Half of tenants 'haven't signed' a contract

News Category: Legal

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One in two people renting property in the UK don't obtain a written tenancy agreement from their landlord before moving into their new home, according to new research.

Fifty per cent of tenants are not signing tenancy agreements, despite landlords being required by law to ensure anyone they let to does so, the survey undertaken by AA Legal Services revealed.

At the same time, more than half of tenants moving into residential lettings do not ensure their rental payments are clearly documented and agreed prior to moving in, with the figures also indicating 59 per cent of renters are not aware of the notice period on their tenancy.

James Molloy, head of AA Legal Services, said: "These findings demonstrate how poorly people protect themselves when moving into a rented home."

"It is vital that you agree your tenancy agreement and check everything, including inventory and utility meter readings, before you accept the keys to your rented home. Yet thousands of people are just not doing so and are putting themselves and their home at risk," he added.

Earlier this year, ARLA revealed that demand for rented property was outstripping supply, with rents in the second quarter of 2007 rising for the fourth quarter in succession.

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