A Landlord's Guide to UK Lettings (2026)
By Laura at Domovita Renting out a UK property carries real legal weight, and the rules changed materially on 1 May 2026 when the Renters' Rights Act 2025 came into force. This guide is the high-level roadmap; the linked compliance rundown and the detailed guides drill into each item. Always check the current gov.uk guidance before a new tenancy - the law in this area is moving quickly. Last reviewed: 9 June 2026. England-focused; some rules differ in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. 1. Buy-to-let financing You typically need a buy-to-let mortgage rather than a residential one. Lenders' criteria vary, but commonly include: A deposit of around 25% or more (sometimes 40% for the best rates) Rental income that covers roughly 125-145% of the monthly mortgage interest (the lender's "stress test") A minimum personal income (often £25k+) Higher interest rates than equivalent residential mortgages These are market norms set by individual lenders, not legal requirements - check current terms with a broker or lender. 2. Stamp Duty on a buy-to-let Buying an additional residential property (which a buy-to-let usually is) currently carries a 5% higher-rate surcharge on top of standard Stamp Duty Land Tax in England and Northern Ireland - see the rates on gov.uk. Scotland (Additional Dwelling Supplement under LBTT) and Wales (higher rates of Land Transaction Tax) have their own separate surcharges. Domovita's SDLT calculator applies the England/NI surcharge. 3. Choose your management style Self-manage - you advertise, vet, sign tenants and handle repairs. Maximum profit, maximum hands-on work. Tenant-find only - an agent finds and vets the tenant; you manage from then on. Often around one month's rent or 8-10% up front. Full management - an agent handles everything. Often 10-15% of the monthly rent, ongoing. Many landlords list themselves and bring in a local agent only if and when it suits them. Either path works on Domovita - the choice is yours. 4. Legal obligations (the big ones) Getting these wrong can expose you to fines, rent-repayment orders, and - because Section 21 "no-fault" evictions have been abolished - difficulty regaining possession. See the compliance rundown for the full list and the deadline for each, and always confirm the current position on gov.uk. EPC rating of E or better to let (Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard). The minimum is confirmed to rise to EPC C by 1 October 2030, so factor improvement work in early. Gas Safety Certificate (CP12) every 12 months, given to tenants before move-in and at each renewal. EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) at least every 5 years. Smoke alarm on every storey, and a carbon monoxide alarm in every room with a fixed combustion appliance (for example a wood burner or gas boiler - gas cookers are excluded). Right to Rent check for every adult tenant in England before the tenancy starts. Deposit protection within 30 days of receipt, in one of the three government-backed schemes (TDS, DPS or MyDeposits). The deposit is capped at 5 weeks' rent (6 weeks if the annual rent is £50,000 or more). Prescribed Information served to the tenant within 30 days, naming the scheme used. Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet - this replaces the withdrawn "How to Rent" guide. Landlords with existing tenancies must serve the government Information Sheet by 31 May 2026 (a civil penalty of up to £7,000 applies for failing to do so). Check gov.uk for the current document. Licensing - mandatory HMO licensing applies to larger shared houses (broadly 5+ occupants forming 2+ households), and many councils run their own selective or additional licensing schemes. This is set by your local council - check yours; we never assume an area does or does not require a licence. 5. Listing the property You can list on Domovita for free. Whether you have one property or a portfolio, the form is the same. Include: EPC rating (required by law to be visible in marketing) Council tax band Deposit amount Bills included (if any) Furnished / part-furnished / unfurnished Pet policy (note: under the Renters' Rights Act, a tenant's request to keep a pet cannot be unreasonably refused) Minimum tenancy length 6. Tenant vetting Standard checks: photo ID, Right to Rent, proof of address, recent bank statements or payslips, an employer reference and a previous-landlord reference. A referencing service that includes a credit check adds a small fee (around £30-£50 per tenant) and is usually worth it. Note that rental bidding wars are now banned, and you cannot discriminate against tenants because they have children or receive benefits. 