Proper Rent guides
Useful clarity for renters and landlords.
Practical guides on renting, deposits, guarantors, and property support in the UK.
22 guides for all audiences.
Guides
22 guides
- For tenants5 min read
The UK rental market is cooling in 2026 - how renters should use it
Rents are still high, but the 2026 data shows a more price-sensitive market. Here's how renters can use that shift without wasting time on weak applications.
- For tenants5 min read
LHA rates in 2026/27: why Universal Credit may not cover the rent you see online
The 2026/27 LHA tables are live, but asking rents are still moving. Here's how to compare your housing support with real listings before you apply.
- For landlords5 min read
Landlord checklist after the Renters' Rights Act: what to fix before your next tenant
The May 2026 reforms changed the operating rhythm for landlords. Use this checklist to reduce voids, avoid avoidable fines, and price your property realistically.
- For tenants6 min read
The real cost of moving into a rental in the UK in 2026: every expense, listed
The deposit is just the start. Here's a full breakdown of what moving into a UK rental actually costs in 2026, from holding deposits to furniture, broadband setup to council tax gaps.
- UK market6 min read
Renting vs buying in 2026: what the numbers actually say for the UK
House prices are rising again but mortgage rates are still high. Is buying finally cheaper than renting, or is it the other way round? Here's the real maths for 2026.
- For tenants5 min read
Can you actually negotiate rent in the UK in 2026? What the data says
The market has shifted. Landlords are cutting asking rents and properties are sitting longer. Here's how to use that to your advantage when negotiating rent in 2026.
- For tenants4 min read
Guarantor solutions explained: what to do when you don't have a traditional guarantor
Landlords want a guarantor. You don't have one who qualifies. Here's every route through the problem — from institutional guarantors to specialist agents — explained plainly.
- For tenants5 min read
UK rent affordability in 2026: how much of your income should go on rent
The 30% rule is widely quoted — but it's increasingly disconnected from reality for most UK renters. Here's what the data says about rent-to-income ratios across the UK, and what's actually workable.
- For tenants4 min read
What landlords can't ask you when you apply to rent
Some questions that landlords or agents ask during the rental process are not just intrusive — they're unlawful. Here's what you have the right to refuse, and what to do if you're discriminated against.
- For tenants5 min read
Student housing crisis: why UK university cities are running out of rooms
High student numbers, a constrained private rental supply, and Purpose-Built Student Accommodation that can't keep pace. UK students in 2026 are still facing a highly competitive housing market.
- For landlords5 min read
How to fill your rental property fast: what UK landlords get wrong
Void periods cost UK landlords an average of £1,100 per month in lost income. Here's what the data says about filling your property faster — and the common mistakes that slow everything down.
- UK market5 min read
Why are so many UK landlords selling up — and what it means for renters
The UK private rented sector is shrinking. Landlords are exiting in record numbers — and the tenants left behind are competing for fewer and fewer homes.
- UK market6 min read
The Renters' Rights Act 2025: what changed from 1 May 2026
The biggest change to English tenancy law in a generation. Here's what changed in Phase 1, what is still coming later, and what it means in practice for tenants and landlords.
- For tenants5 min read
Deposit alternatives explained: zero-deposit products and what they actually cost
Zero-deposit, deposit replacement, deposit insurance. These products reduce move-in costs but they're not all the same. Here's how they work, what they cost, and what to watch out for.
- For tenants5 min read
Renting with bad credit in the UK: what landlords actually check — and what doesn't matter as much as you think
A bad credit record doesn't have to end your search. Here's what referencing companies actually look at, what's fixable, and how to rent successfully when your credit file isn't perfect.
- For tenants5 min read
The self-employed renter's guide: how to pass referencing without standard payslips
Referencing is built for employed people with payslips. If you're self-employed, freelance, or a director, here's how to make your income evidence work for you.
- For tenants5 min read
No UK guarantor? How international renters and students can still secure a home
Landlords ask for a UK-based guarantor as standard — but thousands of renters simply don't have one. Here's what your options actually are in 2026.
- For tenants4 min read
What is Deposit Share? How to move into a rental with up to 85% less upfront cash
Most UK renters need over £3,000 before they can get keys to a new home. Deposit Share changes the upfront cost equation — here's exactly how it works and who it's designed for.
- For landlords4 min read
Advanced Rent explained: how UK landlords can receive 3, 6, or 12 months' rent upfront
Most landlords wait months for rent to accumulate. Advanced Rent changes that — you receive a lump sum today, your tenant keeps paying monthly as normal. Here's exactly how it works.
- For tenants5 min read
Universal Credit and renting in 2026: your rights, your options, and landlords who'll say yes
Renting on Universal Credit remains harder than it should be in the UK — but more options exist than most tenants know about. Here's what you're entitled to, how LHA works, and how to find a landlord who'll say yes.
- For tenants5 min read
UK rent in 2026: what you'll actually pay across England's regions
UK private rents are still rising, but the pace has cooled. Here's what the latest ONS data shows for England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland — and what it means for tenants.
- For tenants4 min read
How much deposit do you actually need to rent in the UK in 2026?
The deposit is the single biggest upfront barrier for most UK renters. Here's exactly what you'll need to pay, what the law says, and what to do if you can't cover it.