Over 17,000 households in York rent their homes from a private landlord or letting agent. We work with landlords, agents and tenants to encourage responsible renting. 

We aim to encourage high standards of accommodation, repair and management in the private rented sector. Our schemes offer advice, encouragement and where necessary, enforcement.

If you are a tenant or are considering renting from a private landlord then these pages can help you. The government has recently issued a leaflet aimed at people who are considering renting properties for the first time.  This leaflet is available to download from the right of this page.

Licensing of houses in multiple occupation

Under the Housing Act 2004 it is compulsory for properties that have 5 or more occupants over 3 or more storeys to be licensed. Failure to licence such properties can result in prosecution. If you believe the property that you live in does not have a licence and should do then you should inform the Housing Standards and Adaptations Team. For further information see our Houses in Multiple Occupation web page.

Code of Best Practice for Student Accomodation

Any landlord or agent who wishes to advertise accomodation through the colleges of further education must sign up to the Code of Best Practice, a voluntary scheme aimed at promoting good standards within student accommodation. A full copy of the 2008/9 Code can be downloaded from this page. Initial enquiries relating to properties advertised through the Code should be through the relevent university accomodation office.

Tenants Rights and Responsibilities

The Government have produced a booklet to help inform private tenants of their rights and responsibilities.  An assured or shorthold tenancy is the usual form of letting if:

• you are a private tenant and your landlord is a private landlord;
• the tenancy began on or after 15 January 1989;
• the house or flat is let as separate accommodation and is your main home.

A tenancy will not be an assured or shorthold tenancy if:

• the tenancy began before 15 January 1989;
• it is a business or holiday let;
• no rent or a very low or very high rent is charged;
• the landlord is a “resident landlord”

If you are sharing or are going to share part of the landlord’s home, you should read the booklet called 'Renting Rooms in Someone’s Home – a guide for
people renting from resident landlords', which is also available to download to the right of this page. 

Harassment and Illegal Eviction

The Protection from Eviction Act 1977 protects people living in residential accomodation from harassment and illegal eviction.  The law makes it an offence to:

• do acts likely to interfere with the peace or comfort of a tenant or
  anyone living with him or her; or
• persistently withdraw or withhold services for which the tenant has
  a reasonable need to live in the premises as a home.

An information booklet explaining the law in more detail is available to download to the right of this page. 

If you are concerned about the behaviour of your landlord please contact the Housing Standards and Adaptations Team using the details above or visit the Customer Advice Centre.

Tenancy Deposit Protection Scheme

On the 6 April 2007 it became law for anyone taking a bond in the private rented sector to register it with one of two official schemes and inform the tenant of that fact within 14 days. A presentation on the Tenancy Deposit Protection Scheme is available to download from this page.

Keeping Warm

For information on how to reduce energy usage and on grants that may be available for energy efficiency improvements in private rented properties please visit the website of the Ryedale Energy Conservation Group [www.4sustainable-energy.co.uk]

Enforcement

Where necessary we will enforce the legal standards which apply. Although many landlords already have well managed properties, others may need advice and assistance to enable them to run ther businesses correctly and to ensure they meet all the necessary legal obligations.

We aim to work within the framework of an intervention and enforcement policy, a copy of which is available to download from this page.

How to complain

If you have a concern about health and safety within your rented accommodation we always recommend that you report this to your landlord or agent first. 

However, if this fails and you need help or advice please contact the Housing Standards and Adaptations Team.