Residential Tenancies: A Tenant's Obligations

In addition to obligations arising under any other enactment, a tenant of a dwelling must:

• Pay the rent provided for under the tenancy agreement on the date it falls due, together with the deposit and, where the agreement lawfully provides for it, any charges or taxes payable by the tenant.
• Ensure that no act or omission of theirs prevents the landlord complying with the landlord's own statutory obligations in relation to the dwelling or the tenancy.
• Allow the landlord, or anyone acting on the landlord's behalf, access to the dwelling at reasonable intervals for inspection, on a date and time agreed in advance.
• Notify the landlord or the landlord's agent of any defect that arises and requires repair, so that the landlord can comply with their obligations.
• Allow the landlord reasonable access for any works that are the landlord's responsibility to carry out.
• Not do anything that would cause a deterioration in the condition the dwelling was in at the start of the tenancy, disregarding normal wear and tear, judged by reference to how long the tenancy has run and the extent of occupation the landlord must reasonably have foreseen.
• Where that obligation is not met, take the steps the landlord reasonably requires to restore the dwelling to its former condition, or defray the reasonable cost of the landlord doing so.
• Not behave in an anti-social way in the dwelling or its vicinity, and not allow other occupiers or visitors to do so.
• Not act, or allow others to act, in a way that would invalidate a policy of insurance in force in relation to the dwelling.
• Where an act of the tenant, or of an occupier or visitor the tenant allowed, increases the insurance premium, pay the landlord an amount equal to that increase.
• Not assign or sub-let the tenancy without the landlord's written consent, which the landlord may withhold at their discretion.
• Not alter or improve the dwelling without the landlord's written consent, which may not be unreasonably withheld where the work consists only of repairing, painting and decorating, but may otherwise be withheld at the landlord's discretion.
• Not use the dwelling, or allow it to be used, for any purpose other than as a dwelling without the landlord's written consent.
• Notify the landlord in writing of the identity of every person, other than a multiple tenant, ordinarily resident in the dwelling.