Facts
Renting in England: the key figures
The numbers that matter, each with the law it comes from. Checked on 29 September 2026. Quote them freely with a link to this page.
| What | The figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Most a tenancy deposit can be | 5 weeks of rent (6 weeks when the yearly rent is £50,000 or more) | Tenant Fees Act 2019, sch 1 |
| Most a holding deposit can be | 1 week of rent | Tenant Fees Act 2019, sch 2 |
| Time to protect a deposit | 30 days from receiving it, with the prescribed information | Housing Act 2004, s.213 |
| Penalty for not protecting a deposit | 1 to 3 times the deposit | Housing Act 2004, s.214 |
| Rent increases | Once in 12 months, on Form 4A, with at least 2 months' notice | Housing Act 1988, s.13 |
| A tenant's notice to leave | 2 months | Housing Act 1988 (as amended 2026) |
| Selling or moving in (grounds 1 and 1A) | 4 months' notice, not in the first 12 months of a tenancy | Housing Act 1988, sch 2 |
| Serious rent arrears (ground 8) | 3 months owed, 4 weeks' notice | Housing Act 1988, sch 2 |
| Gas safety check | Every 12 months; copy to the tenant within 28 days | Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, reg 36 |
| Electrical report (EICR) | At least every 5 years; remedial work within 28 days | SI 2020/312 |
| Minimum EPC rating to let | E (unless an exemption is registered) | SI 2015/962 |
| Private Rented Sector Database | Opens by region from 15 December 2026; every home registered by 14 November 2027; £65 a home a year | GOV.UK |
| Civil penalty for many housing offences | Up to £40,000 (from 1 May 2026) | Housing Act 2004, s.249A |
| Rent repayment order | Up to 2 years of rent (from 1 May 2026) | Housing and Planning Act 2016, s.44 |