--- title: What is an unfair clause? description: What is an unfair clause? --- [Skip to content](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/what-is-an-unfair-clause#main-content) English Show submenu for translations [Get in touch](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/kb-tickets/new) [![LettingaProperty.com - LOGO 1](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/hs-fs/hubfs/LettingaProperty.com%20-%20LOGO%201.png?width=120&height=49&name=LettingaProperty.com%20-%20LOGO%201.png)](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge) Open main navigation Close main navigation - English Show submenu for translations - [Get in touch](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/kb-tickets/new) - [lettingaproperty.com](https://www.lettingaproperty.com/) [lettingaproperty.com](https://www.lettingaproperty.com/) Hello. How can we help you? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Help Centre](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge) 2. [Tenancy agreements](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/tenancy-agreements) 3. [Creating a tenancy agreement](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/tenancy-agreements#creating-a-tenancy-agreement) # What is an unfair clause? An unfair clause is a term or ‘clause’ in a tenancy agreement that disadvantages the tenant or takes away their legal rights. This could be something hidden away in the fine print, or a term that imposes unreasonable restrictions, duties or penalties on the tenant. Tenancy terms must not reduce the landlord’s legal responsibility to a tenant or deprive tenants of their legal rights. In other words, a landlord cannot “opt out” of their legal responsibilities. For tenancy agreements to be considered fair, they must: - Be easy to understand - Provide a balance of responsibilities between both parties (landlord and tenant) Any unfair clauses in tenancy agreements would not be enforceable in court. Should the court agree they are unfair, it wouldn’t matter that the tenant agreed to the terms at the start of the tenancy; they would still be unenforceable. Read more: [Unfair Contract Terms in Tenancy Agreements And UK Lettings](https://www.lettingaproperty.com/landlord/blog/unfair-contract-terms/) - [Account](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/account#main-content) - [Account, security and site](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/account#account-security-and-site) - [Plans and services](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/account#plans-and-services) - [Communication](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/account#communication) - [Advertising](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/advertising#main-content) - [Listing a property](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/advertising#listing-a-property) - [Advert performance](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/advertising#advert-performance) - [Managing tenant enquiries](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/advertising#managing-tenant-enquiries) - [Changing an advert](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/advertising#changing-an-advert) - [Photography and virtual tours](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/advertising#photography-and-virtual-tours) - [To-let boards](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/advertising#to-let-boards) - [Viewings](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/viewings#main-content) - [Viewing requests](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/viewings#viewing-requests) - [Organising viewings](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/viewings#organising-viewings) - [Carrying out viewings](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/viewings#carrying-out-viewings) - [Tenant safety](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/viewings#tenant-safety) - [Applications and referencing](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/applications-and-referencing#main-content) - [Applications to rent](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/applications-and-referencing#applications-to-rent) - [Holding deposits](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/applications-and-referencing#holding-deposits) - [Referencing and credit checks](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/applications-and-referencing#referencing-and-credit-checks) - [Guarantors](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/applications-and-referencing#guarantors) - [Tenancy agreements](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/tenancy-agreements#main-content) - [Creating a tenancy agreement](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/tenancy-agreements#creating-a-tenancy-agreement) - [Sending and signing agreements](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/tenancy-agreements#sending-and-signing-agreements) - [Managing tenancy agreements](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/tenancy-agreements#managing-tenancy-agreements) - [Payments](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/payments#main-content) - [Tenancy deposits](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/payments#tenancy-deposits) - [Fees](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/payments#fees) - [Receiving rent](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/payments#receiving-rent) - [Paying rent](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/payments#paying-rent) - [Move-in](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/move-in#main-content) - [Right to Rent checks](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/move-in#right-to-rent-checks) - [Inventory and check-in](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/move-in#inventory-and-check-in) - [Preparing for move-in](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/move-in#preparing-for-move-in) - [Safety and maintenance](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/safety-and-maintenance#main-content) - [Maintenance](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/safety-and-maintenance#maintenance) - [Home emergency cover](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/safety-and-maintenance#home-emergency-cover) - [Electrical safety](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/safety-and-maintenance#electrical-safety) - [Gas safety](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/safety-and-maintenance#gas-safety) - [Mid-term inspections](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/safety-and-maintenance#mid-term-inspections) - [Energy Performance Certificates](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/safety-and-maintenance#energy-performance-certificates) - [Legionella](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/safety-and-maintenance#legionella) - [End of tenancy](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/end-of-tenancy#main-content) - [Renewals](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/end-of-tenancy#renewals) - [Tenancy deposit returns](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/end-of-tenancy#tenancy-deposit-returns) - [Serving notice](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/end-of-tenancy#serving-notice) - [Tenancy check-out](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/end-of-tenancy#tenancy-check-out) - [Eviction](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/end-of-tenancy#eviction) - [Tenant maintenance & troubleshooting](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/tenant-maintenance-troubleshooting) - [Terms](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/terms#main-content) - [Main terms](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/terms#main-terms) - [Service terms](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/terms#service-terms) - [Letting plan terms](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/terms#letting-plan-terms) - [Policies](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/terms#policies) - [Company announcements](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge/company-announcements) [![VIVO Logo White](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/hs-fs/hubfs/VIVO%20Logo%20White.png?width=120&height=49&name=VIVO%20Logo%20White.png "VIVO Logo White")](https://help.lettingaproperty.com/knowledge) LettingaProperty.com Help Center Copyright © 2025, LettingaProperty.com