Renting in the UK as a newcomer

Right to Rent checks (England)

In England, a landlord or letting agent must check that every adult who will live in the home has the right to rent in the UK before the tenancy starts. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland do not have this check.

British and Irish citizens usually show a passport. If you hold a visa, you will normally prove your status online: get a share code from the GOV.UK "Prove your right to rent" service and give it to the landlord or agent with your date of birth.

If your permission to stay is time-limited, the landlord may check again before it runs out.

Deposits and the 5-week cap

In England, a security deposit is capped at 5 weeks' rent where the annual rent is under £50,000, and 6 weeks' rent where it is £50,000 or more. A holding deposit, paid to reserve a home, is capped at 1 week's rent.

Your landlord must protect your deposit in a government-approved tenancy deposit scheme within 30 days of receiving it, and tell you which scheme holds it. If there is a dispute at the end, the scheme offers a free service to resolve it.

Scotland caps deposits at 2 months' rent and Northern Ireland at 1 month's rent, and both require deposit protection too.

No agency fees (Tenant Fees Act)

Since June 2019, landlords and letting agents in England cannot charge tenants for viewings, references, credit checks, contracts or setting up a tenancy. Wales has a similar law, and in Scotland charging tenants anything beyond rent and a refundable deposit has long been unlawful.

In England, what you can be asked to pay is limited to: rent, a refundable holding deposit, a refundable security deposit, bills such as utilities and council tax, a capped charge if you ask to change the tenancy, costs if you ask to leave early, and some default fees, such as for very late rent or a lost key.

Council tax and TV licence

Council tax is a local tax on homes in England, Scotland and Wales, usually paid by the tenant to the local council in monthly instalments. The amount depends on the home's band and the council. If you live alone you can claim a 25% discount, and homes where everyone is a full-time student are usually exempt. Northern Ireland has domestic rates instead.

You need a TV licence to watch or record live TV on any channel or device, or to use BBC iPlayer. If you don't, you can tell TV Licensing you don't need one.

Utilities

Check which bills are included in the rent. If you pay them yourself, you will usually set up electricity, gas, water and broadband in your own name.

Take meter readings, with photos, on the day you move in. If you pay the energy bills directly, you can usually choose your own supplier. Water comes from the regional water company.

References and guarantors

Agents usually check your identity, income, previous landlord and credit history. If you are new to the UK, you may have no UK credit record yet; a job offer or contract, bank statements and a reference from a previous landlord abroad can help.

Some landlords ask for a guarantor: someone in the UK who agrees to pay if you cannot. If you have no one to ask, some companies act as a guarantor for a fee. Read their terms carefully before you agree.