Guides

1. 1

   Get ready to let

   Licences, safety checks and the paperwork to have in place.

   • Compliance checklist for letting rooms Safety certificates, alarms, Right to Rent checks, deposits, licensing and fire safety: what you need before and during a room let in England. 2 min read
   • HMO licensing: do you need one? When a shared house needs a licence, minimum room sizes, additional licensing, and the exemptions for housing associations and some other bodies. 2 min read
   New tenancy checklist
2. 2

   List your room

   Photos, wording and a price tenants on benefits can afford.

   • Writing a room listing that gets enquiries Photos, titles, descriptions and pricing that help your room stand out, and how the listing quality score works. 2 min read
   • Listing supported or exempt accommodation For RSLs, charities, councils, housing providers and managing agents: how to list supported housing where rent is paid through Housing Benefit and the tenant pays a service charge. 2 min read
   Room rates by area
3. 3

   Let to tenants on benefits

   How Universal Credit pays, and what to do if rent is late.

   • Letting rooms to tenants on Universal Credit How Universal Credit housing costs work, when you can get rent paid straight to you, and what to do if a tenant falls behind. 2 min read
   Tenants seeking rooms
4. 4

   Supported housing

   For housing associations, charities and providers.

   • Service charges and housing association lettings For providers: how rent, eligible and ineligible service charges and benefits fit together, and how to list a room as a weekly service charge. 2 min read
   • Exempt and transitional housing explained Supported housing where the rent is paid through Housing Benefit and you pay a service charge: who it is for, every benefit that can help, who can provide it, and the new licensing rules. 13 min read
   List a room free

Printable templates

• Inventory and check-in templateA printable room-by-room inventory with meter readings, keys and signatures.
• New tenancy checklistA printable checklist of the documents to give and the checks to do before a tenant moves in.
• Rent payment recordA printable 12-month record of rent due and paid, including Universal Credit managed payments.

These guides are general information, mostly for England, and not legal or financial advice. Rules change, so check GOV.UK or speak to an adviser such as Citizens Advice or Shelter about your situation.