Can a UK landlord charge fees that aren't in the tenancy agreement?

No. Under the Tenant Fees Act 2019, landlords and agents in England can only charge permitted payments: rent, a tenancy deposit (capped at 5 weeks' rent for most tenancies), a holding deposit (capped at 1 week's rent), and certain default charges. Any clause requiring additional fees is unlawful.

Is my AST automatically a 6-month tenancy?

Not necessarily, but the minimum notice period for a Section 21 (no-fault eviction) notice in England is now changing under the Renters' Rights Act. LeaseScan flags any break clause or notice provisions that may be shorter than the statutory minimum or that conflict with current law.

Does LeaseScan cover Scotland and Northern Ireland?

Yes. LeaseScan analyses Scottish tenancies against the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 (Private Residential Tenancy regime) and Northern Ireland tenancies against the Private Tenancies (Northern Ireland) Order 2006. Select your jurisdiction on the scan page before uploading.

UK Tenancy Law

UK Tenancy Agreement Review — Know Before You Sign

Q: What is the maximum deposit a UK landlord can charge?

Under the Tenant Fees Act 2019, if the annual rent is under £50,000, the tenancy deposit is capped at 5 weeks' rent. For annual rents of £50,000 or more, the cap is 6 weeks' rent. Deposits must be protected in a government-approved scheme within 30 days of receipt.

Upload your AST or paste the text. LeaseScan checks every clause against the Housing Act 1988, Tenant Fees Act 2019, and the Renters' Rights Act — and tells you exactly what to worry about.

Analyse My UK Tenancy → View pricing

Housing Act 1988 Tenant Fees Act 2019 Renters' Rights Act England, Scotland & NI

Legal Context

What UK Tenancy Law Says

UK residential tenancy law has changed significantly in recent years. Here are the key areas LeaseScan checks your agreement against.

Tenant Fees Act 2019

Deposit & Fee Caps

Landlords and agents in England may only charge a tenancy deposit capped at 5 weeks' rent (or 6 weeks if annual rent exceeds £50,000). Any clause requiring an administration fee, inventory fee, or check-out fee is unlawful under the Act.

Tenant Fees Act 2019, ss.3–4 (England); Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016

Housing Act 1988

Section 21 & Eviction Notices

Section 21 no-fault eviction notices are being abolished by the Renters' Rights Act. Any clause purporting to permit no-fault eviction on less than the statutory notice period, or that waives tenant protections under s.11 (repairing obligations), is unenforceable.

Housing Act 1988, ss.11–16; Renters' Rights Act 2025

Homes Act 2018

Fitness for Human Habitation

Under the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018, landlords must ensure the property is fit for habitation at the start of and throughout the tenancy. Clauses limiting this liability or requiring tenants to waive inspection rights may be unenforceable.

Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018, s.2

Housing Act 2004

Deposit Protection

Deposits must be protected in a government-approved scheme (DPS, MyDeposits, or TDS) within 30 days of receipt, and the tenant must be given the prescribed information. Failure means the landlord cannot serve a valid Section 21 notice and may owe the tenant 1–3× the deposit amount.

Housing Act 2004, ss.212–215; Localism Act 2011

Sample Report

What a UK Lease Analysis Looks Like

LeaseScan flags issues by severity — Critical (potential legal breach), Warning (unfair term), or Fair (within normal range).

Sample — UK AST Analysis

⚠ Critical

Clause 8.3 — Inventory & Check-Out Fee

"Tenant shall pay a £250 check-out fee and a £150 inventory fee at the end of the tenancy." This clause is unlawful. Under the Tenant Fees Act 2019, only permitted payments may be charged. Inventory and check-out fees are prohibited default charges.

▲ Warning

Clause 4.1 — Landlord Entry

"The landlord may enter the property at any time with 24 hours' notice." While 24 hours is standard, the clause does not include the tenant's right to refuse entry in non-emergency circumstances, which may be considered an unfair term under the Consumer Rights Act 2015.

✓ Fair

Clause 2.1 — Rent Review

"Rent may be reviewed annually with 2 months' written notice." This is consistent with standard market practice and the notice period exceeds the statutory minimum. No issues identified.

Jurisdiction Coverage

UK Jurisdiction Coverage

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 England

Housing Act 1988 · Tenant Fees Act 2019 · Renters' Rights Act · Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Wales

Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 · Housing (Wales) Act 2014 · Fitness for Human Habitation provisions

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotland

Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 · Private Residential Tenancy regime · Letting Agent Code of Practice

🇬🇧 Northern Ireland

Private Tenancies (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 · Houses in Multiple Occupation Act (NI) 2016

🏠 HMO Properties

Housing Act 2004, Part 2 · Mandatory HMO Licensing requirements · Additional amenity standards

📋 Common Clauses Flagged

Unlawful fees · Deposit cap breaches · Illegal entry rights · Unenforceable repair waivers · Notice period violations

Common Questions

UK Tenancy FAQ

What UK tenancy laws does LeaseScan check against?

LeaseScan checks your tenancy agreement against the Housing Act 1988, the Tenant Fees Act 2019, the Renters' Rights Act, the Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018, and local authority licensing requirements for England. Scottish tenancies are checked against the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006, and Northern Ireland against the Private Tenancies (NI) Order 2006.

Can a UK landlord charge fees not listed in the Tenant Fees Act?

No. Under the Tenant Fees Act 2019, only permitted payments may be charged in England: rent, a capped tenancy deposit, a holding deposit (capped at 1 week's rent), and certain default charges. Any clause requiring administration fees, inventory fees, or check-out fees is unlawful. LeaseScan flags these automatically.

What is the maximum deposit a UK landlord can charge?

Under the Tenant Fees Act 2019, the deposit is capped at 5 weeks' rent for tenancies with an annual rent under £50,000, or 6 weeks' rent for higher-value tenancies. Deposits must be protected in an approved scheme (DPS, MyDeposits, or TDS) within 30 days of receipt.

Does LeaseScan cover the new Renters' Rights Act?

Yes. LeaseScan's UK analysis includes checks for provisions that conflict with the Renters' Rights Act, including clauses relating to no-fault eviction, rent increases, and fixed-term tenancy restrictions. The Act abolishes Section 21 evictions and introduces a new periodic tenancy regime.

Is LeaseScan legal advice?

No. LeaseScan is an informational tool that flags potential issues in your tenancy agreement. It is not a substitute for legal advice. If a clause is flagged as Critical, we recommend consulting a qualified solicitor or contacting Shelter, Citizens Advice, or your local council's housing team before signing.

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