But as a tenant I had learnt my lesson the hard way. Being an animal lover, I once brought home an injured puppy. Within a couple of weeks, when my landlord learnt about it, he objected to me having a pet in the house. I was angry with him for interfering with my personal life, but had to give up since I did not have any tenancy agreement in place to safeguard my interests. I finally found a house for my pet and gave him away to them with a heavy heart.

This incident had etched in me the importance of setting the terms and conditions between the tenant and landlord even before taking up a tenancy. So, when I purchased my own property and let it out for tenancy, the first thing I did was to get a tenancy agreement prepared by the professionals.

Preparing a Tenancy Agreement

Although a tenancy agreement could be in an oral or written form, it is advisable to have a written agreement since it is easier to prove the terms in a written agreement rather than an oral agreement. Also, make sure to prepare the tenancy agreement with the help of a professional, since drafting an agreement with loopholes cannot serve any purpose.

In order to help you better understand a tenancy agreement, a few important clauses of a typical tenancy agreement are provided below:

• Parties Involved: This would include the name of the tenant and the landlord who are bound by the agreement.

• Period of Tenancy: This contains the start date and the end date of tenancy. By the end of the period, you could draw a fresh agreement if you wish to continue the tenancy.

• Rent Payable: This has information such as the amount of rent payable by the tenant every month, date by which it has to be paid and if there are any late charges in case of delayed payment of the rental. It also contains information about how frequently the rent would be revised during the period of the agreement.

• Payment of Tax: The agreement also includes information about other payments that need to be made such as council tax, utility bills, etc.

• Deposit: The initial refundable deposit made by the tenant towards tenancy needs to be included in the agreement.

• Services: It has to contain information of any services that the landlord might be willing to provide during the term of tenancy such as laundry, meals, etc.

• Terminating a Tenancy: It has to contain the notice period that has to be given by the landlord or the tenant in order to vacate the property.

• Ancillary: Other issues such as having a pet during tenancy, use of the property only for residential purpose, etc. have to be mentioned in the agreement.

Importance of Tenancy Agreement

Although statutory rights can protect the basic rights of a person, a tenancy agreement is necessary to further safeguard the interests of the parties involved in tenancy. Here are a few advantages of having a tenancy agreement that would reiterate its importance:

• It helps to resolve the conflicts amicably. If not for the agreement, you might have to spend hundreds of pounds towards legal proceedings when a dispute arises.

• A written agreement provides a clear understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the parties involved. By understanding each other’s expectations, they can better adhere to the rules of tenancy.

• It helps to protect the landlord’s interest by making sure that the tenant does not use the property for business purpose, does not sublet it, etc.

• It helps to safeguard the tenant’s interest by ensuring that the landlord does not frequently revise his rent, does not intrude into his privacy, etc.

The Final Word

Did you know that there are websites such as tenant-agreement.co.uk that helps you to prepare your tenancy agreement within minutes sitting in the comfort of your home? They would have your agreement prepared and reviewed by professionals at a very low cost. So go ahead and take advantage of these services and enjoy a happy and stress-free tenancy!