I signed the tenancy agreement. Can a clause still be unfair?

Yes. Signing does not make an unfair term binding. Under section 62 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015, an unfair term in a contract between a trader landlord and a tenant is not binding on the tenant, and the rest of the agreement continues without it.

Can my landlord make me pay for a professional clean when I leave?

A clause requiring you to pay for a professional cleaning company is a payment the Tenant Fees Act 2019 does not permit, so it is not binding on you. A clause asking you to leave the property clean to a professional standard is different, and can be valid. You must return the property in the condition you received it, allowing for fair wear and tear. If it is less clean than at the start, the landlord can claim a reasonable cost from the deposit, and you can dispute that through the deposit scheme.

My agreement says the rent goes up every year by a set amount. Do I have to pay it?

Not since 1 May 2026. Rent review clauses no longer work for private assured tenancies in England. A landlord can only raise the rent with a section 13 notice on the prescribed form, at least two months ahead and no more than once a year, and you can challenge that at the First-tier Tribunal before it takes effect.

Can I challenge the amount of rent as an unfair term?

No. Section 64 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 stops the price being assessed for fairness if the term is transparent and prominent. The route for disputing a rent increase is the First-tier Tribunal after a section 13 notice.

Does an unfair clause make the whole tenancy agreement invalid?

No. Section 67 says the contract continues to have effect in every other respect so far as practicable. The unfair clause falls away and everything else, including your duty to pay rent, carries on.

Does this apply if I rent a room in my landlord's own home?

Possibly not. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 only applies where the landlord is acting as a trader, and Shelter's guidance says a resident landlord letting a room in their own home will usually not be one. The Tenant Fees Act 2019 still covers most lodgers in England, so check that separately.

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My Tenancy Agreement Has a Term I Think Is Unfair. Can I Challenge It?

Some tenancy clauses stopped working on 1 May 2026, some are banned outright, and an unfair term is not binding on you. How to tell which…