Renter Costs Calculator
Calculate the true cost of renting in the UK — deposit, first month's rent, moving costs, and your real monthly outgoings.
What does it cost to rent in the UK?
Renting in the UK involves more than just the monthly rent. Before moving in, you will typically need to pay a tenancy deposit (capped at 5 weeks' rent under the Tenant Fees Act 2019), your first month's rent, and moving costs.
Your true monthly cost includes rent, council tax (which tenants pay in most cases), energy bills, water, broadband, and contents insurance. These additional costs can add £300-£500 per month on top of your rent depending on location and property efficiency.
Under the Tenant Fees Act 2019, landlords and agents in England cannot charge tenants for referencing, inventory checks, or administration. The only permitted payments are rent, the capped deposit, and a holding deposit (capped at 1 week's rent).
Frequently asked questions
- How much deposit can a landlord charge?
- Under the Tenant Fees Act 2019, the deposit is capped at 5 weeks' rent for properties with annual rent under £50,000, or 6 weeks' rent above that threshold. The deposit must be protected in a government-approved scheme (TDS, MyDeposits, or DPS) within 30 days.
- What bills do tenants pay in the UK?
- Tenants are typically responsible for council tax, energy (gas and electric), water, broadband, TV licence, and contents insurance. Some rental agreements include certain bills — check your tenancy agreement carefully.
- Can a landlord charge admin or referencing fees?
- No. Since the Tenant Fees Act 2019 came into force in England (June 2019), landlords and letting agents cannot charge tenants for referencing, inventory checks, credit checks, or administration. The only permitted payments are rent, the capped deposit, holding deposit, and charges for tenant-requested changes.
- How much should I budget for renting?
- A common guideline is that rent should be no more than 30% of your gross (pre-tax) household income. Don't forget to budget for council tax, utilities, and contents insurance — these can add £250-£500/month depending on your area and property.
Get a full rental analysis
Open a Rightmove, Zoopla or OnTheMarket rental listing with the free HomeThink browser extension and get AI analysis — tenancy risks, rent comparison, area intelligence, and more.
Estimates only, based on the assumptions you enter and current published rates. Not financial advice. Your actual costs depend on your circumstances and your lender. HomeThink is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and recommends no lender or mortgage.
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