What do I need to rent in the UK? Tips for finding your perfect home away from home

Renting a property in the UK can be a daunting task, whether you’re a first time renter or relocating from abroad.

We’re here to make the process a little bit smoother and a lot more stress-free. Be ready to provide the following financial documents and identification on your next viewing and we guarantee you’ll be one step closer to finding your perfect home.

Proof of Identity

Don’t knock renewing your passport down on your to-do list if you’re embarking on a rental search! UK residents and foreign nationals alike are required to provide proof of identity. Keep a valid passport or, for U.K. nationals, another valid form of photo identification on hand.

Right to rent and visa status

For our friends from abroad, remember that you’ll be required to provide visa documentation confirming your ability to reside legally in the U.K. This can come in the form of your original visa information (whether this is a student visa, graduate visa, or working visa) or your Right to Rent share code. Find out more about obtaining your Right to Rent code here.

It’s worth triple-checking that your visa allows you to enter into a tenancy agreement and, of course, that your rental contract duration does not exceed your visa’s legal duration.


Proof of address

Landlords across the U.K. will typically ask you for proof of your current address. This can come in various forms but it must be an official letter or document. Suggested documents might be a recent utility bill, bank statement, or official rental agreement with your address on it.

References

Keep on good terms with your landlords. Most UK landlords will ask for a prior landlord reference to ensure your quality and reliability as a tenant. These reference letters will typically include the duration of your stay in your prior home, whether you paid rent on time, and the condition in which you left (or keep) the property. You might want to think twice before using sellotape to paste your posters to the wall.

Credit check

Letting agents, or estate agents, will often conduct a background check on your credit history to assess your general financial history and review your ability to pay the full rental amount. Ensure your credit is in good standing before embarking on your flat or house search. You won’t usually need to provide anything for this but do speak with your agent to check whether you’ll be responsible for the fees incurred by the agency for the credit check.

Rental deposit

When budgeting for your next move, ensure you have enough money saved to cover your rent, and your rental deposit. You will be ask you to pay a security deposit or rental deposit upfront to ensure collateral in the case of any damage made to the property. Usually, this amount is around one to two month’s rent (typically your first and last month’s rent). Security deposits are refundable, of course, but you’ll have to make sure you’re on top of any damages to the flat or any unpaid rent. It is a legal requirement for landlords to register your deposit in a Tenancy Deposit Protection Scheme. Expect to receive a tenancy deposit certificate from your landlord in the first couple of weeks of your tenancy.

Proof of income

Landlords will ask potential tenants for a proof of income before entering into a tenancy agreement. This will come in the form of a pay stub, bank statement, or an official form from your current employer proving your current financial earnings. This, of course, is to ensure your ability to make regular rental payments. This might be a good time to ask for that raise you’ve been going for.

Tips

Finding a property

- Websites like Right Move and On the Market are typically reliable sources for the latest flat listings in cities like London but across the UK as well. On the Market is a site created by estate agents and is an excellent resource.

- If you’re searching for a room in a shared house, Spareroom is a great source to get in touch with others who are looking for someone to fill a spare room in their flat or who are looking to rent alongside someone else. Of course, do your diligence to ensure that you’re entering into an agreement with reliable people and be sure to speak directly with the landlord.

Once you’ve found a property

- Read through your tenancy agreement very carefully and make sure to ask questions, should you have any, prior to signing. Be sure to double check your notice period, the refundability terms of your deposits, eviction procedures, and your rights regarding any repairs that should be necessary in the property.

- Before moving in, it’s important to conduct an inventory check and to capture photos of the condition of the property, preferably alongside your landlord, to avoid unnecessary disputes at the end of the tenancy. This also gives you an opportunity to raise any concerns to the landlord about the condition of the space as soon as possible.

- Familiarise yourself with your rights as a tenant! Read up on the UK How to Rent Guide (your landlord should provide this to you but find the link here).


Happy renting!