14/12/2022
A house is for life, not just for Christmas.
A guide for both tenants and landlords on how to make the Christmas season a cracker.
It’s Christmas, and at this time of the year many of us like to enjoy the festivities, irrespective of whether we own our property or rent it, because a house is our home, and never more so at Christmas. If, however, you are a tenant in a rented property, there are a few points to be mindful of to ensure that you don’t break your tenancy agreement or upset your landlord. There are also some things which your property manager/letting agent can deal with so that the season is a cracker.
Deck the halls - Decorating your rented home
Your tenancy agreement might mean that you are unable to pin or hang Christmas decorations on doors or walls. In this instance, you can still display ornaments on surfaces, mantelpieces, and shelves. The same goes for your door wreath. You can hang this with ribbon, or a wreath hanger, so that you don’t have to hammer a nail into the front door. Also be mindful of candles, overloading electrical plug sockets or damaged string lists as these can often be the source of fires in your home.
If in doubt about what you can and can’t do, speak to your property manager or the landlord directly to ensure that you are not in breach of your tenancy agreement.
What should you do if your boiler breaks down?
No one wants to think about being without heating during the winter, especially during the Christmas season. However, on occasion this happens. In the first instance call your landlord, or if managed by a property management company, then them. Do this immediately as it is the legal responsibility for your landlord to ensure that your property is warm and habitable. Your agent or landlord should carry out repairs in a ‘reasonable time’, as outlined under section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985. If it is an emergency, then you should expect this to be completed in 24 hours.
The same rules apply for water, electricity and gas.