Renting in England Without a UK Credit History: What Newcomers Need to Know
In this guide
- Step 1: Prove your right to rent
- Step 2: Know the fees and deposit rules in England
- Why this matters when you have no credit history
- Step 3: Show the landlord you are reliable without a UK credit record
- Step 4: Protect yourself from rental scams
- Step 5: Sign the agreement and keep records
- What to do once you are settled
- Frequently asked questions
- Key takeaways
- Related guides
- Sources
Quick answer: You can rent in England without a UK credit history. Landlords must check your right to rent, and as a non-British or non-Irish citizen you can prove it with a share code or your original immigration documents. A landlord cannot charge you for most things beyond rent and a refundable deposit, cannot ask for rent before you sign the tenancy agreement, and cannot make you pay for a professional guarantor service. To make up for the missing credit record, offer other evidence of reliability: an employment letter, bank statements, references and, where appropriate, a guarantor.
Renting is often the hardest part of settling in. Agents want proof you can pay, but you have just arrived and your only credit file is back home. This guide covers England only: the right-to-rent rules apply in England, not in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland. The rules on fees and deposits were updated in 2026, so older advice you read online may be out of date. Renting is one step in our first 90 days in a new country plan.
Step 1: Prove your right to rent
Before you can rent a home in England, the landlord or agent must check you are allowed to rent. How you prove it depends on who you are:
| Who you are | What you can use |
|---|---|
| Not a British or Irish citizen | A share code from the online service, or your original immigration documents. You choose which option to use. |
| British or Irish citizen | A British passport (current or expired), an Irish passport or passport card (current or expired), or a certificate of registration or naturalisation as a British citizen. |
| Right of abode holder | A certificate of entitlement, either a vignette sticker in your passport or a digital certificate in your UKVI account (the digital option needs a share code). |
Landlords cannot refuse you for providing an eligible immigration document instead of a share code. If you cannot prove your right to rent, a landlord may request a Home Office right to rent check for non-British or non-Irish citizens, and Commonwealth citizens may be able to get documents through the Windrush Scheme.
The same share code is also used for other early steps, such as opening a UK bank account. Share codes last 90 days, so generate one close to when you need it.
Step 2: Know the fees and deposit rules in England
These rules come from current GOV.UK guidance on the Tenant Fees Act (as amended by the Renters’ Rights Act 2025). Knowing them protects you from being asked for money you do not have to pay.
| Payment | The rule |
|---|---|
| Holding deposit | Capped at one week’s rent per tenancy. It is normally held for 15 calendar days unless you agree otherwise in writing. It must be refunded unless, for example, you fail a right to rent check, withdraw, do not respond, or give false or misleading information. |
| Tenancy deposit | Capped at 5 weeks’ rent if annual rent is under £50,000, or 6 weeks’ if annual rent is £50,000 to £100,000. It must be protected in a government-approved scheme. |
| Rent in advance | No more than one month’s rent, and only after you have signed the tenancy agreement and before the start date. |
| Rent before signing | From 1 May 2026, rent cannot be requested before the tenancy agreement is signed, and rent offered before signing must not be accepted. |
| Tenancy change fee | Up to £50, or more only with evidence of the real cost. |
| Late rent | Interest only once rent is at least 2 weeks overdue, capped at 3% above the Bank of England base rate on the overdue amount. |
Anything not on the permitted list is prohibited. A landlord also cannot require you to take out a loan, insurance or a service contract as a condition of the tenancy. GOV.UK gives examples including professional guarantor services, contents insurance, deposit replacement products and inventory services. You can choose these yourself, but they cannot be forced on you.
Why this matters when you have no credit history
A common tactic for people without a UK credit record used to be offering several months’ rent upfront. Under the 2026 rules, rent cannot be requested or accepted before you sign the agreement, and rent in advance is limited to one month after signing. If someone asks you for much more, or asks for money before you have seen the property and signed anything, treat it as a warning sign and ask for the request in writing. If you have paid a prohibited fee, you can ask for a refund and keep records. Your local council can investigate and fine the landlord, and the First-tier Tribunal can order repayment. Penalties for a first breach can reach £5,000, and up to £30,000 or prosecution for repeat breaches within five years.
Step 3: Show the landlord you are reliable without a UK credit record
There is no single rule for what agents accept, so ask each agent what evidence they need before you apply and before you pay a holding deposit. Practical options include:
- Employment letter or contract showing your job, salary and start date.
- Bank statements from your UK account, or recent statements from your home-country account that show regular income and savings.
- References from a previous landlord or employer, with contact details the agent can check.
- Proof of savings to show you can cover rent while you settle in.
- A guarantor who lives in the UK and agrees to cover rent if you cannot. Note that GOV.UK says guarantor agreements entered into before 1 May 2026 may be affected by the Renters’ Rights Act reforms, and landlord consent may be needed for changes. Independent legal advice may help.
- Your immigration status evidence (share code or documents), so the agent can complete the right to rent check quickly.
Having your paperwork organised makes agents more comfortable. Our checklist of documents to gather before moving abroad covers what to bring so you can answer these requests quickly.
Step 4: Protect yourself from rental scams
Newcomers are targeted by fake listings that ask for a deposit or rent before you view the property. Typical warning signs include pressure to pay immediately, refusal to let you view, requests for payment outside normal channels, and rent far below similar homes. Never pay by gift card or wire transfer to someone you have not verified. See our guide on money transfer scams for how to recognise and report them. In England, a refundable holding deposit is the only money you should pay before signing, and it is capped at one week’s rent.
Step 5: Sign the agreement and keep records
- Read the tenancy agreement carefully, especially fees, notice periods and any default fees, which must be set out in the agreement.
- Check the deposit is within the cap and will be protected in an approved scheme.
- Keep receipts for every payment.
- Ask for clarification in writing if anything is unclear.
What to do once you are settled
As soon as you have an address, you can finish other newcomer tasks such as registering with a GP and getting a National Insurance number. Paying rent on time from a UK account also helps you build a local financial record over time; see how to build a UK credit history.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a UK credit history to rent in England?
There is no law that says you must have one, but agents and landlords may want other evidence of your ability to pay. Offer employment, savings and reference documents and ask what the agent accepts.
Can a landlord refuse me because I am a foreigner?
They must check your right to rent, and they cannot refuse you for giving an eligible immigration document instead of a share code. Contact Citizens Advice or Shelter if you believe you are being treated unfairly.
Can I pay several months’ rent upfront instead?
Not before you sign the tenancy agreement, and not more than one month’s rent in advance after signing, under current England rules.
Can the landlord make me use a guarantor service?
No. A landlord cannot require you to pay for a professional guarantor service as a condition of the tenancy.
Does this apply in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?
No. The right to rent checks apply in England only, and other nations have their own tenancy rules.
Key takeaways
- You can rent without a UK credit history; prepare other evidence instead.
- Prove right to rent with a share code or original immigration documents.
- No rent before signing; max one month in advance; deposits are capped.
- You cannot be forced to buy a guarantor service or insurance.
Related guides
- Your first 90 days in a new country
- How to build a UK credit history
- How to open a UK bank account as a newcomer
- How to get a National Insurance number
- Renting in the USA as a new immigrant
This article is general information about England, not legal advice. Rules were last checked on GOV.UK in October 2026 and may change, so confirm with GOV.UK, Citizens Advice or Shelter before you pay. Last updated: October 2026.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Prove your right to rent
- GOV.UK: Tenant Fees Act 2019 guidance for tenants
- GOV.UK: Fees you can charge as part of a tenancy