Rent books

Rules

Your landlord should record all rent payments in the rent book. If the payments are made in person s/he should sign the book or give you a signed receipt with the details of the payment. If the payments are made in another way (e.g. by standing order or cheque) the landlord should sign the rent book or give you a written receipt within three months of the payment.

Your rent book should also contain the following information:

• The address of the flat or house
• Your landlord's name and address and the landlord's agent (if any)
• Your name
• The date the tenancy started
• The length of the tenancy
• The amount of deposit paid
• The amount of rent and how it is to be paid
• Details of any other payments for services, e.g., for heating or cable television
• A statement on the basic rights and duties of landlords and tenants
• A list of furnishings and appliances supplied by the landlord.

It is your landlord's responsibility to give you a rent book. Rent books are available cheaply from all good stationery shops. If you are the tenant, you should keep the rent book in your possesion but you should give it to the landlord when requested so they can make changes and record the rent and other payments.

If your landlord refuses to give you a rent book or provide you with receipts or statements of rent paid, this is against the law and they may be guilty of an offence. If you wish to make a complaint, you should contact the Housing Department of your local authority.

If you are a private residential tenant your landlord must give you proper notice of termination of a tenancy. If you have a dispute with the landlord over notice you can contact the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB). The PRTB is an organisation that registers tenancies and mediates disputes between private landlords and tenants.