Renting
Free renting guides from Property Passport UK.
35 guides
Tenant Rights in England 2026 — What Every Renter Needs to Know
A plain-English breakdown of every major right private renters hold in England in 2026, including the landmark changes brought in by the Renters Rights Act 2025.
Section 21 Abolished — What the Renters Rights Act 2025 Means for Tenants
Section 21 no-fault eviction was abolished by the Renters Rights Act 2025. This guide explains what replaced it, the new Section 8 grounds, and how tenants are now protected.
Tenancy Deposit Protection — Your Rights and How to Protect Yourself
Everything tenants need to know about deposit protection in England: the three schemes, the 30-day deadline, deductions, disputes, and penalties for landlords who fail to comply.
Renting With Pets — The New Rules Under the Renters Rights Act 2025
The Renters Rights Act 2025 means landlords can no longer unreasonably refuse a tenant's request to keep a pet. Here is what the new rules mean in practice.
How to Report a Landlord to the Council — Hazards, Repairs, and Enforcement
If your landlord is ignoring repairs or your home has serious hazards, your local council can take enforcement action. This guide explains how HHSRS works and what to do step by step.
Rent Increase Rules in England — How Much Can Your Landlord Raise Your Rent?
Under the Renters Rights Act 2025, landlords in England can only raise rent once per year with proper notice. This guide explains the rules, how to challenge an increase, and what the First-tier Tribunal does.
Section 8 Eviction — The Legal Grounds a Landlord Can Use in 2026
Section 21 is gone. In 2026, landlords must use Section 8 and prove a specific ground to evict a tenant in England. This guide explains all the key grounds and how to defend against them.
HMO Tenant Rights — What You're Entitled to in a House in Multiple Occupation
Tenants in Houses in Multiple Occupation have specific rights beyond standard tenant protections. This guide covers HMO licensing, room sizes, fire safety, and how to act if your landlord is not compliant.
Right to Rent Checks — What Landlords Must Verify and Your Rights as a Tenant
All landlords in England must verify that tenants have the right to rent in the UK. This guide explains how the checks work, what documents are acceptable, and what rights you have as a tenant.
Tenancy Agreement — 10 Things to Check Before You Sign
Before you sign a tenancy agreement, there are ten key things every tenant should check. This guide walks through each one and explains what unfair or unlawful clauses look like.
Repairs and Maintenance — Your Rights as a Tenant When Things Go Wrong
Under Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985, your landlord is legally responsible for most structural and installation repairs. This guide explains what they must fix, how quickly, and what to do if they refuse.
Private Rented Sector Landlord Database — What It Means for Tenants
The Renters Rights Act 2025 created a national landlord register. Every landlord in England must now register. This guide explains how tenants can use the database and what it means in practice.
Moving Out of a Rental Property — Checklist to Get Your Full Deposit Back
Moving out of a rental property and want your full deposit returned? This practical checklist covers everything from notice periods and cleaning to final meter readings and the checkout process.
Guarantor for Renting — What Does It Mean and What Are the Risks?
A guarantor agrees to pay rent if a tenant defaults. Before signing, both tenants and guarantors need to understand the full extent of liability and the risks involved.
Renting on Universal Credit — The Housing Cost Element Explained
Universal Credit includes a housing cost element to help tenants pay rent. This guide explains how it works, what the Local Housing Allowance rate means, and how to deal with shortfalls.
Landlord Right to Access Your Home — Rules and Your Rights
Your landlord must give at least 24 hours' written notice before entering your home. This guide explains the rules on landlord access, what counts as an emergency, and what to do if your landlord enters without notice.
Joint Tenancy Rights and Risks — What Happens When One Tenant Wants to Leave
Joint tenancies make every tenant equally responsible for the full rent. This guide explains what happens when a joint tenant wants to leave, how notice works, and the practical steps to manage a departure.
Private Renting vs Council Housing vs Housing Association — Which Is Best?
Private renting, council housing, and housing associations each offer different security, cost, and quality. This guide compares all three so you can make an informed decision about your housing options.
