USEFUL INFORMATION

If you experience any maintenance issues during your tenancy, you must notify Trueman Estates or your landlord as soon as possible. If you delay reporting a problem and it results in additional deterioration or damage, you may be held responsible for the resulting costs.

If your property is managed by Trueman Estates, please visit our Maintenance page for information on reporting general repairs, maintenance guidance and what to do in an out-of-hours emergency.

The tenancy agreement you sign will be an Assured Periodic Tenancy, which means there is no fixed end date and the agreement will run on a monthly rolling basis. 

If you wish to leave the property at any time you must notify Trueman Estates or your landlord (depending on whether your property is managed or not) in writing, giving a minimum of two months notice. 

If your landlord wishes to end the tenancy they must have a legally valid reason and serve a Section 8 notice. How much notice you will receive depends on the reason they want you to leave. For example, it could be 4 weeks notice if you owe rent or 4 months notice if your landlord wants to sell the property or move in themselves.

As a tenant you are responsible for ensuring the rent is paid in full and on time. 

Our preferred method of payment is by standing order or bank transfer. Please contact us to obtain the correct bank details or alternatively, a printed mandate can be sent to you.

Please Note: Where the rent payment has been outstanding for 14 days or more (from the date set out in your tenancy agreement) you will be charged 3% above the Bank of England’s base rate for each day that the payment has been outstanding.

If you have any difficulty paying your rent during your tenancy please contact us as soon as possible.

Your landlord can only increase your rent once every 12 months and must give you at least two months' notice using an official Section 13 (Form 4A) notice. 

Any proposed rent increase must be no higher than the open market rent. If you think the proposed increase is above market rate, you can challenge it at the First-tier Tribunal.

If your property is managed by Trueman Estates, your deposit will be protected with the Deposit Protection Service (DPS). If your landlord manages the property directly, your deposit will be protected in a Government-approved tenancy deposit scheme of their choosing.

Although no tenancy fees are payable when applying for a property with Trueman Estates, during your tenancy you may incur a charge or default fee for the following:

• Late Payment of Rent: Where the rent payment has been outstanding for 14 days or more (from the date set out in your tenancy agreement) you will be charged 3% above the Bank of England’s base rate for each day that the payment has been outstanding.

• Changes To a Tenancy: If you wish to make a change to your tenancy such as adding or removing a tenant you will be charged £50.00 (inc. VAT).

• Early Termination Fee: If you wish to terminate your tenancy agreement before the end of the fixed-term you will be required to pay the rent until either a suitable replacement tenant is found and the new tenancy has started or until your fixed-term agreement has ended. You may also be charged a fee to cover any referencing and advertising costs that the landlord has incurred because of you leaving early.

• Loss Of Keys Or Equivalent Security Device: If you lose your keys or equivalent security device you will be charged the reasonable associated costs for replacements, the cost of which will be evidenced.

Trueman Estates or your landlord may carry out periodic inspections of the property during your tenancy. These inspections are normally carried out annually, unless more frequent visits are requested by the landlord or are necessary due to specific circumstances.

The purpose of the inspection is to check the general condition of the property, identify any maintenance issues that may require attention, and ensure the property is being looked after in accordance with the terms of your tenancy agreement. You will always be given reasonable notice before an inspection takes place.

Unless otherwise agreed, tenants are responsible for paying the council tax and all utilities associated with the property, including water, gas, electricity, broadband and TV licence. 

Once you have moved in, please ensure that you register with the relevant utility suppliers and your Local Authority as soon as possible to avoid any unexpected bills.

Your landlord is responsible for insuring the building and any contents belonging to them that are provided with the property. 

You are responsible for arranging insurance for your own personal belongings. 

Neither the landlord nor Trueman Estates accepts responsibility for any loss of or damage to your personal possessions, and you are therefore strongly advised to arrange suitable contents insurance.

You are responsible for looking after all keys provided to you and ensuring the property is left secure whenever you are away.

If you lose a key or require a replacement, please contact Trueman Estates or your landlord. You will normally be responsible for the cost of any replacement keys.

If you are locked out because you have lost or forgotten your keys, or have locked them inside the property, you will be responsible for arranging and paying for access to the property.

If you are unable to gain access because a lock is broken, faulty or jammed through no fault of your own, please contact Trueman Estates or your landlord, as the repair or replacement of the lock will normally be the landlord’s responsibility.

You must not change or replace any locks without first obtaining permission from Trueman Estates or your landlord.

Finding mould caused by condensation in your home is a common issue for many tenants across the UK, but it is usually relatively simple to control and prevent it from returning.

Please ensure the property is kept adequately ventilated and heated to help reduce condensation and prevent mould growth.

For further information on condensation, including how to identify, reduce and prevent it, please download our guide below.

When smoke, fire or carbon monoxide detectors are fitted in the property, you are responsible under the terms of your tenancy agreement for testing them regularly, keeping them in good working order and, where applicable, replacing the batteries as required.

If you become aware of a fault that cannot be resolved by replacing the battery, you must notify Trueman Estates or your landlord as soon as possible.

If you wish to decorate or make any alterations to the property, you must request your landlord's permission in writing and wait until written consent has been received before carrying out any work.

Under the Renters’ Rights Act, tenants have a legal right to request a pet, and landlords cannot impose blanket bans or refuse a request without a valid, reasonable justification.

However, permission is not automatically guaranteed, and requests must be made in writing and follow the formal request process. Your landlord will consider the request and respond in writing within the required timeframe.

If your property has a private garden or outside area, you are responsible for keeping it reasonably maintained throughout your tenancy.

This includes regularly cutting the lawn, removing weeds, keeping borders and planted areas tidy, sweeping patios and pathways, and preventing shrubs, hedges and other vegetation from becoming excessively overgrown.

You are not expected to carry out specialist gardening or major works, such as pruning or maintaining large trees. If any significant gardening work is required, or you are unsure whether something is your responsibility, please contact Trueman Estates or your landlord for advice before carrying out the work.

Please check your Local Authority’s website for details of your bin and recycling collection days and ensure that your bins are put out for collection accordingly.

If your property has communal bins, please be considerate of your neighbours and the amount of waste you dispose of. Do not overfill the bins or leave rubbish beside them, as this may result in the bins not being collected.

If your bins are not collected for any reason, please report this directly to the council rather your landlord or Trueman Estates, as bin and waste collections are a service provided by your Local Authority as part of your council tax.

Once you have agreed your final day with Trueman Estates or your landlord, please arrange a convenient appointment for the checkout inspection and key handover. Prior to the inspection, please ensure the property is left clean and tidy throughout, all personal belongings are removed, and the property is left in a satisfactory condition, ready for handover.

For further information you can download our guide to vacating your property below.

The Renters’ Rights Act came into effect on 1 May 2026 giving tenants new rights and introducing new rules for private landlords. 

To download a copy of the governments information sheet explaining how the new rules may affect your tenancy please click below: