How To Rent A Property

This easy-to-read guide on how to rent will take you through every step of the process, ideal if this is your first time renting a property or you’re a seasoned renter looking for a recap. 

With more renters in the UK than ever before, it’s important to know what you’re doing, what to look out for and your rights as a tenant. Our handy guide will cover everything you need to know for a smooth moving process. No matter where in the UK you’re looking for properties to rent, we have you covered.

Renting a property, step by step

1. Establish your property criteria

Before you start looking for your new home, decide what you want from a property. This can include location (e.g. do you want to be closer to work?), the number of bedrooms and bathrooms you’d like the property to have, and your ideal tenancy length. 

Having a list of qualities will help you refine your property search and only view the houses you can see yourself living in.

2. Review your budget 

Now you know what you want from your new rental, it’s time to work out what’s possible with your budget. Remember, if your tenancy agreement doesn’t include bills, you’ll have to budget for the cost of bills separately. 

There is some support you can get to help you with rent and bills. Find out whether you can apply for Housing Benefit, Universal Credit, or council tax benefits (e.g. Single Person Discount).

3. Start looking for properties

Our favourite part of the renting process, it’s time to start your property search. 

Make sure to keep that list you made in Step 1 close to hand. It can be easy to disregard it when you fall in love with a property that doesn’t match your criteria, but it’s important to think about how you’ll feel living in the property for the months to come. 

Houses can be snapped up very quickly in today’s market, so try to arrange viewings as soon as possible after finding the property.

4. Ask the right questions at viewings

When viewing properties, make sure to check for all the important stuff. This includes: 

• Ensuring plug sockets and light fittings work and are safe
• Checking that all the appliances work
• Making sure there are enough smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors
• Checking for fire extinguishers (only if the house is on multiple floors)

You may also have questions to ask when viewing a house to rent, such as whether the property comes furnished or unfurnished, if there’s parking and what kind of lease term the landlord wants.

5. Watch out for scams

Unfortunately, with the increasing number of UK renters comes an increase in scams. One of the most common scams takes place when prospective tenants agree to a tenancy online without ever visiting the property – this may be a fake landlord who has stolen pictures of properties for rent and created a fake listing. The best way to avoid this is to view a property in person with either an estate agent or the landlord. 

This is also why it is useful to go through the proper channels for renting a property, either directly with a registered estate agent or with a checked-and-vetted property listing site such as Rightmove or OnTheMarket. If the landlord or estate agent is asking for fees at any stage of the tenancy process, make sure to check if the fees are valid and legal.

6. Get accepted for a property

Once you’ve chosen the property you want to move into, you’ll be subjected to some routine checks to prove your right to rent. Each tenant moving into the property will need to complete this, not just the lead tenant. 

This typically includes a credit score, reference checks, and a review of an accepted form of ID (e.g. your passport). Depending on your age and employment status, you may also need a guarantor. 

The paperwork and requirements may differ if you are coming to the UK from abroad, in which case please check with the property’s landlord or letting agency. 

Once you’ve been approved, you can sign your tenancy agreement and set a date to move in. Before moving in, your landlord or letting agent should provide you with an inventory listing everything in the property and noting any damages. If you notice any more damages, make sure to report them as early as possible to ensure you’re not held responsible for them.

7. Pay your deposit and first month’s rent

Most properties require a deposit of no more than five weeks’ rent which is refundable once your tenancy is over. 

As per the Tenant Fees Act, if your total annual rent is under £50,000, the most they can ask for is five weeks’ rent, if it’s over £50,000, they can ask for a maximum of six weeks’ rent. You’ll also need to pay your first month of rent upfront.

8. Move in 

As early as you can, take meter readings and submit them to your landlord, letting agent, or energy supplier. This will help ensure your utility bills are accurate. 

If it’s up to you to set up bills in your new property, here’s a simple checklist to work through: 

• Find a utility supplier, which you can do through a comparison website
• Find a WiFi supplier through a comparison website
• Apply for council tax by finding your local council
• Register with your local water supplier

9. End or renew your tenancy

It always feels like it comes around quickly, but your tenancy is now coming to an end. 

You can speak to your landlord about renewing your tenancy, or work on a rolling contract basis where the tenancy has no end and both you and the landlord can serve notice. 

If you do choose a rolling tenancy, make sure to clarify the notice period with your landlord. Otherwise, you can simply notify your landlord that you won’t be renewing the tenancy. Check in advance how much notice you need to give your landlord that you will not be renewing.