What You Need to Know About Leases

This covers…

• What is a lease?

• What does it entitle you to?

• Some basic rights as a tenant. 

It is important to know what a lease is and what rights you hold as a tenant under them due to more and more homes being privately leased and the increased use of leases in the commercial sector.

What is a lease:

• This is a contract renting a building, or land to another person.

• A lease allows the landlord and the tenant to benefit from the property at the same time.

What does a lease entitle you to:

• A lease allows the owner of land to grant someone else the right to live on his property for a certain amount of time in return for money.

• This entitles you – the tenant - to exclusive possession for that period of time.

Some rights as a tenant:

• One of the basic rights that a tenant enjoys is the right to live in a clean and safe place.

• Many landlords will refuse to repair things in the house or deal with damp/mould issues. However, it is their responsibility to repair but it is important to note that it is not their responsibility to make improvements.

• Therefore, if damp or mould is spotted it is important to tell the landlord and to push for them to make repairs if it makes the home unfit to reside in.

• If this is not done by the landlord it may be wise to seek advice from a solicitor.