May 23rd 2026

5 Things to consider when renting

Articles / 5 Things to consider when renting

When comparing renting with buying, the monthly cost is only part of the decision. These are 5 practical things to consider if you rent privately in England under the rules that changed from 1 May 2026.

Private renting rules differ across the UK. If you rent in Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland, check the guidance for that nation before relying on England-specific tenancy rules.

Flexibility

One of the main advantages of renting is that you can usually move without having to sell a property first. For many renters in England, assured periodic tenancies, which are rolling tenancies between a private landlord and tenant, now run without a fixed end date.

GOV.UK says tenants can normally end an assured periodic tenancy by giving 2 months' notice, unless a shorter notice period has been agreed. You still need to give notice in the correct way and keep paying rent during the notice period.

Buying and selling a home can take several months or longer. You might not sell at the price you want, or the buyer might pull out and leave you starting again.

Feeling like home

When renting, you may not be allowed to decorate, change fixtures, or make permanent changes without permission. That can make it harder to make the place feel like home, especially if the property comes with the landlord's style and design choices.

Your tenancy terms should explain what changes are allowed. GOV.UK has guidance on assured periodic tenancies, and advice organisations can help if you are unsure how your agreement applies.

Mental stress

Renting a place can sometimes mean more stress for some people, and less for others, because it can be stressful not being fully in control of where you live. Your rent can still rise, and a landlord can still seek possession if they have a valid legal ground, for example if they want to sell the property or move into it.

The rules are different from the old assured shorthold tenancy model. For assured periodic tenancies in England, landlords cannot use a section 21 notice, the old no-fault eviction notice, from 1 May 2026. Rent increases normally use Form 4A, the official form for proposing a new rent, with at least 2 months' notice. You may be able to challenge a proposed rent if it is above open market rent, which means the rent the landlord could expect if they let the property again.

Not stuck forever

On the other hand, whilst renting, you do not need to worry whether the property is going to be your forever home. If the property is not the right size, the commute changes, or the layout does not work for you, it is usually simpler to move than it would be if you owned the property.

That flexibility still has costs. Moving can mean deposit timing, removals, new utility setup, broadband changes, and time spent searching for somewhere suitable.

Pets

If you want to keep a pet in an assured periodic tenancy in England, GOV.UK says you need to ask your landlord in writing and include a description of the pet.

Landlords cannot refuse without a fair reason. They normally have 28 days to respond in writing, although they can ask for more information about the pet before making a final decision.

Compare the numbers

If you want to compare the financial side of renting vs buying, use the Rent vs Buy Calculator. You can also try the Renting Calculator to estimate the cost of renting a property.