7. Tax Rental income is taxable - declare it via Self Assessment. Mortgage interest is no longer deductible from rental income; it is replaced by a 20% tax credit (the Section 24 rules, fully in effect since April 2020). Making Tax Digital for Income Tax applies from 6 April 2026 for landlords with gross property (and self-employment) income above £50,000 - quarterly digital reporting - then above £30,000 from April 2027. Check the current thresholds on gov.uk. Allowable running costs (maintenance, agent fees, insurance, council tax between tenants, service charges, accountancy) are deductible; capital improvements are not deductible against income but reduce Capital Gains Tax on an eventual sale. The Furnished Holiday Lettings regime was abolished from 6 April 2025. Holding property through a limited company is sometimes more tax-efficient for portfolio landlords - this is genuinely individual, so speak to an accountant. 8. Insurance Standard residential insurance does not cover a let property. You need landlord insurance, which covers buildings plus landlord's liability. Contents cover is optional (the tenant owns their own contents) but worth having if you let furnished. 9. Ending a tenancy (post-Renters' Rights Act) Since 1 May 2026 the picture is different. Assured shorthold tenancies have converted to periodic assured tenancies with no fixed end date, and Section 21 "no-fault" evictions are abolished. Tenant ending the tenancy - the tenant can leave by giving two months' notice at any point. Landlord seeking possession - Section 8 only - you must rely on one of the statutory grounds (for example rent arrears, anti-social behaviour, or that you intend to sell or move in), served on the prescribed form. Grounds, notice periods and evidence requirements vary - some carry restrictions such as a minimum tenancy length or a re-letting ban. The Section 8 grounds guide covers these in detail, and the court process can be slow. Because the rules and grounds are detailed and recently changed, get the notice right before serving it - an invalid notice can set you back months. When in doubt, take legal advice. Tools to help you List a rental - free, on your terms Compliance rundown - confirm you have met every legal requirement Yield calculator - gross and net rental yield Get a rental valuation from a local agent Go deeper: letting guides The Renters' Rights Act 2026: what private landlords need to do How to let your property: a landlord's step-by-step guide UK Lettings Compliance - the Landlord Checklist Tenancy deposit protection: the 30-day rule and prescribed information The Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet 2026 List your rental on Domovita - free for private landlords { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "headline": "A Landlord's Guide to UK Lettings (2026)", "description": "From your first buy-to-let to managing a portfolio - the legal, financial and practical groundwork, current to the Renters' Rights Act 2025.", "datePublished": "2026-06-09", "dateModified": "2026-06-09", "author": {"@type": "Person", "name": "Laura at Domovita", "url": "https://domovita.co.uk/team/laura"}, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Domovita", "url": "https://domovita.co.uk/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://domovita.co.uk/images/favicon/web-app-manifest-512x512.png" } }, "mainEntityOfPage": "https://domovita.co.uk/guides/landlord" } { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://domovita.co.uk/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Guides", "item": "https://domovita.co.uk/guides" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "A Landlord's Guide to UK Lettings (2026)", "item": "https://domovita.co.uk/guides/landlord" } ] }
A Renter's Guide to the UK Lettings Market (2026)
By Laura at Domovita UK rentals are competitive, especially in cities, and the rules changed on 1 May 2026 when the Renters' Rights Act came into force. This guide walks through finding, applying for, and living in a rental without surprises - and what your rights now are. Last reviewed: 9 June 2026. 1. Set your budget A common rule of thumb is that rent should be around 30-35% of your gross monthly income or less. Landlords and agents typically look for either: Earnings of roughly 2.5x the annual rent (so to rent at £1,200/month you would usually need about £36,000/year), or A UK-based guarantor who earns more (often around 3x annual rent) These are market norms set by individual landlords, not legal rules. Beyond rent, budget for the deposit (capped - see below), the first month's rent, utilities, council tax, broadband, contents insurance and a TV licence. 2. Search smart Use Domovita's rentals search with filters for price, beds, furnished or unfurnished, pets and parking, and save your search to get email alerts when new homes match. In hot markets the best properties get viewing requests within an hour of going live, so alerts and a fast response matter. 3. Viewings As with buying, check condition, light, noise and the surrounding area. Specifically for a rental, ask: What is the EPC rating? A property below EPC E generally cannot be let in England unless a valid exemption is registered. Who is the landlord? An individual, a company, or a managed agency. Is the deposit cap respected, and which scheme protects it? The three government-backed schemes are the Deposit Protection Service (DPS), mydeposits and the Tenancy Deposit Scheme (TDS). What bills are included, if any? Pets: under the Renters' Rights Act a landlord cannot unreasonably refuse a request to keep a pet, though they can ask you to hold pet damage insurance. 