Renting in the UK when you’re new here

Moving to the UK? Here’s what landlords and agents will ask for, and how to avoid the common scams.

What you’ll usually be asked for

• Proof of your right to rent (England only). Landlords must check that you’re allowed to rent in the UK. British and Irish citizens can show a passport. If you have a digital immigration status, get a share code from GOV.UK (“Prove your right to rent in England”) and give it to the landlord or agent.
• References, often from a previous landlord and your employer (or your university, if you’re a student).
• Proof of income: a job contract, recent payslips or bank statements.
• A credit check. If you’re new to the UK, you won’t have a UK credit history yet. That’s normal: say so early.
• A guarantor: someone in the UK who promises to pay the rent if you can’t. If you don’t have one, rent guarantor companies offer this for a fee.

Costs to plan for

• The deposit: in England, at most 5 weeks’ rent (see how to get your deposit back).
• The first month’s rent. In England, landlords can’t ask for more than 1 month in advance.
• Bills, if they aren’t included: energy, water, internet, and a TV licence if you watch live TV or BBC iPlayer.
• Council tax: a local tax on the home, which varies a lot by area and band. If you live alone you get 25% off, and homes where everyone is a full-time student don’t pay it.

Fees you shouldn’t pay (England)

Landlords and agents can’t charge you for viewings, references, credit checks, contracts or “admin”. If someone asks, treat it as a warning sign.

How to avoid scams

• Never pay before you’ve seen the home in person, or had someone you trust view it for you.
• Be suspicious of rents well below the usual for the area, of “landlords” who are abroad and can only post you the keys, and of pressure to pay quickly.
• Check who owns it. In England and Wales, for a small fee, HM Land Registry’s title register shows the owner’s name.
• Pay by bank transfer to a UK account, never in cash or through money-transfer services, and get a receipt.
• Check your deposit is protected within 30 days.

Read the agreement

• Agreements are in English. Ask for time to read it, use a translation tool, or ask someone you trust to read it with you.
• In England, the government’s Renters’ Rights Act Information Sheet explains your rights. You can read it on GOV.UK.
• Don’t sign anything you don’t understand.

Use other tenants’ experience

Flat Reviews accepts reviews in any language and translates them into English, so you can read about a home before you sign, and tell others about yours in your own language.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Last checked: 28 October 2026.