FreechecklistSettle
UK Renting Safety Checklist
Tell a legitimate letting process apart from a high-risk payment request, starting with what payment you are being asked to make.
When this helps: Housing or property search
What you end up with: A decision on whether a payment request is normal, and what to check before paying.
Time: about 15 minutes
First question: what payment is being asked for?
- A holding deposit reserves a property while checks are carried out. In England this is generally capped at one week's rent.
- A tenancy (security) deposit is a different payment with its own cap and protection rules.
- Rent in advance is a third thing again, with its own rules about when it may be requested.
- The type of payment decides whether the request is normal — not the fact that money was asked for.
Checks that apply to any payment
- Confirm the property exists and you or someone you trust has seen it.
- Get in writing who is receiving the money, and what happens to it if the tenancy does not go ahead.
- For a tenancy deposit, ask which government-approved scheme will protect it.
- Be cautious about pressure to pay immediately, and about payment by transfer to a personal account.
If something feels wrong
- Pause and check the rule on GOV.UK before paying.
- If you have already paid and suspect a scam, contact your bank first, then report it.
About this resource
- Origin
- Built directly from official source material
- Applies to
- England (deposit and fee rules differ in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland)
- Last reviewed
- 12 September 2026
- Next review
- 12 October 2026
- Version
- 1.0
- Maintained by
- Agumba settlement team
Agumba explains and orders official guidance. Always confirm time-sensitive detail on the official page before acting.