4. What you can and cannot be charged Since the Tenant Fees Act 2019, the only payments a landlord or agent can charge you in connection with a new tenancy are: the rent; a refundable holding deposit of no more than one week's rent; a refundable security deposit; and limited charges such as for late rent or replacing a lost key. The security deposit is capped at five weeks' rent where the annual rent is under £50,000, or six weeks' rent where it is £50,000 or more. Referencing fees, admin fees and "renewal" fees charged to tenants are banned. Since 1 May 2026 a landlord can also ask for no more than one month's rent in advance before the tenancy begins, and rental bidding wars are banned - the property is advertised at a set rent and a landlord cannot invite or accept offers above it. 5. Applying You will usually provide photo ID, proof of address, recent payslips or bank statements, an employer reference and a previous-landlord reference. A Right to Rent check is required for every adult tenant in England. A landlord cannot discriminate against you because you have children or receive benefits - that is now unlawful under the Renters' Rights Act. 6. Your tenancy under the Renters' Rights Act This is the biggest change for renters in a generation, and it is already in force: No more fixed-term assured shorthold tenancies. Since 1 May 2026, tenancies are periodic - they run from month to month with no fixed end date. Older assured shorthold tenancies converted automatically. No-fault eviction is gone. Section 21 has been abolished, so a landlord can no longer ask you to leave without a reason. To regain possession they must use a Section 8 ground (for example genuine rent arrears, or that they intend to sell or move in), and some grounds carry protections - for instance the "landlord wants to sell" ground cannot be used in the first 12 months. You can leave on two months' notice at any time. You should receive the Renters' Rights Act Information Sheet 2026 - the government document that replaced the old "How to Rent" guide and explains your rights. Your landlord must give it to you. Read your tenancy agreement carefully before signing. Check who is responsible for repairs (boiler, appliances, garden), how any rent increase would work, and that it names the scheme your deposit will be protected in. For the authoritative position, see the gov.uk guide to private renting. 7. Moving in Take photos of every room and the meters (gas, electric, water) on move-in day. Your landlord should provide a written inventory. If they do not, write your own and email it to them in the first week. Check your deposit is protected in one of the three schemes within 30 days, and that you receive the "prescribed information" notice with the scheme reference. Register for council tax and set up utility accounts in your name. 8. During the tenancy Pay rent on time - late rent is the single most common source of disputes. Report problems in writing (email is fine) and keep a record of what you reported and when. Your landlord must give at least 24 hours' notice before visiting, except in a genuine emergency. If your landlord ignores serious repairs, your council's Environmental Health team can step in. 9. Moving out and getting your deposit back Give notice in line with your tenancy - for a periodic tenancy that is two months. Clean to the standard of the move-in inventory; photos help. Take final meter readings and cancel utilities from your last day. Once you and the landlord agree how much of the deposit is returned, it must be repaid within 10 days of that agreement. If you do not agree with proposed deductions, do not sign to accept them - the deposit scheme runs a free dispute resolution service that decides on the evidence (your inventory and photos), and the disputed money stays with the scheme until it rules. Tools to help you Search rentals Set up alerts (covers rentals too) Affordability calculator This guide is general information, not legal advice. Renting rules change and every situation differs, so check the current gov.uk guidance or your council before relying on it. { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "headline": "A Renter's Guide to the UK Lettings Market (2026)", "description": "A plain-English 2026 guide to renting in the UK - budgeting, searching, viewings, applying, your rights under the Renters' Rights Act, deposits, and getting your money back.", "datePublished": "2026-06-09", "dateModified": "2026-06-09", "author": {"@type": "Person", "name": "Laura at Domovita", "url": "https://domovita.co.uk/team/laura"}, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Domovita", "url": "https://domovita.co.uk/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://domovita.co.uk/images/favicon/web-app-manifest-512x512.png" } }, "mainEntityOfPage": "https://domovita.co.uk/guides/renter" } { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://domovita.co.uk/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Guides", "item": "https://domovita.co.uk/guides" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "A Renter's Guide to the UK Lettings Market (2026)", "item": "https://domovita.co.uk/guides/renter" } ] }
