Material information
The facts about a home a person needs to decide whether to rent or buy it, such as the rent or price, council tax band, EPC and any known risks, which an advert must not leave out.
In short: Material information is what an average renter or buyer needs to make an informed choice about a property. Consumer protection law treats leaving it out of an advert as misleading. Trading Standards guidance splits it into the basics (price or rent, deposit, council tax, tenure) and further facts such as utilities and flood risk.
Finding a tenantSelling a home
England. Checked against the law on 5 October 2026. Information, not legal advice.
The legal basis is the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (which replaced the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 from April 2025): a trader must not mislead by action or omission. The National Trading Standards guidance for property listings groups material information in three parts:
- Part A: price or rent, deposit, council tax band, tenure.
- Part B: property type, construction, utilities, parking, broadband and mobile signal.
- Part C: things that apply to some homes, such as flood risk, building safety, restrictions, rights of way and accessibility.
It applies to agents and, in many cases, landlords letting as a business. "Not known" is an honest answer; leaving something out to make a home look better is not.
Related: Energy performance certificate (EPC), Council tax liability, Rental bidding ban
Where this comes from
Guides on this
Guide
Deposits: the cap, the 30 days and the prescribed information
A tenancy deposit in England is capped at five weeks' rent, must be protected in a government-approved scheme within 30 days, and the tenant must get the prescribed information. Miss any of that and you face a penalty of up to three times the deposit.
Guide
Rent in advance and rent bidding: what the Renters’ Rights Act allows
Since 1 May 2026 you cannot take rent before the tenancy agreement is signed, can take at most one month's rent before it starts, and cannot invite or accept offers above the rent you advertised.
Guide
First-time landlord checklist for England
From deciding to let to the first rent arriving: the consents, safety checks, licence, right to rent, written statement, deposit, inventory, landlord database and tax, in order, as the law stands after 1 May 2026.
Guide
Selling a home that is let: with the tenant in place or empty
Sell with the tenant staying, or empty. Without the tenant's agreement, ground 1A needs four months' notice and cannot be used in the first year. Plus the EPC and the 60-day tax deadline.
Related terms
Glossary
Unique property reference number (UPRN)
A number of up to 12 digits that identifies every addressable place in Great Britain, such as a home, a flat or a building, for its whole life.
Glossary
Client money protection (CMP)
Cover that repays landlords and tenants if an agent loses or misuses money it holds for them. Compulsory for agents in England that hold client money.
Glossary
Energy performance certificate (EPC)
A certificate rating a home's energy efficiency from A (best) to G, valid for ten years. Needed before a home is let or sold, and shown in adverts.
Glossary
Freehold
Owning a property and the land it stands on outright, with no time limit. Most houses in England are freehold.
Glossary
Ground rent
A yearly payment a leaseholder makes to the freeholder under the lease. For most new long residential leases since 30 June 2022 it is limited to a peppercorn (nothing).
Glossary
Guarantor
A person who promises in writing to pay the rent, or cover other losses, if the tenant does not. Often asked of students or people on a lower income.