Renting FAQs

It is always your responsibility to pay the rent. If circumstances change and you become unemployed or are unable to work due to sickness, it is important to speak to your landlord or letting agent and see if you can reschedule your payments.

The most important thing is not to let arrears pile up until they're unmanageable and cause you unnecessary stress. To keep yourself protected, you could consider purchasing insurance against sickness and unemployment.

If you want to end the tenancy, you will need to give notice in writing in line with current legislation and any applicable terms of your tenancy agreement. If you’re unsure about the correct notice period, your letting agent can help confirm this.

A landlord or letting agent must give at least 24 hours’ notice and arrange access at a reasonable time, unless there is an emergency.

Don't worry accidents happen. Tell whoever is responsible for the property maintenance (either the landlord or letting agent) as soon as possible.

You will be expected to cover the cost of putting it right. Don't try to ignore or hide damage because it could get worse, and it will only come out of your deposit at the end of the tenancy.

In most cases, a tenant can only decorate or make changes to the property with the express permission of the landlord. We recommend receiving this permission in writing.

The landlord is responsible for maintaining the property in a good state of repair. They will either take care of this directly, or do so via a letting agent. Make sure you know at the beginning of the tenancy who to go to when there's a fault. If you cause damage to the property you are expected to cover the cost of putting this right.

An inspection is a visit arranged by the landlord or letting agent to check the condition of the property. Inspections should be carried out reasonably and with at least 24 hours’ notice, unless there is an emergency.

A tenancy agreement is a contract signed by both the tenant and the landlord. It outlines what has been agreed and all the terms to which both parties must comply during the tenancy.

A Tenancy Deposit Scheme like Deposit Protection Service (DPS), My Deposits and the Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) will protect the security deposit paid by tenants and can offer assistance should there be a dispute about the deposit at the end of the tenancy.

Landlords and letting agents are required to register tenants' deposits with an approved Tenancy Deposit Scheme within the first 30 days of a tenancy starting.

We register deposits with My Deposits, which is a government-backed scheme that ensures you will get the deposit back if you meet the terms of your tenancy agreement, pay the rent and bills and do not damage the property.

The deposit is either held by the landlord, the agent or the deposit scheme itself. You should receive details of the scheme, explaining where the deposit is held.

The landlord trusts the tenant to keep the property in a good condition and in good order. The deposit is held to ensure that any damages (over and above fair wear and tear) can be corrected at the end of the tenancy.

In some shared tenancies, tenants may be jointly responsible for rent and obligations. A guarantor’s responsibilities depend on the terms of the agreement.

Requirements can vary depending on circumstances and the agreed terms.

If a tenant is not fully approved by the referencing process, they can ask a guarantor to support them. A guarantor (usually a parent or guardian) will agree to take responsibility for the rent if the tenant fails to pay it.

A guarantor may be responsible for certain payments if the tenant fails to meet their obligations, depending on the terms of the agreement.

In some circumstances, a tenant may not be approved immediately via referencing. Obvious examples are students without a regular income, or someone leaving their family home for the first time with no renting history, previous credit issues, or temporary work placements.

This is not uncommon, and there are still options for tenants in this position. Options may include using a guarantor or providing additional information to support your application. 

As part of the referencing process we need to be sure a tenant is who they say they are, and that they have the right ot rent in the UK. We will require a proof of residency (such as a utility or council tax bill from the last 3 months) and proof of ID (such as a passport or driving licence).

Referencing is nothing to worry about. Tenants applying to rent need to give details of their employer and income, their previous address, and some bank account details. These will be checked to ensure they are able to commit to monthly rental payments.

A reference looks into current financial commitments, credit history, and previous tenancies to check everything is in order. The landlord needs to be sure that that their tenant won't have any problems paying the rent on a monthly basis and will take good care of their property.

If you haven't already, make sure you go and view the property. If it's a house-share, meet all the people you'll be moving in with.

The letting agent will ask you to sign a Tenancy Fee Declaration form which lists the services they will provide and the Permitted Payments expected from you, in line with the Tenant Fees Act 2019.

The agent will then begin the referencing process, making the required checks to ensure you're in a position to rent the property.

Before you start searching for your new home it's a good idea to work out what your budget is. What are your current outgoings and what money do you have left each month to spend on rent?

Take into account that when you first move in you will need to provide a security deposit as well as the first month's rent and a refundable holding deposit. You can find out more about these charges known as Permitted Payments here.

You can also use our rental budget planner to help you.