Tenant rights and support
The Tenant Fees Act 2019
Tenants renting a property in the private rented sector are now protected from unfair letting fees.
The Tenant Fees Act puts an end to a number of unnecessary fees imposed by landlords and agents. It applies to new or renewed tenancy agreements signed on or after 1 June 2019.
The aim of the Act is to reduce the costs that tenants can face at the outset, and throughout, a tenancy. Tenants will clearly see what a property will cost them in the advertised rent with no hidden costs.
The Act puts a cap on the tenancy deposits that renters pay at the start of their tenancy at the equivalent of 5 weeks' rent. Tenants cannot legally be expected to pay more than this where the total annual rent is less than £50,000 to secure a property.
The only payments that landlords or letting agents can now charge to tenants for new contracts are:
- rent
- a refundable holding deposit to reserve a property which is capped at no more than 1 week’s rent
- payments associated with early termination of the tenancy when requested by the tenant
- payments in respect of utilities, communication services, TV licence and Council Tax
- a default fee for late payment of rent and replacement of a lost key or security device giving access to the housing, where required under a tenancy agreement
Visit GOV.UK to find more information about the Tenant Fees Act.
If you're being asked to pay unnecessary fees that breach the legislation and would like to report this, email housing.standards@stockport.gov.uk.
Further information and support
You can visit:
- the Citizens Advice website for information on renting privately
- our debt advice webpage
- our Welfare Rights service webpage
- our financial support in a crisis webpage
- our cost of living support webpages
- the Centrepoint website for help and support for young people aged 18 to 25 years
- the Greater Manchester Law Centre website for legal advice for tenants
- the Shelter website for information on letting agent and tenancy fees
- the Shelter website for information on letting agent redress schemes