A Seller's Guide to Listing Your Home in the UK
By Laura at Domovita Selling a home is straightforward once you know the steps. This guide covers the timeline, the costs, and the decisions you'll need to make. 1. Decide your sale route You have three options: List with an estate agent - they handle marketing, viewings, and negotiation. Fees typically 1-2% of sale price. List privately - you keep the full sale price. You handle viewings and offers. Domovita's private listing option is free. Online-only agents - fixed-fee marketing, you do the viewings. Costs £500-£1,500 upfront. 2. Get your house ready You don't need to renovate, but small fixes matter. Properties present better when: Decluttered (rent storage if needed) Cleaned thoroughly, especially kitchens and bathrooms Repainted in neutral tones where bold colours dominate Garden tidied, lawn cut Minor repairs done (leaky tap, scuffed walls, loose handles) 3. Get a valuation A free valuation from a local agent is the standard starting point - they'll tell you what they'd realistically sell it for. Get 2-3 different valuations and look for the median, not the highest. An overpriced listing sits on the market. Domovita's valuation panel connects you with up to three vetted local agents in one form. 4. Get an EPC A valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is a legal requirement before you market the property. EPCs last 10 years - check yours at gov.uk. If yours has expired, a new one costs £50-£100 from a local assessor. 5. Take great photos Photos are the single biggest driver of viewing requests. If you're listing with an agent, they'll arrange a photographer. If you're listing privately, take photos on a bright day, with curtains open, lights on, and rooms staged. Wide-angle lens helps but isn't essential. Domovita listings support up to 30 photos per property plus virtual tour and video embeds. 6. Write the description Lead with the standout features (large garden, parking, recent kitchen, school catchment). State the basics clearly: bedrooms, bathrooms, reception rooms, floor area, garden, parking, EPC rating, council tax band. Avoid puffery like "must be seen" - buyers ignore it. 7. Manage viewings If you're listing through an agent they handle this. If you're private, offer flexible viewing slots and let viewers walk the property at their own pace. A short factsheet (rates, school distance, garden direction, recent works done) at the door is appreciated. 8. Negotiate offers Don't accept the first offer reflexively unless it's at or above asking. A counteroffer is normal. Ask about the buyer's position: chain-free, cash, mortgage agreed in principle? A clean chain with mortgage AIP is worth more than a higher offer in a long chain. 9. Conveyancing Instruct a solicitor to handle the legal sale. They'll prepare contracts, respond to enquiries from the buyer's solicitor, and manage exchange and completion. £800-£1,500 typical fee. 10. Exchange and completion Same as buying: exchange is when contracts sign, completion is the keys-handover day. Move out before completion morning - the buyer expects an empty property by then. 11. Tax If the property is your main home, you usually pay no Capital Gains Tax on the sale. If it's a second home, buy-to-let, or you've let part of it out, CGT may apply on the gain. Check gov.uk or speak to your accountant. Tools to help you List your property - private or via an agent Free valuation - up to 3 local agents in one form Recent sold prices - benchmark your asking price Go deeper: selling guides How to sell your home privately: a step-by-step guide What it costs to sell a home in the UK Material information: what you must disclose when selling The TA6 property information form, explained for sellers Do you need an EPC to sell your house? Handling your own viewings and offers when selling privately List your home on Domovita - free for private sellers { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "headline": "A Seller's Guide to Listing Your Home in the UK", "description": "A step-by-step UK guide to selling your home - choosing your sale route, prep, valuation, EPC, photos, viewings, offers, conveyancing, completion and tax.", "datePublished": "2026-06-09", "dateModified": "2026-06-09", "author": {"@type": "Person", "name": "Laura at Domovita", "url": "https://domovita.co.uk/team/laura"}, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Domovita", "url": "https://domovita.co.uk/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://domovita.co.uk/images/favicon/web-app-manifest-512x512.png" } }, "mainEntityOfPage": "https://domovita.co.uk/guides/seller" } { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://domovita.co.uk/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Guides", "item": "https://domovita.co.uk/guides" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "A Seller's Guide to Listing Your Home in the UK", "item": "https://domovita.co.uk/guides/seller" } ] }
A Buyer's Guide to Finding a Home in the UK
