One in seven renters has broken at least one rule set out in their tenancy agreement, according to new research. Paying their rent late, or not at all, topped the list of bad behaviour, with 25% of rule breakers. Smoking in the property was the second most common offense, with more than one in five of those breaking the rules admitting to lighting up. Keeping a pet in the property completed the top three, with 18% of rule breakers. Worryingly, more than 20% of tenants said their landlord never found out about their rule breaking.

Rules broken by tenants
Failing to pay rent on time (or at all)	25%
Smoking in the property	21%
Keeping a pet in the property	18%
Damaging or making alterations to the premises	17%
Changing the locks	16%
Caused disturbances or a nuisance to the neighbouring properties	14%
Sublet a room without notifying the landlord	14%
Failed to clean accessible windows	13%
Redecorated without permission	12%
Failed to check smoke or carbon monoxide alarm	10%