Waste and recycling bin collections dates are slightly different between Monday 22 December and Saturday 3 January. Check the Christmas collection dates for your home.
Renting a home in Melton
We are committed to ensuring that all people in our borough are adequately housed in well-maintained properties that meet their needs.
How to rent
The first step for anyone considering renting a home is to read the government's How to Rent guide. This provides useful information about renting private accommodation under an assured shorthold tenancy, either directly from a landlord or through a letting agency. Most of the information in it also applies to shared properties known as Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). However, in certain cases, your rights and responsibilities will vary.
The guide does not cover Lodgers (people who live with their landlord), people with licences such as many property guardians, or tenants where the property is not their main or only home.
Renting a safe home
When choosing a home to rent it is important that you consider the safety of the home. The Government have a useful guide on how to rent a safe home, which can help you understand:
What hazards you can look out for in rental properties
Landlords duties in providing a safe home
What to do if you have concerns or need to make a complaint
How to rent a safe home (GOV.UK)
Types of tenancies available
They type of tenancy you have will most likely depend on the date your tenancy began. The three most common types of tenancies are listed below but this is not an extensive list. If you have any queries it is always advisable to seek legal advise.
All private tenancies set up after 27 February 1997 will be assured short-hold tenancies, unless specified otherwise by the landlord.
This type of tenancy usually only runs for a specific period called a 'fixed term'. It is usually six or twelve months. If you have an assured shorthold tenancy your landlord can charge the market rent for the property. There is little you can do unless you think you are being charged a lot more than the 'market rent'.
Before entering an agreement, it is always a good idea to seek advice. This is even more important if you are asked to sign a new agreement for your present accommodation. You may be signing away some of your existing rights.
Assured tenancies were the most common type of tenancy between 15 January 1989 and 27 February 1997
You will likely be an assured tenant if all the following apply:
- You moved in between 15 January 1989 and 27 February 1997 and your landlord did not give you a notice saying that you have an assured short-hold tenancy
- You pay rent to a private landlord
- You have control over your home so that your landlord and other people cannot come in whenever they want to
- Your landlord does not live in the same building as you
You can also be an assured tenant if you moved in after 27 February 1997 but this is quite rare. This can only happen if your landlord gave you a written notice saying that you have an assured tenancy before your tenancy started, or if you previously had an assured tenancy in the same accommodation with the same landlord.
Tenancies, which were entered into before 15 January 1989, are normally regulated tenancies. These tenancies are more secure and the right to have a fixed fair rent.
Find out more about regulated tenancies on the government website.