Private tenants

Are you having problems with your property or landlord?

We deal with the repair, maintenance and safety of privately rented property. We can take action against landlords and agents to get repairs completed.

Report a property without any gas safety records External link

The Private Rented tenant handbook

The Private Rented tenant handbook is a useful guide for all tenants living in privately rented homes in Leeds. Find out about your rights and responsibilities as a tenant and what to do if you have any issues.

Reclaim rent from your landlord

The Government has made it easier for tenants to reclaim rent where the landlord has:

  • failed to repair the property
  • failed to licence the property as a HMO
  • harassed or illegally evicted you

It is not necessary for the landlord to have been convicted of such an offence in order for you to apply for a rent repayment order (RRO). Guidance and forms can be found on the Government website:

How to apply for a Rent Repayment OrderExternal link

Please contact us if you need help.

What we don't deal with

Additional information

Contact us

Email

prs.housing@leeds.gov.uk

Phone

0113 378 4699

 

 

How can I complain about my property manager or agent?How can I complain about my property manager or agent?<div class="ExternalClassB8C8E816C1C14680B9C238738CA26F95">From October 2014, all property managers and managing agents have to be part of a <a href="/Business/Pages/lettings-and-property-redress-scheme.aspx" title="Property Redress scheme"><strong>Property Redress Scheme</strong></a> and abide by the rules of this scheme. Check the scheme to see if your landlord/agent is a member. <br><br> If you have checked and found your agent isn’t a member use the <strong>contact us section</strong> on this page to tell us. We can issue a penalty notice for £5,000 to anyo<span id="ms-rterangecursor-start" style="display:none;"></span><span id="ms-rterangecursor-end" style="display:none;"></span>ne who needs to be a member but is not registered. <br><br> If you are in dispute with an agent/property manager who is registered with a scheme, simply find out which Property Redress Scheme they belong to and report your problems to the scheme. They will help you sort it out. ​</div>
Have you told your landlord about the problem?Have you told your landlord about the problem?<div class="ExternalClassEF528BEB75BE462088F50C609A69E0D7">Have you contacted your landlord? Do they know what the problem is and have you given them enough time to sort it out? Except for emergencies, we would suggest that you first speak to your landlord/agent and confirm in an email/letter your issues. <br><br>Here's a <a href="/docs/request%20for%20repair%20hybrid%20letter.docx" title="repairs letter"><strong>letter</strong> </a>you can use to fill in and send to your landlord. <br><br>Remember to  keep a copy of any correspondence. Contact us if this doesn’t work.​<span id="ms-rterangecursor-start" style="display:none;"></span><span id="ms-rterangecursor-end" style="display:none;"></span></div>
I'm having problems getting my tenancy deposit backI'm having problems getting my tenancy deposit back<div class="ExternalClass0BA13E18EBFF4B2AB30F958EB31F67AD">If you’re having problems with your tenancy deposit you can contact the <a href="http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/tenancy_deposits/tenancy_deposit_protection_schemes/deposit_protection_and_tenancy_deposit_schemes" title="Tenancy deposit scheme"><strong>Tenancy Deposit Scheme. </strong></a>​</div>
My landlord wants to evict me what can I do?My landlord wants to evict me what can I do?<div class="ExternalClass17582FB0D0D54951B29E4D31DFD10834">For tenancies created after 1 October 2015, landlords have to do certain things before they can evict you. Read about <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/465275/Retaliatory_Eviction_Guidance_Note.pdf" title="Eviction guidance"><strong>changes in the law</strong></a> (opens as a PDF) which help to protect tenants facing eviction. You can also contact our<a href="/residents/pages/leeds-housing-options.aspx" title="Housing Options"> <strong>Housing Options Team</strong></a> who can help you.​<span id="ms-rterangecursor-start" style="display:none;"></span><span id="ms-rterangecursor-end" style="display:none;"></span></div>
