The government is being urged by the National Landlords Association (NLA) to do more to inform tenants of their rights and responsibilities.

Research, commissioned by the NLA, found that more than three quarters – 79% – of tenants need better information about what they should expect from their landlords or agents.

The study also found that over two thirds – 67% – of tenants were not aware of the government’s How To Rent guide that is designed to help them understand their rights and responsibilities.

The guide provides tenants with key information on what to look out for before renting, living in a rented home, what happens at the end of a tenancy, and what to do if things go wrong.

The NLA does not want the government’s failure to share information to lead to a possible breakdown of trust between renters and their landlords, which has improved of late.

The survey shows that 68% of tenants said they never had any cause to complain to their landlord. A further 12% said that when they had complained, the problem was solved to their satisfaction.

Richard Lambert, CEO of the NLA, commented: “It is alarming that so few tenants seem to know about the Government’s flagship guide on their rights and responsibilities.

“It’s clear that compelling landlords to give tenants copies of the How to Rent Guide has made little impact. 

“Unless the government tackles this problem quickly, there is a danger that there will be a breakdown of trust between landlords and tenants at a time when this relationship is already coming under strain because of overregulation in the PRS.”