Tenant fees
All fees below comply with the Tenant Fees Act 2019. Letting agents and landlords in England are prohibited from charging tenants any fee not listed in that Act. If you are ever asked for a payment not shown here, please contact us or report it to Trading Standards.
Assured Periodic TenanciesPermitted payments: residential tenancies
Since 1 May 2026, most residential tenancies in England are assured periodic tenancies (APTs) under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025. The following payments are permitted under the Tenant Fees Act 2019:
| Payment | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | As agreed | Paid monthly, on the terms of your tenancy agreement. Rent in advance can only be asked for after you sign the tenancy agreement and before the tenancy starts, and is limited to one month’s rent. |
| Holding deposit | 1 week’s rent | Reserves the property for you while referencing is carried out. On completion it is either returned or credited against your first payment. May be retained if you withdraw, fail a Right to Rent check, provide false information, or miss the signing deadline (usually 15 calendar days). |
| Tenancy deposit | Up to 5 weeks’ rent (6 weeks if annual rent is £50,000 or more) | Protected in a government-approved Tenancy Deposit Protection scheme within 30 calendar days of receipt. Held against damage, unpaid rent, or other losses. Cannot be used to pay rent during the tenancy. |
| Late rent interest | 3% above Bank of England Base Rate | Only charged if your tenancy agreement provides for it, and only once rent is 14 days or more overdue. Interest runs from the day the rent fell due until it has been paid in full. |
| Lost keys / security devices | Reasonable cost | If you lose keys or security devices, you are liable for the reasonable cost of replacing them. If the loss requires a lock change, the costs of a locksmith, new lock, and replacement keys for all parties will be charged to you. We will show you the costs in writing. |
| Variation of contract (at your request) | £50 inc. VAT | To cover the cost of taking the landlord’s instructions and preparing revised legal documentation. Only charged where you have requested a change to the agreed tenancy terms. |
| Change of sharer (at your request) | £50 inc. VAT, or reasonable costs if higher | Covers referencing the replacement tenant, Right to Rent checks, updating the deposit registration, and preparing revised documentation. |
No early termination charges apply for a proper notice to quit. Under the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, tenants may end a periodic tenancy at any time by giving two months’ written notice. Giving proper notice is not an early termination: no re-letting fee or rent shortfall charges apply in those circumstances. If you request to leave before your notice period is up and we agree to release you early, the landlord’s reasonable re-letting costs may apply; we will make these clear in writing before you agree.
Non-Housing Act TenanciesPermitted payments: non-Housing Act tenancies
The Tenant Fees Act 2019 does not apply to tenancies outside the Housing Act 1988, for example, company lets or tenancies where the annual rent exceeds £100,000. For those tenancies, the fees are as follows:
| Fee | Amount (inc. VAT) |
|---|---|
| Tenancy agreement fee | £240 |
| Reference fee | £60 per applicant or guarantor |
| Renewal fee | £120 |
| Check-out fee | £120 |
All TenanciesOther payments you may be responsible for
These are not fees charged by Tessa Lang Property. They are costs you pay directly to third-party suppliers as part of occupying the property:
| Payment | Notes |
|---|---|
| Gas & electricity | Transferred into your name at the start of your tenancy. |
| Water | Transferred into your name at the start of your tenancy. |
| Broadband / telephone | Arranged directly with your chosen provider. |
| Cable / satellite TV | Installation and subscription, where applicable. |
| TV Licence | Required if you watch live TV or use BBC iPlayer. |
| Council Tax | Payable to the local authority. Some properties may be exempt. Check with the council. |
What you cannot be charged
Under the Tenant Fees Act 2019, the following are prohibited. Any agent or landlord who attempts to charge these is breaking the law:
| Prohibited charge |
|---|
| Administration or application fees |
| Referencing fees (charged to tenants) |
| Credit check fees |
| Tenancy setup or documentation fees |
| Check-in or check-out fees (for Housing Act tenancies) |
| Renewal fees (for Housing Act tenancies) |
| Fees for professional cleaning, or a requirement to use a cleaning company (the reasonable, evidenced cost of cleaning can come from the deposit if the property is not returned as clean as it was, allowing for fair wear and tear) |
| Fees above the caps set out above |
This page reflects permitted payments under the Tenant Fees Act 2019 and the Renters’ Rights Act 2025, as in force from 1 May 2026. Tessa Lang Property Ltd is a member of Propertymark Client Money Protection, a government-approved client money protection scheme, and of Property Redress (membership number PRS001836) for redress. This page does not constitute legal advice. Last updated: September 2026.
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