Quick Answer

PCM stands for Per Calendar Month. It means the rent is quoted as a monthly amount paid on the same date each month. Example: £1,200 PCM means you pay £1,200 every calendar month. This is different from weekly rent — to convert PCM to weekly, multiply by 12 then divide by 52. £1,200 PCM = £1,200 × 12 ÷ 52 = £276.92 per week.

Quick Answer

The How to Rent guide is a government document that landlords in England must provide to tenants at the start of a tenancy. It explains tenants’ rights and responsibilities, what landlords must provide, and what happens at the end of a tenancy. Failure to provide the current version of the guide means the landlord cannot serve a valid Section 21 notice. Download the latest version free at gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-rent. The guide is updated periodically — landlords must always provide the current version.

Quick Answer

For assured shorthold tenancies (the most common type), the landlord can only increase rent: at the end of a fixed term (by agreeing a new contract), or during a periodic tenancy by serving a Section 13 notice (giving at least 2 months’ notice of the increase). The increase must be to a market rate — not above market. Tenants can challenge excessive increases at a First-tier Tribunal (Property Chamber). There is no legal cap on how much rent can be increased — but it must reflect market rates.

Quick Answer

There is no statutory maximum rent increase in the private sector in England (Scotland has different rules). The landlord can increase to any amount but: they must give proper notice (2 months for periodic tenancy), the increase must not be above market rate, and tenants can challenge the amount at a First-tier Tribunal. In practice, large above-market increases can be challenged and reduced by the tribunal. Rent increases can only happen once every 12 months.

Quick Answer

For council and social housing tenants, a landlord can begin possession proceedings after 8 weeks (2 months) of rent arrears. This is mandatory ground for possession (Ground 8) — if arrears are still 8 weeks or more at the court hearing, the court must grant possession. If arrears are below 8 weeks at the hearing, the court has discretion. Always contact your housing officer immediately if you fall into arrears — a repayment plan avoids eviction in most cases.

Quick Answer

Ground rent is an annual charge paid by a leaseholder to the freeholder for use of the land the property sits on. It is different from service charges (which pay for building maintenance). Ground rent amounts vary from £10/year to thousands. Some leases include doubling ground rent clauses — which are now banned for new leases under the Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act 2022. New residential leases granted after 30 June 2022 must have zero ground rent (peppercorn).

Quick Answer

Peppercorn rent is a nominal ground rent of effectively zero — historically a literal peppercorn, now used in law to mean a ground rent so small it has no real value. Since the Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act 2022, all new residential leases in England and Wales must charge peppercorn (zero) ground rent. Existing leases with ground rent above zero are not retrospectively affected, but landlords cannot increase them.

Quick Answer

Key steps to rent out your property: (1) Check your mortgage — you need consent from your lender or a buy-to-let mortgage. (2) Notify your insurer — standard home insurance is invalid when renting; you need landlord insurance. (3) Complete legal safety checks: gas safety certificate (annually), EPC (minimum E rating), electrical installation condition report (every 5 years), smoke and CO alarms. (4) Register with your local council if an HMO. (5) Reference your tenants. (6) Use a tenancy agreement — AST for most residential lettings. (7) Place deposit in a government-approved scheme (TDS, DPS, or MyDeposits).

Quick Answer

Research comparable rental properties in your area on Rightmove, Zoopla and SpareRoom. Set rent at the market rate — too high and it sits empty; too low and you leave money on the table. Consider: location, property size, condition, furnished vs unfurnished, bills included or not. A local letting agent can give you a free rental valuation based on current demand in your area.

Quick Answer

Rent to rent is a property strategy where you rent a property from a landlord and then sublet it to tenants at a higher rent, keeping the difference as profit. Example: rent a house for £800/month, convert to an HMO, sublet 4 rooms at £400 each = £1,600 income. Key requirements: explicit written permission from the landlord (most mortgages prohibit subletting without consent), landlord must know about and approve the arrangement, HMO licensing may be required. Rent to rent without landlord permission is illegal and can result in eviction and prosecution.

Quick Answer

Rent to buy (also called Rent Now, Buy Later) is a government-backed scheme where you rent a newly built home at below-market rent (typically 80% of market rate) for up to 5 years. The idea is to save the difference between the subsidised rent and market rent to build a deposit. At the end, you have priority to buy the home via shared ownership or outright purchase. Available in England through housing associations — check at homes.digital/find-a-home.

Quick Answer

The standard rule: rent should not exceed 30% of your gross monthly income. On a £30,000 salary (£2,500/month gross): 30% = £750/month maximum rent. On a £40,000 salary (£3,333/month gross): 30% = £1,000/month maximum. Landlords and letting agents typically require your annual salary to be 30× the monthly rent — so a £1,000/month rental requires £30,000/year income.

PCM = Per Calendar Month. Rent is paid monthly on the same date. To convert to weekly: multiply by 12 then divide by 52. £1,200 PCM = £276.92/week.

A government document landlords must give tenants at the start of every tenancy in England. Without it, a Section 21 eviction notice is invalid. Download free at gov.uk.

There is no legal maximum in England's private sector. The increase must be to market rate. Two months’ notice required for periodic tenancies. Tenants can challenge excessive increases at a First-tier Tribunal.

An annual charge paid by leaseholders to the freeholder for use of the land. New residential leases granted after 30 June 2022 must charge zero (peppercorn) ground rent.

A nominal ground rent of effectively zero. All new residential leases in England and Wales since June 2022 must charge peppercorn rent.

Get consent from your mortgage lender, switch to landlord insurance, obtain gas safety certificate, EPC and EICR, reference your tenants, use an AST, and protect the deposit in an approved scheme within 30 days.

Renting a property from a landlord and subletting at a higher rent to keep the difference. Requires explicit written landlord permission. Without it, it is illegal.

The 30% rule: rent should not exceed 30% of gross monthly income. Most landlords require annual salary of at least 30x the monthly rent.

Research comparable rentals on Rightmove and Zoopla. Set at market rate. A local letting agent can provide a free rental valuation.

A government scheme where you rent a new-build at 80% market rate for up to 5 years to save a deposit. At the end you have priority to buy via shared ownership or outright purchase.