At a glance
- Renting runs in a clear order: find a home, pay a holding deposit, referencing and a right to rent check, sign, pay your deposit, move in.
- Since 1 May 2026 almost every new tenancy is an assured periodic tenancy: it rolls on from month to month with no end date.[1]
- You can only be asked for the payments the Tenant Fees Act allows, and nothing is payable before both sides have signed except a capped holding deposit.[2][3]
- You should be given your landlord’s written information about the tenancy before it is agreed.[4]
Rules and figures last checked October 2026.
From viewing to moving in
- 1
Register and view
Tell us what you need and we will let you know when a matching home comes up. See register to rent.
- 2
Make an offer, and pay a holding deposit
We negotiate the terms with the landlord on your behalf. A holding deposit can be up to one week’s rent, and it comes with rules about when it can be kept.[2]
- 3
Referencing and your right to rent
You complete an application, and affordability and credit checks are run through a third-party referencing agent. You also need to prove your right to rent. A guarantor may be asked for.[5]
- 4
- 5
Pay your deposit and first rent
Your deposit must be protected in a government-approved scheme.[6] See deposits and moving in.
- 6
Move in
Check the home and its condition carefully, and keep a copy of anything you sign. Council tax and utility bills are generally the tenant’s responsibility unless your agreement says otherwise.[7]
What kind of tenancy you will have
Most existing tenancies became assured periodic tenancies on 1 May 2026, and every new one starts that way. You do not need a new agreement. GOV.UK is clear that it is no longer possible to have an assured tenancy agreement with an end date, and an end date a landlord adds is invalid.[1]
That has two practical effects: you are not locked in for a fixed term, and your landlord cannot simply end the tenancy when a fixed term runs out. Read your rights as a tenant and ending your tenancy for the detail.
What it costs to move in
- Holding deposit: up to one week’s rent, if one is taken.[2]
- Deposit: up to five weeks’ rent (six if annual rent is £50,000 or more), protected in a government-approved scheme.[8]
- First month’s rent: between signing and the start date a landlord can ask for no more than one month’s rent in advance.[3]
- Everything else is banned unless the Tenant Fees Act lists it. See our tenant fees page for the full list.[2]
Sources
Every figure and rule above comes from one of these, read in October 2026. The dates are the ones each publisher shows as when the page was last updated.
- [1]Renters’ Rights Act: an overview for tenants (opens in a new tab)GOV.UK (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government) · page updated 1 May 2026
- [2]Tenant Fees Act 2019: guidance for tenants (opens in a new tab)GOV.UK · page updated 7 July 2026
- [3]Rent in advance and deposits (assured periodic tenancies: a guide for tenants) (opens in a new tab)GOV.UK
- [4]Tenancy agreements: written information for your tenant (opens in a new tab)GOV.UK · page updated 1 May 2026 (published)
- [5]Prove your right to rent in England (opens in a new tab)GOV.UK
- [6]Tenancy deposit protection (opens in a new tab)GOV.UK
- [7]Private renting for tenants: your rights and responsibilities (opens in a new tab)GOV.UK
- [8]Private renting for tenants: deposits (opens in a new tab)GOV.UK
This is a general guide to renting in England, not legal advice. Your tenancy agreement and your own circumstances decide what applies to you. If you are facing eviction or a dispute, get advice from your council, a solicitor or a housing advice service.