What if my landlord is a UNIPOL/Leeds Rental Standard member?What if my landlord is a UNIPOL/Leeds Rental Standard member?<div class="ExternalClass1A40A7FEFC38400493B81AC04BD6ED47">If you have non-urgent matters to report and your landlord is a member of the <a href="http://www.leedsrentalstandard.org.uk/tenantsarea.shtml" title="Leeds Rental Standard Scheme"><strong>Leeds Rental Standard</strong></a><strong> </strong>or <a href="https://www.unipol.org.uk/advice/articles" title="UNIPOL website"><strong>UNIPOL</strong></a> you should contact the operators of these schemes They will investigate complaints about your property/landlord.​​​<span id="ms-rterangecursor-start" style="display:none;"></span><span id="ms-rterangecursor-end" style="display:none;"></span></div>
What if my repair is urgent?What if my repair is urgent?<div class="ExternalClassAB3BDA2334F44E54A3075987C2AEF643">Urgent repairs can include things like no heating/hot water, unsafe gas/electrics, burst water pipes etc.  If you’ve told your landlord and they’re not doing anything about it use the <strong>contact us</strong> section on this page and we will investigate.​<span id="ms-rterangecursor-start" style="display:none;"></span><span id="ms-rterangecursor-end" style="display:none;"></span></div>
What should I do if I am homeless?What should I do if I am homeless?<div class="ExternalClassF0493701DBB4415086B50DDF9A904C9F">Contact our <a title="Housing options team webpage" href="/residents/housing/housing-options"> <strong>Housing Options Team</strong></a> telephone: <strong> 0113 222 4412.</strong>  If you are homeless in an emergency and it is out of office hours we operate an emergency service which you can access by telephoning <strong>07891 273939</strong>. The number is active from 5pm to 8am each weeknight and weekends.  ​</div>
Where can I complain about noise or anti-social behaviour?Where can I complain about noise or anti-social behaviour?<div class="ExternalClassC71D86FD96A14789BE91C2B20DC077AB">​We have a team you can contact who will investigate <strong><a href="/c/Pages/saferleeds/Report-Anti-social-Behaviour-and-Noise.aspx" title="Noise and antisocial behaviour team">noise nuisance and anti-social behaviour​</a>.</strong>​<span id="ms-rterangecursor-start" style="display:none;"></span><span id="ms-rterangecursor-end" style="display:none;"></span></div>
Will you come and inspect my property?Will you come and inspect my property?<div class="ExternalClass567B318151A5410F99AE52D744A218E6">If your landlord has not done the works you have asked them to do, we have staff who can inspect your property. If we find hazards arising from disrepair we can ask the landlord to undertake works and serve legal notices to get these done.  <br><br>Use the <strong>contact us section</strong> on this page and we will telephone you for more details about your complaint. For non-urgent matters we usually give the landlord an opportunity to sort things out informally before we inspect. ​<span id="ms-rterangecursor-start" style="display:none;"></span><span id="ms-rterangecursor-end" style="display:none;"></span></div>

 

 

Condensation and mould guidehttps://www.leeds.gov.uk/docs/condenstation mould.pdf573585pdf
What to look for when choosing a homehttps://www.leeds.gov.uk/docs/GD13-220 Tenants booklet What to look for PROOF3.compressed.pdf7078684pdf
How to lease – a tenant’s guidehttps://www.leeds.gov.uk/docs/How_to_Lease_Jun18.pdf448492pdf
Tenants’ guide to renting a safe homehttps://www.leeds.gov.uk/docs/How_to_Rent_a_Safe_Home_Jun18.pdf1477687pdf
How to rent – tenant’s checklisthttps://www.leeds.gov.uk/docs/How_to_Rent_Final_Jun2018.pdf583445pdf
Request for repair letterhttps://www.leeds.gov.uk/docs/request for repair hybrid letter.docx32266docx
Private Rented Tenants handbook https://www.leeds.gov.uk/docs/Private Rented Tenants handbook.pdf1055297pdf

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