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Step 7 · Starting a tenancy
Rent in advance
No more than one month, and only once the tenancy is agreed.
What you need to know
- You can require no more than one month's rent in advance, and only after the tenancy is agreed and before it starts.
Recent law changes
- 1 May 2026: Renters' Rights Act in force (England). Section 21 abolished; tenancies became periodic; rent increases by section 13 only; rental bidding, "No DSS" and "No children" banned; rent in advance limited; new pet request rules.
Source: GOV.UK: Guide to the Renters' Rights Act. Checked 31 Oct 2026. General information, not legal advice.