Renting your first place can feel like a lot, especially with things like deposits, referencing and contracts to think about. But the good news is, with the right prep, the process can be simpler than it might seem at first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First off, what’s happening in the rental market right now? Every three months, we take an in-depth look at what\u2019s happening in the rental market<\/a> to understand how prices are changing across Great Britain, and to get an idea of how competitive the market is for tenants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the final three months of 2025, average rents fell slightly, by 1.1% or \u00a315 \u2013 this was only the second time in the last five years that we\u2019ve recorded a quarterly drop. And while rents remain higher than a year ago, the pace of increase has slowed significantly. Annual rental growth in 2025 was +2.2% (+\u00a329), making it the slowest end-of-year growth since 2018, and a clear shift away from the sharp rises seen in recent years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At the same time, the level of competition between renters has eased. The average number of enquiries per property fell from 14 in 2024 to 10 in 2025. Overall, we\u2019re in a market that\u2019s calmer and more predictable, which might be reassuring if you\u2019re thinking of moving in 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this guide, we\u2019ll break down:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether you\u2019re moving out for the first time or just want a clearer idea of the process, this guide is for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Renting means paying to live in a property owned by a landlord, and manged by either themselves or a letting agent. While these tenancies were previously fixed term (such as for 6 or 12 months), the Renters\u2019 Rights Act will now mean you\u2019ll rent a home on a \u2018rolling\u2019 basis – giving you more freedom to stay or leave the property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unlike buying a home, you won\u2019t:<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is one of the most asked questions, and one of the biggest things to consider when you\u2019re looking to rent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In most cases, you\u2019ll need:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Example: If rent is \u00a31,200 per month, you might need to pay around \u00a32,500\u2013\u00a33,000 upfront.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In terms of how much rent you might be able to afford and other costs to consider, we take a closer look at renting affordability in more detail here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ll also need to budget for things like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n A step-by-step guide to securing a rental home:<\/p>\n\n\n\n This can all happen in a matter of days, so it can be beneficial to get ready. You can also track your progress towards moving into a rented property by filling in your personal renter checklist<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite competition easing compared to a few years ago, renting is still highly competitive in many parts of the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even though supply has improved and price increases have slowed, demand is still strong – with multiple renters often competing for the same property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That means:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
What does renting actually mean?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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How much does it cost to get a place to rent?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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How the renting process works<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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How competitive is renting right now?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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