Securing Your Rental Home
The London rental market moves quickly, and sought-after homes often get snapped up fast. If you're planning to rent with friends or family, it's important that everyone is ready to make decisions swiftly after viewings. Once you've found the right property, you’ll enter the "let agreed" stage — this means the property is reserved for you, subject to contract and references.
Documents You'll Need
As part of the process, tenants must provide documentation to verify their identity and residency. This is a legal requirement under the Right to Rent
legislation.
1. Right to Rent Check
By law, anyone over 18 living in the property must prove they have the legal right to rent in England — usually with a valid passport or a government-approved alternative. Ask us if you’re unsure which documents are acceptable.
2. Proof of Address (dated within the last 3 months)
You may be asked for one or more of the following: •Driving licence (current) •Recent bank or credit card statements •Council tax or utility bills •TV licence or broadband bill •Signed tenancy agreement (within last 6 months) •Employer letter on headed paper confirming address •Home insurance documents •Housing benefit correspondence
Initial Payment & Tenancy Agreement
Once references are passed and the tenancy is approved, you'll receive a draft tenancy agreement. Review it carefully and ask questions if anything is unclear — we recommend seeking independent legal advice. Before moving in, you’ll be asked to pay: •First month’s rent •Tenancy deposit (typically 5 or 6 weeks’ rent, depending on rent level) All tenancy deposits for Assured Shorthold Tenancies (ASTs) are legally required to be held in a government-approved scheme. At Unique London Lettings, we use the Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS) when we’re instructed to hold the deposit. In cases where the landlord protects the deposit directly, we won’t be involved in its registration or management.
Holding Deposit & References
To secure the property, you’ll be asked to pay a holding deposit. After that, the referencing process will begin and tenancy terms will be agreed. This includes confirming your identity, verifying employment and income, and running affordability and credit checks.
Reference Checks
We carry out checks to assess affordability, rental history, and employment status. If you're renting under a non-Housing Act tenancy, reference checks will be chargeable and usually non-refundable once they begin.
What We Check:
•Employment status and length of employment •Annual income (typically must be at least 2.5x the annual rent) •Credit history (CCJs, IVAs, bankruptcy) •Address history (up to 3 years) •Previous landlord reference •Fraud and anti-money laundering checks •For overseas applicants: international credit report and employer verification
Will I Need a Guarantor?
You may need a guarantor if: •You're a student, self-employed, or new to the UK •You don’t meet the minimum income threshold •You have a limited or poor credit history A guarantor agrees to cover your rent or other obligations if you cannot. They should be a UK-based resident (ideally in England or Wales), with a good credit and income background. Guarantors are not required to undergo Right to Rent checks but will need to provide ID and proof of address.