Properties to Rent in Chester & Tenant Services
At PDA Lettings, we support tenants with repair reporting, rights guidance, and access to our in-house PDA Law solicitor — giving you the same legal protection as our landlords, built into your tenancy.
Access to a solicitor — included in your tenancy.
When you rent through PDA, you gain direct access to our in-house PDA Law solicitor for tenant matters. Deposit disputes, repair enforcement, unlawful eviction, tenancy agreement reviews — handled with legal authority. No referral fees. No waiting. Just expert support when you need it most.
1st
Only agency
in Chester
with this
Everything a tenant needs, under one roof.
From reporting repairs to understanding your legal rights — our team and in-house solicitor are here to support you throughout your tenancy.
Report a Repair
Submit a repair request directly to our team. We log every issue and ensure your landlord is notified and legally obligated to respond.
Learn moreKnow Your Rights
Understand your rights as a tenant under the Renters Rights Act 2026 — from repairs and deposits to eviction protection and rent increases.
Learn moreDeposit Protection
Your deposit must be protected in a government-approved scheme within 30 days. We ensure full compliance and help you recover it at the end of your tenancy.
Learn moreEviction Protection
Section 21 no-fault evictions are being abolished. Understand your new protections and what your landlord must prove to legally end your tenancy.
Learn moreTenancy Agreement Review
Our in-house solicitor can review your tenancy agreement to ensure it is fair, legally compliant, and protects your rights as a tenant.
Learn moreLegal Advice & Support
Access our in-house PDA Law solicitor for tenant legal matters — disputes, harassment, unlawful eviction, and more. Expert advice, not just agency opinion.
Learn moreSomething needs fixing? Tell us now.
Use this form to report any repair or maintenance issue at your property. Every submission is logged, timestamped, and sent directly to our property management team — creating a clear record that protects your rights.
Your landlord is legally required to respond within a reasonable timeframe. If they fail to act, our in-house solicitor can advise on your next steps — including contacting the local council or pursuing legal remedies.
Emergency repairs
Respond within 24 hours
Urgent repairs
Respond within 7 days
Routine repairs
Respond within 28 days
Know your rights as a tenant in England.
The Renters Rights Act 2026 brings the strongest tenant protections in decades. Here is what you need to know.
Right to a Safe & Habitable Home
Your landlord is legally required to keep the property in good repair, ensure gas and electrical safety, provide working smoke alarms, and maintain the structure and exterior.
Legal Duty
Landlord obligation
Deposit Protection Rights
Your deposit must be protected in a government-approved scheme within 30 days and you must receive prescribed information. Failure means you could claim up to 3x the deposit amount.
3×
Compensation if unprotected
Eviction Protection (Renters Rights Act)
From 1st May 2026, Section 21 no-fault evictions are abolished. Your landlord must have a valid legal reason (Section 8 ground) to end your tenancy — such as serious rent arrears, breach of tenancy, or needing to sell the property. You cannot be evicted simply because your fixed term has ended.
May 2026
Section 21 abolished
Rent Increase Protections
Under the Renters Rights Act, landlords can only increase rent once per year and must give proper notice. You have the right to challenge excessive increases at a tribunal.
How to Rent: The Checklist for Renting in England
The government's official guide for tenants — and a legal obligation every landlord must fulfil before a tenancy begins.
What is the How to Rent checklist?
The How to Rent: The Checklist for Renting in England is an official government publication that explains the rights and responsibilities of both landlords and tenants. It covers everything from finding a property and signing a tenancy agreement, to repairs, deposits, and what happens at the end of a tenancy.
The checklist has been updated to reflect the Renters' Rights Act 2025, making it more important than ever for tenants to read it before signing.
When must a landlord provide it?
Under the Deregulation Act 2015, landlords letting residential property in England are legally required to provide the current version of the How to Rent checklist to every new tenant at the start of the tenancy — before or on the day the tenancy begins.
- Must be provided at the start of every new assured shorthold tenancy in England
- Must be the most up-to-date version — an outdated copy does not satisfy the requirement
- Can be provided as a printed copy or by email (if the tenant agrees to electronic service)
- Must be re-served if a new version is published during a periodic tenancy
Why does it matter legally?
Serving the How to Rent checklist is one of the prescribed requirements a landlord must fulfil before they can serve a valid notice to regain possession of their property. Under the Renters' Rights Act 2025, all evictions now proceed via Section 8 — and compliance with prescribed requirements remains a prerequisite to a valid notice.
In plain terms: if a landlord has not served the checklist, their possession notice may be invalid and a court may refuse to grant possession — even if there are legitimate grounds to evict.
If a landlord fails to serve it
Possession notice may be invalid
A Section 8 notice served without the checklist in place risks being challenged and set aside by the court.
Court may refuse possession
Judges have discretion to adjourn or dismiss possession claims where prescribed requirements have not been met.
Delays and additional legal costs
Landlords may face months of additional delay and significant legal fees before regaining possession.
Tenant can raise it as a defence
Tenants and their advisers routinely check for compliance with prescribed requirements as a first line of defence.
At PDA, we serve the current How to Rent checklist to every tenant as standard — alongside the tenancy agreement, deposit prescribed information, and Energy Performance Certificate. Our in-house solicitor ensures all prescribed requirements are met before any tenancy begins.
Read the Official Checklist
The current version is published by the UK government and updated to reflect the Renters' Rights Act 2025. Always ensure you have the latest edition.
View on GOV.UKOpens GOV.UK — official UK government website
Day 1
Must be served on or before tenancy start
Latest version
Outdated copies do not satisfy the requirement
Section 8
Possession notice may be invalid without it
Frequently asked questions
Answers to the questions tenants ask us most — from repairs and deposits to eviction rights and the Renters Rights Act.
Need legal advice?
Speak directly with our in-house PDA Law solicitor. Whether you are facing eviction, a deposit dispute, or a repair issue — we can advise on your specific situation.
Speak to Our SolicitorNeed help with your tenancy?
Whether you need to report a repair, understand your rights, or speak to a solicitor about a dispute — our team is here to support you every step of the way.
Call us: 01244 380380 · Email: enquiries@pdaestateagents.com
Have a question about your tenancy?
Our Chester team is here to help — from repairs and deposits to your rights under the Renters Rights Act.
- Response within 2 working hours
- Backed by PDA Law Solicitors — in-house legal advice
- Chester's only lettings agency with in-house solicitors