Starting your rental search

Rental homes can move quickly, so start looking once you have a reasonably clear moving date and are in a position to proceed. Looking too early can be frustrating because many landlords will not hold a vacant property for several months.

The tenancy deposit is normally capped at five weeks' rent where annual rent is below £50,000 and six weeks where it is £50,000 or more. A separate holding deposit of up to one week's rent may be requested while your application is progressed.

It is a payment of up to one week's rent used to reserve a property while the proposed tenancy is progressed. There are rules governing when it must be repaid, credited towards other payments or may be retained, so you should be told the terms when you pay it.

Expect to provide identification, proof of income or employment, address history and information needed for referencing and Right to Rent checks. If you are self-employed or have unusual income, additional evidence may be required. Having documents ready helps avoid delay.

Referencing commonly checks identity, affordability, income, employment, credit history and previous rental information where available. The landlord or agent uses this information to assess whether the proposed tenancy is affordable and suitable.

At Ashtons, we use an independent third-party provider to undertake this task and recommend accordingly. References can normally be turned around within five working days, assuming all information requested is handed over promptly.

Being self-employed does not prevent you renting. You may be asked for accounts, tax calculations, bank statements or an accountant's reference to demonstrate sustainable income. If the evidence is limited, a guarantor may sometimes help.

Possibly. It depends on the nature of the credit issue, your current circumstances and the landlord's assessment. Be open about anything likely to appear during referencing. A guarantor or other lawful arrangement may sometimes enable an application to proceed.

A guarantor may be requested where income does not meet normal affordability criteria, your income history is limited or there are referencing concerns. The guarantor will usually need to pass their own checks and accept a legally significant financial commitment.

You can ask. From 1 May 2026, landlords must consider pet requests and can only refuse where they have a valid reason. Tell the agent about your pet at the beginning so the request can be considered before you commit time to the property.