Your question
Am I a tenant?
Your answer
That may sound like a stupid question but it is actually really important.
If you live in rented accommodation, you will either be a tenant or a licensee.
- If you are a tenant you have what lawyers call ‘a legal interest in the land’. It is a type of lease and comes with a plethora of rights and obligations.
- If you are a licensee you will not have any kind of lease and your rights will be considerably less.
In most cases where you rent property – whether this is a house, a flat or just a room, you will have a tenancy – even if your landlord tells you that you have a license, and even if it says this on the written agreement you have signed.
However not always! To find out more, please read our free guide below.
Are you renting a property in Wales?
Note that all or part of this answer only applies to renters in England.
The law in Wales is now different and in some situations, renters in Wales now have extra rights. Welsh renters can get advice on Welsh law with Welsh solicitors Newbold via our Telephone Advice service.
Members Free guide
The difference between a tenancy and a residential license
Looking at the difference between the two and when you will get a tenancy rather than a license.
12-20 minutes to read
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