Renting from a private landlord
This content applies to Scotland only.
Housing laws vary between Scotland and England. Get advice relating to England
In this section you can find out more about your rights if you rent accommodation from a private landlord or letting agency.
If you are private tenant, you will probably have either a short assured tenancy or an assured tenancy. Even if you don't have a written agreement with your landlord, you still have certain legal rights, no matter what your landlord may say!
Check your tenancy type or ask advice from a Shelter advice centre if you're not sure which kind of tenancy agreement you have. The pages below outline your rights under these agreements.
Assured tenancies
This page explains your rights if you have an assured tenancy with a private landlord or letting agency.
Short assured tenancies
This page explains what your rights are if you have a short assured tenancy with a private landlord or a letting agency.
Your responsibilities
If you have an assured or short assured tenancy you have many rights as a tenant. However, you also have responsibilities. It is important that you keep to the terms of your tenancy agreement or your landlord may be able to evict you.
Tenancies that began before 1989
If you rent from a private landlord or letting agency and your tenancy started before 2 January 1989 you will not have an assured or short assured tenancy. It is most likely that you will have a regulated tenancy or a part VII contract.
