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Advice for landlords

Private housing accounts for more than 80,300 properties across Herefordshire, providing accommodation for over 178,000 people. Everyone in Herefordshire should have the opportunity to live in a safe and healthy home.

Local authority environmental health departments enforce housing standards in private rentals, ensuring properties are safe and fit for human habitation. They address severe hazards (damp, mould, fire, excessive cold) using the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS). If landlords fail to address repairs, environmental health can issue improvement or emergency notices, or carry out works themselves and recover costs.

Legislation in the private rented sector promotes transparency between you as a landlord and your tenants. If a tenant reports an issue in writing, it is important to respond promptly. Failure to address concerns may lead tenants to contact environmental health authorities for advice, inspections, or enforcement regarding issues such as mould, damp, or structural defects.

You can find more about rights and responsibilities for both tenants and landlords on the government's private renting pages.

Government's rented housing sector pages

Your rights as a landlord

Both landlords and tenants have specific rights under current law that regulates tenancy contracts. A landlord has the right to:

  • Draw up a contract and decide the conditions of tenancy
  • Charge a market rent on new lettings
  • Receive the rent when due from the tenant
  • Be informed of disrepair
  • Inspect a property for disrepair after giving appropriate notice in writing
  • Be given proper notice that the tenant wishes to leave

Keeping your property in good order

It is the owner's responsibility to maintain the property and to carry out repairs.

If as a landlord you ignore a tenant's request or refuse to carry out necessary repairs, the tenant may approach us for help and advice. An officer will discuss the details or arrange to visit. Where unacceptable hazards exist in the premises, we will contact the landlord to discuss the condition and the options available. Enforcement procedures are available where informal action is unsuccessful or inappropriate.

If you have any concerns over safety at a rented home and are a landlord or tenant, you can email ethelpline@herefordshire.gov.uk or call 01432 261761 (we aim to respond to your enquiry within five working days.)