Tenant questions, answered clearly.

View the property, check who owns or manages it, and confirm the agent belongs to any scheme they claim before paying. Be wary of pressure, unusually low rent, requests for cash or cryptocurrency, and anyone who will not show the home or provide written terms. Never send identity documents or money just because a listing looks convincing.

The permitted payments and caps depend on where the property is. In England, a holding deposit is capped at one week’s rent and most tenancy deposits at five weeks’ rent; from 1 May 2026, rent cannot be taken before the agreement is signed and no more than one month’s rent can then be required in advance. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have different rules, so check the official guidance for that nation before paying.

Most private-tenancy deposits must be placed in an approved protection scheme, but the deadline and exceptions vary across the UK. You should receive the scheme details and the information needed to recover or dispute the deposit. Check directly with the named scheme rather than relying only on an email from the landlord or agent.

Keep the signed agreement or written key terms, deposit information, inventory and check-in report, energy certificate, and the gas and electrical safety records that apply to the property. The exact documents differ by nation and tenancy type. Ask in writing for anything missing and store your own copies somewhere you can still reach after moving out.

Landlords are generally responsible for the structure, exterior, heating, hot water, plumbing, gas and electrical safety; tenants are usually responsible for looking after the home and damage caused by them or their guests. Report problems promptly in writing, include photographs, and keep every reply. Do not arrange major work or deduct its cost from rent without agreement or qualified advice.

You have a right to live in the home without unnecessary interference. Access should normally be agreed in advance, at a reasonable time and with the notice required where you rent; genuine emergencies are different. In England, at least 24 hours’ notice is normally required for an inspection or repair visit.

Report it in writing as soon as possible, with photographs, dates and details of any health impact or broken heating, ventilation, leaks or gutters. Keep the property reasonably heated and ventilated where you can, but do not accept blame without the cause being investigated. Contact your council’s housing or environmental health team if a serious hazard is not dealt with.

Check your agreement and ask in writing before bringing a pet home. In England from 1 May 2026, a private tenant can request a pet and the landlord must consider the request and give a reason if they refuse. The rules elsewhere in the UK differ, and a reasonable decision can still depend on the property, the animal and any superior lease.

Only by following the rules for your tenancy and nation. For most private assured periodic tenancies in England from 1 May 2026, rent cannot rise in the first year, can rise only once a year after that, and requires at least two months’ notice on the prescribed form. Do not ignore a notice: check the deadline if you want a tribunal or rent officer to review it.

Your agreement should say which utilities are included in the rent and which you must arrange. Take dated meter readings when you move in and out, give suppliers the correct dates, and do not pay for a previous tenant’s usage. Council tax liability depends on who lives there and the type of property; full-time students and some other households may qualify for an exemption or discount.

Joint tenants commonly share responsibility for all the rent and tenancy obligations, not just an individual share. If one person does not pay, the landlord may pursue the others or a guarantor, and one person’s notice can sometimes affect everyone. Check the agreement and get advice before anybody leaves, is replaced or gives notice.

Do not assume you can swap names informally. Your agreement may require the landlord’s consent, checks, a new agreement or a formal assignment, and unauthorised subletting can breach the tenancy. Ask in writing and make sure the deposit, guarantor, bills and inventory are updated if everyone agrees to a change.

It depends on the nation, tenancy type, agreement and whether you rent jointly. For most assured periodic tenancies in England from 1 May 2026, a tenant can leave by giving two months’ written notice on a rent day or the day before, although an existing agreement may allow less. Check before fixing a moving date because leaving early does not automatically end your liability for rent.

Usually not. Most landlords must use a valid legal reason, give the correct notice and, if you remain, obtain the required court or tribunal order before an authorised eviction; lodgers who live with their landlord can have fewer protections. Never ignore a notice, and get housing advice straight away because short deadlines may apply.

A landlord may propose deductions for things such as unpaid rent, missing items, damage beyond fair wear and tear, or cleaning needed to return the home to its recorded check-in condition. Ask for an itemised amount and evidence, compare it with the inventory and your dated photographs, and use the deposit scheme’s free dispute process if you cannot agree.

Contact the landlord or agent early, explain what you can pay and ask for any plan in writing. Check benefits and local-council support, and get independent debt or housing advice before agreeing to unaffordable repayments. Keep paying what you can, but do not ignore arrears letters or possession papers.