Permitted payments under the Tenant Fees Act 2019 include:

 

1. The rent.

 

2. A default fee to replace a lost key that gives access to the house.

 

3. Payments capped at £50 (or reasonable incurred costs, if higher) for the variation, assignment or novation of a tenancy when requested by the tenant.

 

Assignment is the process whereby a person, the assignor, transfers rights, obligations or benefits to another, the assignee, for example where a new tenant takes the place of another in a house share arrangement.

 

Novation is different from assignment, it involves the creation of a new contract and requires consent of all parties.

 

Variation is the act of changing or adapting a contract.

 

4. When a tenant requests to leave the tenancy before the tenancy would otherwise lawfully end or without giving the notice required by the tenancy agreement or applicable law, the Landlord may recover any permitted losses or costs reasonably incurred as a result, subject to the Tenant Fees Act 2019; the Renters' Rights Act 2025 and applicable law. Any payment required must not exceed the Landlord's reasonable and evidenced losses arising directly from the tenant's request or failure to give the required notice. This may include rent lawfully due during any applicable notice period or until the tenancy lawfully ends.

 

5. Tenants remain responsible for paying their bills, which could include council tax (full time students can apply to the Council for an exemption), utility payments (e.g. gas, electricity, water and sewerage), and communication services (e.g. telephone, broadband, televison, cable or satellite packages).

 

NOTE: The tenant fees legislation does not prevent the landlord from claiming damages (compensation) from the tenants for losses suffered by the landlord due to the tenant's breach of the terms of their tenancy agreement. For example, cleaning the property to the original check-in standard, repairs or replacing a missing or damaged item.