Help and advice for tenants

Renters’ Rights Act – Information for private tenants

The Renters’ Right Act gives tenants new protections, and greater security and stability. Find out more about the Renters’ Rights Act and how it affects private renting tenants.

Who is responsible for repairs?

Under the Landlord and Tenant Act of 1985 your landlord is responsible for keeping the following in good repair:

The structure and exterior of the property (such as walls, roof, windows and doors)
Basins, sinks, baths, toilets and other sanitary fittings
Heating systems and hot water installations

Landlords are not usually responsible for:

Damage caused by tenants or their visitors
Rebuilding the property following events such as fire or flood.

For further guidance, visit Private renting – GOV.UK

Gas safety

Your landlord must:

Arrange a gas safety check every 12 months by a qualified engineer
Provide you with a copy of the Gas Safety Record within 28 days of the check
Give new tenants a copy of the latest record before they move in

If you do not have a valid Gas Safety Record, ask your landlord for a copy. If they cannot provide one, you can report this to the HSE.

Electrical safety

Your landlord must:

Ensure electrical installations are inspected and tested at least every 5 years
Obtain an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)
Provide a copy of the report to tenants and, if requested, to the local council

If you do not have a current EICR, ask your landlord for a copy. If they fail to provide one, you can report this to the Private Sector Housing Team.

Fire safety of furniture and furnishings

Any furniture provided by your landlord must comply with the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire Safety) Regulations 1988.

If you believe furniture does not meet these standards, report it to Oxfordshire County Council Trading Standards.

What to do if standards are not met?

If you are a private renting tenant and you landlord is not meeting their legal responsibilities:

Report the issue to your landlord first and give them a reasonable opportunity to resolve it
Keep evidence of your communication (such as emails or letters)
If the problem is not resolved, contact the Private Sector Housing Team who can assess your concerns and carry out an HHSRS inspection if necessary.

You can view the Tenant guide to the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) here. You can also download our template letter to help you formally notify your landlord of required repairs.

If you are a housing association tenant and you wish to report an issue you should follow the process set out here: Housing Hub.

Report it to your landlord
Complain to your landlord
Escalate to the Housing Ombudsman.

Please note: The Private Sector Housing Team can only investigate issues that have first been reported to your landlord. You may be asked to provide evidence of this (for example, emails or letters).

The team will only investigate disrepair which poses a significant hazard and will not normally investigate cases where your landlord is already taking reasonable steps to resolve the problem.

Disputes about tenancy deposits should be directed to a government‑approved scheme:

Concerns about the conduct of a letting agent should be raised with the appropriate redress scheme: