefully. Reassure them you are just the person to do this with our top tips. 
• Information Information for guarantors If you agree to be someone’s guarantor, you will help them to get somewhere to live, when they not have been able to otherwise. But you need to know the pros and cons before you decide. 
• Information How to negotiate with your landlord Whether it’s negotiating changes to a proposed rent increase or trying to get them to do some repairs, you will need the same skills. Check out our tips! 
• Getting free one-to-one advice about housing is hard. All advice services are extremely busy. We are here to help everyone who cannot get in at an advice service and cannot afford to pay for legal help.
• We give you the knowledge, confidence, and skills you need to deal with the issue yourself, or with the help of friends or family. If you need more help than you can get from our advice guides and self-help tools, we explain how to try to find advice.

Practical guidance

• Source: Renting and tenancies

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