10 Rights Tenants Should be Aware of When Renting

1. Read the Lease Agreement carefully. Don't ever feel pressured into signing the lease agreement if you need more time. Making sure you understand your lease is fundamental.

2. The landlord may not increase the rent during the fixed term period.

3. The landlord is responsible for up keep and repair to the premises the tenant is leasing.

4. Your landlord's insurance will only cover the building not its contents. Insuring your belongings is still your responsibility.

5. A landlord may not cut the utilities to the dwelling e.g. Electricity

6. A landlord may not lock a tenant out of a property.

7. Make sure you get the 'YES' in writing from your landlord before making changes to the property, remember, this is not entirely your property.

8. By law, a landlord can't just drop by and let him or herself into the property.

9. It is a criminal offence for a landlord not to pay the tenants deposits back with any interest it has accumulated subject to both parties signing off on the outgoing inspection.

10. The landlord cannot use the deposit to upgrade the property when the tenant vacates the property.