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Housing and renting

UK Renting and Housing Guide for New Migrants

Learn how renting works, right to rent checks, deposits, tenancy types, scams, council tax, utilities, homelessness help, and document preparation.

Plain-English summary

Renting in the UK often involves identity checks, affordability checks, deposits, contracts, utility setup, council tax, and repair rights. Know your documents and warning signs before paying money.

Best for: People looking for a first UK home, moving house, house sharing, or facing housing problems.

What this guide covers

How renting works in the UK
Right to rent checks and share codes
Assured shorthold tenancy, lodger, house share, and council housing basics
Deposit protection and landlord responsibilities
Avoiding rental scams
Council tax and utility bills
Homelessness or threatened homelessness
Housing Benefit, Universal Credit housing element, immigration status, and local council support
Moving house and renter document checklists

Before you pay a deposit

Rental pressure can make scams easier. Slow down enough to check the property, landlord or agent, contract, and payment method.

  • View the property or use a trusted viewing arrangement.
  • Check whether the agent is registered with a redress scheme.
  • Never pay large sums only through social media or messaging apps.
  • Ask how the tenancy deposit will be protected.
  • Read whether you are a tenant, lodger, or licensee because rights differ.
Important warning
If a rent offer is unusually cheap, rushed, or asks for money before any checks, treat it as a scam risk.

Right to rent and documents

Landlords in England normally check a tenant's right to rent. Many migrants prove this using a share code from GOV.UK.

  • Use the correct right to rent share code service where online status applies.
  • Keep passport, status evidence, income evidence, references, and deposit proof ready.
  • Ask for a written tenancy agreement and inventory.
  • Keep receipts and messages about rent and deposits.

When housing becomes unsafe or unstable

If you are homeless, threatened with homelessness, facing illegal eviction, or experiencing harassment, seek advice quickly.

  • Contact your local council homelessness team if you may lose your home.
  • Check immigration restrictions before applying for public funds or housing support.
  • Use Citizens Advice, Shelter, law centres, or local migrant charities for urgent housing rights advice.
  • Call emergency services if there is immediate danger.

Checklist

Use this as a practical planning list, then confirm official rules for your status and local area.

  1. 1Prepare ID, immigration status/share code if needed, proof of income, references, deposit, and previous address history.
  2. 2Check deposit protection, tenancy type, rent amount, bills included, and notice rules.
  3. 3Set up council tax, electricity, gas, water, broadband, and contents insurance if needed.
  4. 4Photograph the property condition at move-in and keep the inventory.
  5. 5Find your local council and save emergency housing advice links.

Trusted starting points

Use official and established advice sources before relying on social media, forums, or paid services.

Private renting

GOV.UK

Official overview of tenant and landlord responsibilities.

Check your right to rent

GOV.UK

Official service for proving right to rent with a share code.

Housing advice

Citizens Advice

Advice on renting, homelessness, deposits, repairs, and eviction.

Related guides

Housing and renting

Prove right to rent

How right to rent checks and share codes work, what renters should prepare, and how to avoid housing scams.

Benefits and support

Public funds and NRPF

Plain-English guide to public funds, NRPF, benefits, housing support, refugee and asylum support, hardship options, the Habitual Residence Test, and charity grants.

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