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Check with this online calculator to see if you can afford to live in the area you want. If you are renting from a private landlord, you may receive up to the Local Housing Allowance rate to help with the cost of rent. 35% of your take-home pay is the most that many people can afford, but this depends on what your other outgoings are (for example, whether you have children).Īre you are entitled to Housing Benefit or Universal Credit? If so, you may get help with all or part of your rent. What can you afford? Think about how much rent you can afford to pay. These tenancies have no fixed end date after the minimum of 6 months. However, it is possible to negotiate a longer tenancy, or you could agree to a tenancy which rolls over on a weekly or monthly basis. Most landlords offer tenancies for a fixed term of 6 or 12 months. How long do you want the tenancy for? The landlord must allow you to stay in the property for a minimum of 6 months. See the ‘Deposit protection’ section below. The deposit must be refundable at the end of the tenancy, usually subject to the rent being paid and the property remaining in good condition, and it must be ‘protected’ during the tenancy. If the annual rent is £50,000 or above, the maximum deposit is 6 weeks’ rent. If the total annual rent is less than £50,000, the maximum deposit is 5 weeks’ rent. How much is the deposit? Since 1 June 2019, there has been a cap on the deposit that the tenant is required to pay at the start of the tenancy. See the ‘Permitted fees’ section below for more details. Viewing fees and tenancy set-up fees are not allowed. A charge to reserve a property is permitted but it must be refundable and it cannot equate to more than one week’s rent. Is the landlord or letting agent trying to charge any fees for holding the property, viewing the property or setting up a tenancy agreement? Since 1 June 2019, most fees charged in connection with a tenancy are banned. The guide does not cover lodgers (people who live with their landlord) or people with licences (such as many property guardians – see this specific guidance on property guardians) – nor tenants where the property is not their main or only home. Most of it will also apply if you are in a shared property but in certain cases, your rights and responsibilities will vary.

This guide is for people who are renting a home privately under an assured shorthold tenancy, either direct from a landlord or through a letting agency.

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