Guide to Renting a Property

Work Out Your Budget

A good rule of thumb: rent shouldn’t take more than about 35% of your take-home pay. Factor in everything you’ll pay each month — not just rent, but council tax, utilities, broadband, contents insurance, TV licence. Don’t forget one-off costs to move in: usually a deposit (max 5 weeks’ rent) plus your first month’s rent. A holding deposit (max 1 week’s rent) is taken when you apply, and credited against the rent or deposit later.

Know What You Need

Write two lists: your non-negotiables (location, number of bedrooms, pets allowed, parking) and your nice-to-haves (garden, garage, south-facing). Sharing these with us means we can alert you only to homes that actually fit.

Get Your Paperwork Ready

You’ll typically need:

• Photo ID (passport or driving licence).
• Proof of right to rent in the UK.
• Recent payslips or employment contract (usually 3 months).
• Bank statements (usually 3 months).
• Previous landlord reference if you’ve rented before.
• A guarantor’s details if your income is lower than required.

Check Your Credit

Most referencing agencies run a soft credit check. Register on the electoral roll, make sure loans and cards are being paid on time, and if you’ve had issues, be upfront when you apply — honesty upfront saves awkward conversations later.

Good to Know for 2026

From 1 May 2026, landlords can’t refuse you because you have children, receive benefits, or want a pet — they have to consider every request on its merits. Rental bidding wars are also banned; the advertised rent is the price.

Applying for a Property

Let us know as soon as you want to apply. We’ll confirm the rental figure (under the new rules, this is the advertised rent — no bidding wars allowed) and take a holding deposit to reserve the property off the market while references are run.

Your Holding Deposit

By law, a holding deposit is capped at one week’s rent. It comes off your first rent or deposit payment once you move in, or gets refunded if the tenancy doesn’t go ahead for most reasons.

Referencing — What Happens

A specialist agency runs the checks below. Most references come back within 3–5 working days. Responding to your referencer’s emails quickly is the single best thing you can do to keep things moving.

• A credit check (soft — doesn’t affect your credit score).
• Employment and income verification — typically 2.5× annual rent.
• A previous landlord reference, if you’ve rented before.
• A Right to Rent check to confirm your status in the UK.

Not Quite Meeting Affordability?

You may be asked for a guarantor — usually a family member or close friend with UK income who agrees to cover rent if you can’t. They’ll need to be referenced too.

Requesting a Pet

Under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, landlords must properly consider pet requests and can’t refuse without a good reason. Raise it at application stage — expect to be asked about your pet’s size, age and behaviour, and whether you’ll take out pet insurance.

If Referencing Fails

It happens. The holding deposit is refundable unless you withdrew, failed Right to Rent, gave misleading information, or stopped responding. We’ll always explain clearly why.

Paying Your Rent

Rent is due on the day set out in your agreement, usually by standing order. If something unexpected happens and you’re going to be late, tell us straight away — we can often agree a short-term arrangement. Silence is always worse than honesty.

Reporting Repairs

The fastest way is to raise a repair request on our website — attach photos and describe the issue. Emergencies (leaks, no heating in winter, security) are prioritised. Routine works are scheduled with our vetted trades panel.

Periodic Inspections

We typically inspect every six months. We’ll give you notice, work with your schedule where possible, and use it as a chance to raise anything that needs attention.

Your Right to Quiet Enjoyment

You have a legal right to the undisturbed enjoyment of your home. Your landlord (or us) must give you at least 24 hours’ written notice before any visit, except in genuine emergencies.

Rent Increases (Section 13)

Under the new rules, rent can only go up once per year, via a formal Section 13 notice with two months’ notice. If you think a proposed increase is above market, you can challenge it at the First-tier Tribunal.

When You Want to Leave

Give at least two months’ written notice. On your last day, we’ll check the property back in against the inventory. Your deposit should be returned within 10 days of agreeing any deductions — or, in a dispute, held by the scheme until resolved.