Housing and right to rent
A tenancy that is legal, deposit-protected, and actually affordable.
The decision here
Is your deposit in a government-approved scheme, and do you have it in writing?
What to know before you act
- In England, landlords must check your right to rent — this is routine, not suspicion.
- Start by asking what payment is being requested. A holding deposit, a tenancy deposit and rent in advance are three different things with different rules.
- In England a holding deposit reserves a property while checks are carried out and is generally capped at one week's rent — being asked for one is not automatically a scam.
- A tenancy deposit is separate, has its own cap, must be protected in a government-approved scheme, and you must be told which scheme holds it.
- Rent in advance has its own rules about when it may be requested — check the current GOV.UK position before paying.
- Whatever the payment, get in writing who is receiving it and what happens if the tenancy does not go ahead.
Do this
- Open step
Prepare for right to rent checks
Understand what a landlord or agent in England will ask for.
If you get stuck
Asked for several months' rent up front
Usually because: Often no UK credit history or no UK guarantor — but the rules on when rent in advance may be requested also matter.
Do this instead: Check the current GOV.UK rule for the payment you are being asked for, then offer an employer reference or a guarantor service, and compare against rooms where this is not required.
You are unsure whether a payment request is legitimate
Usually because: The payment type has not been named, so the applicable rule is unclear.
Do this instead: Ask in writing: is this a holding deposit, a tenancy deposit, or rent in advance? Then check that specific rule before paying anything.
Official sources
Where this comes from
- Source
- GOV.UK (Tenant Fees Act and deposit protection guidance)
- Applies to
- England — deposit and fee rules differ in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
- Last checked
- 12 September 2026
- Next review
- 12 October 2026
- Rule status
- Current rule
- Risk
- Higher risk if you get this wrong
Why this applies to you: You are being asked for money towards a tenancy, and the payment type decides the rule.
Agumba explains and orders official guidance. It is not legal or immigration advice. Always confirm the detail on the official page before acting.
Something to help you finish this
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.
What you end up with: A decision on whether a payment request is normal, and what to check before paying.