Before a viewing: a practical housing checklist

Before you view a flat in the UK, know three things: the legal cap on deposits where you are renting, the deadline for your landlord to protect the deposit, and the type of tenancy you will sign. In England, a holding deposit can be up to one week’s rent. A tenancy deposit can be up to 5 weeks’ rent if the yearly rent is under £50,000, and it must be protected within 30 days. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have different rules. This checklist brings them together with the questions to ask at a viewing.

Who this checklist is for, and which nation you are in

This is for anyone renting from a private landlord or letting agent. Housing law is set separately in each part of the UK, so start with where the property is:

England: the Renters’ Rights Act 2025 tenancy reforms took effect on 1 May 2026. Most private tenancies are now assured periodic tenancies (APTs), which replaced assured shorthold tenancies. Right to rent checks apply only here.
Scotland: private tenancies have their own deposit rules and notice periods, set out on mygov.scot.
Wales: since 1 December 2022, tenancy agreements have been replaced by “occupation contracts” and tenants are called “contract-holders”.
Northern Ireland: has its own deposit scheme and a lower cap.

From search to signature: the steps

Work out the full cost before you commit. Add energy, water, internet, Council Tax and travel to the rent. Do not multiply weekly rent by four; a month is longer than four weeks.
Check who you are dealing with. Who owns the property? Is the agent a member of a redress scheme? In England you have the right to know who your landlord is.
View the property in person. Check ventilation, damp, windows and heating. Try the journey to work or university at the time you would normally travel.
Pay a holding deposit only once you understand the terms. Get the refund conditions in writing.
Complete the right to rent check (England only). Send a share code beginning with R, or show your original documents.
Read the tenancy and written terms before signing. Check notice periods, how rent can be increased and who handles repairs.
Confirm the deposit is protected. Ask for the scheme name and reference within the legal deadline.
Record the condition on move-in day. Photograph every room and ask for a signed inventory.

Questions to ask at the viewing

What is the full amount I must pay before moving in, and what is it for?
Is the rent monthly or weekly, and are any bills included?
What type of tenancy is it, and how much notice do I give to leave?
Which scheme will protect my deposit?
Who is responsible for repairs, and how do I report them?
What is the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating? In England you are entitled to see it.
Which documents do you need from me for this property and my situation?

Get the important answers in writing, even by email. Our English message templates can help you request a viewing or ask these questions.

Deposit caps and protection deadlines by nation

Nation	Maximum tenancy deposit	Protection deadline	Approved schemes
England	5 weeks’ rent if yearly rent is under £50,000; 6 weeks’ if £50,000 or more	Within 30 days of receiving it	Deposit Protection Service, MyDeposits, Tenancy Deposit Scheme
Wales	See GOV.WALES deposit guidance	Up to 30 days to comply and give you the scheme information	An approved scheme
Scotland	Up to 2 months’ rent	Within 30 working days of the tenancy starting	Letting Protection Service Scotland, mydeposits Scotland, SafeDeposits Scotland
Northern Ireland	No more than one month’s rent	Within 28 days of receiving it; written information within 35 days	Tenancy Deposit Scheme Northern Ireland, My Deposits Northern Ireland

In England, a deposit paid by someone else, such as a parent, must also be protected. Once you and your landlord agree how much you will get back, the landlord must return it within 10 days. GOV.UK and GOV.WALES both say it usually takes 5 to 10 days.

In Northern Ireland, if a landlord breaks the deposit rules, nidirect says the council can fine them three times the amount of the deposit.

Holding deposits and banned fees

England

A landlord can ask for a holding deposit of up to one week’s rent to reserve a property. It does not have to be protected at first, but once you become a tenant it becomes a deposit and must be protected. Since 1 May 2026, landlords and agents cannot ask for more than one month’s rent in advance, and rental bidding is banned: they cannot ask for or accept an offer above the advertised rent.

Scotland

mygov.scot says it is against the law for a landlord to charge any fees when starting or renewing a tenancy, including holding deposits, key money and administration fees. Ask in writing for the money back. If a landlord refuses, you can go to the First-tier Tribunal (Housing and Property Chamber); if an agent refuses, you can complain.

Tenancy types and your basic rights

England from 1 May 2026

Most new and existing private tenancies are assured periodic tenancies, with no fixed end date.
Section 21 “no fault” evictions have been abolished. A landlord needs a valid section 8 notice to take the property back.
You can end your tenancy by giving two months’ notice.
Rent can go up only once a year, with a notice at least 2 months before the increase.
Landlords and agents cannot discriminate against renters who have children or receive benefits.
If you ask to keep a pet, the landlord has an initial 28 days to consider it and must give valid reasons to refuse.

Not every letting is an APT. Exceptions include living with your landlord, some purpose-built student housing and holiday lets; check the GOV.UK tenancy types page.

Scotland

To leave, mygov.scot says you must give your landlord at least 28 days’ notice in writing. If you send it by email or letter, allow 2 extra days for it to arrive. The notice a landlord must give depends on the reason and how long you have lived there.

Wales

For anyone moving in on or after 1 December 2022, the landlord has up to 14 days to issue the written statement of your occupation contract. If you do not get one, you are entitled to compensation, and the landlord cannot issue a “no fault” notice. On a new periodic standard contract, a landlord’s no-fault notice must be at least six months. The minimum notice for you to end the contract is four weeks.

Right to rent checks: England only

In England, a landlord must check everyone aged 18 or over who will live in the property, including British citizens. If you are not British or Irish, give a share code beginning with R or show original immigration documents; GOV.UK says the landlord cannot reject you for choosing documents. There is no right to rent check in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland. See our eVisa and share code guide.

Common mistakes

Paying a deposit in cash with no receipt. Always get a written receipt.
Not asking which scheme holds your deposit. If the deadline passes without information, ask the landlord in writing.
Agreeing to pay more than a month in advance in England. This has been banned since 1 May 2026.
Not recording the property’s condition. Photos and an inventory are your evidence in a deposit dispute.

Frequently asked questions

How much deposit can a landlord in England ask for?

A holding deposit of up to one week’s rent, then a tenancy deposit of up to 5 weeks’ rent if the yearly rent is under £50,000, or 6 weeks’ if it is £50,000 or more.

How do I know my deposit is protected?

Your landlord must give you written information about the scheme within the deadline. If it does not arrive, ask in writing and check with the scheme.

Can a landlord in England ask for six months’ rent upfront?

No. Since 1 May 2026, landlords and agents cannot request more than one month’s rent in advance, according to the government’s Renters’ Rights Act roadmap.

Are holding deposits allowed in Scotland?

No. mygov.scot treats holding deposits as illegal fees, and landlords cannot charge fees when starting or renewing a tenancy.

How much notice do I give to leave?

Two months in England under the post-May 2026 rules, at least 28 days in Scotland, and at least four weeks in Wales. Check your agreement and the official page for your nation.

This page is general information, not legal advice. If you are in a dispute with a landlord or facing eviction, contact your local council or a solicitor through our lawyers directory.

Sources

Your next step

Compare two properties in the cost of living planner and check your likely Council Tax with the council finder. If you need a letting agent, search the real estate directory.

Reviewed 17 October 2026.