Discrimination When Renting — Illegal Practices and How to Complain
Landlords and agents cannot discriminate against tenants based on protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010. This guide explains what counts as discrimination and how to complain effectively.
Student Renting Guide — What to Know Before Signing Your First Tenancy
Renting your first private property as a student comes with specific challenges: guarantors, HMO rules, 12-month tenancies, and deposit pitfalls. This guide covers everything students need to know.
Renting With a Poor Credit History — How to Find a Landlord Who'll Accept You
A poor credit history makes private renting harder but not impossible. This guide explains what landlords check, how to improve your creditworthiness, and the options available if your credit is damaged.
What Was a Section 21 Notice? Explaining No-Fault Eviction to Tenants
Section 21 no-fault eviction was abolished by the Renters Rights Act 2025. This guide explains what it was, how it was used, why it was abolished, and what the transition means for tenants still affected.
Rent in Advance — What Landlords Can Legally Ask For
Unlike deposits, there is no cap on advance rent in England. Landlords can ask for several months upfront. This guide explains when this happens, the risks involved, and your options.
Renting Out Your Home While Living Abroad — What UK Landlords Need to Know
Moving abroad while keeping your UK property as a rental? This guide covers mortgage consent, the Non-Resident Landlord tax scheme, managing agents, and your continuing legal obligations as a landlord.
Energy Efficiency in Rented Homes — Your Rights as a Tenant
Landlords in England cannot legally let homes rated F or G on an EPC. Tenants have rights to request energy improvements and to live in homes with adequate heating. This guide explains what you are entitled to.
Rental Deposit Rules UK 2026 — How Much Can a Landlord Charge?
The Tenant Fees Act 2019 caps security deposits at five weeks' rent for most tenancies, rising to six weeks when annual rent exceeds £50,000. This guide explains exactly how the cap works, how to calculate your deposit, and what happens if a landlord charges too much.
Tenant Fees Act 2019 Explained — What Landlords Cannot Charge
The Tenant Fees Act 2019 banned a wide range of upfront charges that were previously common practice, from referencing fees to renewal charges. This guide sets out precisely what landlords and agents can and cannot charge in 2026.
Tenancy Deposit Protection Schemes — TDS, DPS and myDeposits Compared
Every landlord in England and Wales must protect a tenant's deposit in a government-approved scheme within 30 days of receipt. This guide compares the three approved schemes — TDS, DPS, and myDeposits — covering both custodial and insured options.
Holding Deposit Rules — How Long Can a Landlord Hold It?
A holding deposit reserves a property while checks are completed and is capped at one week's rent under the Tenant Fees Act 2019. Landlords must return it within 15 days unless specific deduction conditions apply.
How to Dispute a Deposit Deduction at the End of a Tenancy
If your landlord proposes deductions from your deposit that you believe are unfair, you have the right to challenge them through your deposit protection scheme's free alternative dispute resolution service before considering the courts.
Deposit Deduction Checklist — What Can a Landlord Legitimately Claim?
Landlords can only deduct from a security deposit for damage beyond fair wear and tear, unpaid rent, or cleaning to the move-in standard. This checklist sets out what is and is not a legitimate deduction in 2026.
Fair Wear and Tear vs Damage — How to Tell the Difference in Deposit Disputes
Fair wear and tear refers to the natural deterioration of a property through reasonable everyday use — landlords cannot deduct for it. Understanding where the line falls is the key to resolving most deposit disputes.
Renters' Rights Act 2025 — What Changed for Tenancy Deposits?
The Renters' Rights Act 2025 abolished assured shorthold tenancies and introduced new periodic tenancy rules in England. This guide explains what the changes mean for security deposits, holding deposits, and deposit protection.
Deposit Replacement Schemes — Are Flatfair, Reposit and Zero Deposit Worth It?
Deposit replacement schemes let tenants pay a small non-refundable fee instead of a traditional cash deposit. They solve the cashflow problem at move-in but come with trade-offs tenants must understand before signing up.
What to Do If Your Landlord Doesn't Return Your Deposit
If your landlord has not returned your deposit or has proposed deductions you have not agreed to, you have several routes available — from the deposit protection scheme's free dispute service through to the small claims court.