Renting · 6 min read
Renting your first UK home
Referencing, deposits, holding fees and the Renters (Reform) Act.
What you pay upfront
- Holding deposit: max 1 week's rent
- Tenancy deposit: max 5 weeks' rent (or 6 weeks if annual rent ≥ £50k)
- First month's rent
Referencing
Agents run credit checks, employer references and previous landlord references. Have three months' payslips and bank statements ready.
Your rights
Deposits must sit in a government-backed scheme (DPS, MyDeposits or TDS) within 30 days.