By Laura at Domovita Buying a home is the largest financial decision most people make. This guide walks through the stages in plain English - what to do, what to watch for, and where the costs land. 1. Set your budget honestly Before you start browsing properties, get a clear picture of three numbers: your deposit, your monthly mortgage budget, and your total moving-in cost. Deposit: typically 5-20% of the purchase price. A larger deposit means lower interest rates and more lender choice. Monthly mortgage: use Domovita's mortgage calculator to see what your monthly repayments would be at current rates. Most lenders want your repayment to stay below 35% of your take-home pay. Moving-in costs: on top of the deposit, budget around £3,000-£5,000 for solicitor fees, surveys, mortgage arrangement fees, Stamp Duty Land Tax, and moving costs. Domovita's SDLT calculator shows the tax bill for any purchase price. 2. Get a mortgage Agreement in Principle An Agreement in Principle (AIP) is a lender's written statement of how much they'd be willing to lend you, subject to a full application. Estate agents take buyers with an AIP more seriously, and sellers will too. You can get an AIP from any high-street bank, a mortgage broker, or an online lender. It's a soft credit check, so it doesn't affect your credit score. 3. Save your search and set up alerts The best properties go fast. Set your search criteria on Domovita, then use Save this search to get email alerts the moment a matching property is listed. You'll often see new stock here before it appears on the bigger portals. 4. Viewings: what to look for Condition - cracks, damp marks, mould, signs of recent paint over problem areas. Light - what direction does the property face? North-facing rooms get noticeably less natural light. Noise - listen at different times of day if you can. Visit in the rush hour and again at the weekend. Storage - is there room for what you own? Built-in cupboards matter more than they look on the plan. Surroundings - schools, transport, shops. Walk the area before you offer. Domovita property pages include schools, broadband, council tax, air quality, flood risk, and crime statistics for every listing so you can vet the area without leaving the site. 5. Making an offer Offers in the UK are always subject to contract until the day of exchange. You can offer below asking price - in a slow market 5-10% below is typical; in a hot market the asking price is often the starting point. Estate agents are legally required to pass every offer to the seller. Make your offer in writing (email is fine) and confirm with the agent. Include your buying position: are you a first-time buyer, in a chain, or cash? 6. Conveyancing and survey Once your offer is accepted, instruct a conveyancing solicitor. They handle the legal side: searches, contract drafting, exchange, and completion. Costs £1,200-£2,000 typically. You'll also need a survey. A RICS Level 2 (HomeBuyer Report) is standard for a typical property and costs £400-£700. For older properties or anything unusual, a Level 3 (Building Survey) at £800-£1,200 is worth the extra. 7. Exchange and completion Exchange is the legally binding moment - both sides sign contracts and you pay your deposit. Completion is the day you get the keys, usually 1-4 weeks after exchange. On completion day, your solicitor transfers the rest of the money to the seller's solicitor, you collect the keys from the agent, and you're a homeowner. 8. After completion Update your address with bank, employer, DVLA, HMRC, GP, and dentist. Set up utility transfers (gas, electric, water, council tax, broadband). Take meter readings on completion day. Register for the council tax band - check it's the right one. Many homes are in the wrong band. Buildings insurance is required from the date of exchange, not completion. Sort it before exchange day. Tools to help you Search for properties - filter by area, price, beds, garden, parking Set up alerts - get email notifications for new listings Mortgage calculator SDLT calculator Affordability calculator Recent sold prices - benchmark your offer against actual transactions Got a specific question? Get in touch. { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "headline": "A Buyer's Guide to Finding a Home in the UK", "description": "A plain-English, step-by-step guide to buying a home in the UK - budgeting, mortgage Agreement in Principle, viewings, offers, conveyancing, survey, exchange and completion.", "datePublished": "2026-06-09", "dateModified": "2026-06-09", "author": {"@type": "Person", "name": "Laura at Domovita", "url": "https://domovita.co.uk/team/laura"}, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Domovita", "url": "https://domovita.co.uk/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://domovita.co.uk/images/favicon/web-app-manifest-512x512.png" } }, "mainEntityOfPage": "https://domovita.co.uk/guides/buyer" } { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://domovita.co.uk/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Guides", "item": "https://domovita.co.uk/guides" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "A Buyer's Guide to Finding a Home in the UK", "item": "https://domovita.co.uk/guides/buyer" } ] }