How much rent in advance can a landlord ask for?Beta*
Finding a home and applying
Private renting in England since the Renters' Rights Act 2025, unless the question says otherwise. General information, not legal advice.
In England, since 1 May 2026, a landlord can ask for no more than one month's rent before the tenancy starts. Asking for six or twelve months up front, which used to be common for people without a guarantor, is no longer allowed. That includes international students without a UK guarantor. On top of that they can take a holding deposit of up to one week's rent and a tenancy deposit of up to five weeks' rent (six weeks if the yearly rent is £50,000 or more). Most other fees are banned under the Tenant Fees Act 2019.
Sources: Shelter: Renters' Rights Act changes for private tenantsGOV.UK: Tenant Fees Act guidance
More on finding a home and applying
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Savvy Renter — savvyrenter.co.uk · free tools for renters. Answers checked 15 October 2026. The full list is also published as faq.json.
* Beta: new page, not yet reviewed by a housing adviser. General information, not legal advice.
* Beta: new page, not yet reviewed by a housing adviser. General information, not legal advice.