Straight answers to the questions tenants actually ask — deposits, fees, council tax, guarantors, viewings and staying safe. Written for London renters and kept in line with UK rental law.
Yes — searching, messaging landlords and agents, and requesting viewings on Instamove is completely free for tenants. You'll never pay Instamove to find or enquire about a room. Under the Tenant Fees Act 2019 it's also illegal for landlords or letting agents in England to charge you most fees (admin, referencing or 'renewal' fees): the only payments they can ask for are rent, a refundable tenancy deposit, a holding deposit, and a few specific costs such as replacing a lost key.
It varies a lot by zone and area. As a rough guide, a double room in a flatshare typically runs from around £700–£900/month in outer London (zones 4–6), £900–£1,300 in inner London (zones 2–3), and £1,300+ in central or prime areas. 'Bills included' rooms cost a little more but save you setting up utilities. Use Instamove's budget and travel-time filters to see what's realistic for your price range and commute before you start enquiring.
For an Assured Shorthold Tenancy in England the deposit is capped at 5 weeks' rent (6 weeks if the annual rent is £50,000+). Your landlord must protect it in a government-approved Tenancy Deposit Scheme — the Deposit Protection Service, MyDeposits or the Tenancy Deposit Scheme — within 30 days and give you the scheme details. At the end you should get it back minus any fair deductions for damage or unpaid rent; if you disagree, the scheme offers a free dispute-resolution service.
A holding deposit reserves a property while referencing is done. By law it can be no more than 1 week's rent, and it must be put towards your first month's rent or deposit once you move in (or refunded if the landlord pulls out). You can only lose it in limited cases — for example if you fail Right to Rent checks, give false information, or back out yourself.
Usually: photo ID / passport (landlords must run a Right to Rent check confirming you can legally rent in the UK), proof of income (recent payslips, or accounts/bank statements if self-employed), references from a previous landlord and/or employer, and sometimes a guarantor. Having these ready as PDFs speeds things up enormously — good London rooms can go within a day or two.
A guarantor agrees to cover your rent if you can't pay. Landlords often ask for one if you're a student, new to the UK, or your income is below their threshold (commonly around 30× the monthly rent in annual salary). A guarantor is usually a UK-based homeowner or someone in stable employment. No guarantor? Paid guarantor services can act as one for a fee, or some landlords accept a few months' rent up front instead.
Usually yes — unless you're a full-time student (students are exempt). If you live alone you get a 25% single-person discount. In many shared houses (HMOs) the landlord pays the council tax and builds it into the rent, so check the listing or ask — it makes a real difference to your monthly cost.
It means your rent covers some or all utilities so you don't set them up yourself. Exactly what's included varies, so always confirm the specifics: typically gas, electricity, water and Wi-Fi, and sometimes council tax. Ask whether there's a 'fair usage' cap on energy. Bills-included rooms cost slightly more but make budgeting simple — handy if you're new to the city.
On any listing, tap 'Request a viewing' and share a few details (your name, your move-in date, your occupation). The landlord or agent gets your request instantly and replies to arrange a time — many offer evening and weekend slots, and some do video viewings if you're moving from out of town. You can also message them first with questions. It's all free.
A few golden rules: never pay any money before you've viewed the property in person (or on a live video call) and seen a written tenancy agreement; be wary of below-market 'too good to be true' prices and landlords who are 'abroad' and can't show you the place; never pay by cash, crypto, or bank transfer to an unverified individual; and check your deposit will be protected in a government scheme. If anything feels off, walk away and report the listing to us.
Most London flatshares are let on Assured Shorthold Tenancies of 6 or 12 months, though plenty of rooms offer shorter or rolling monthly terms. To leave before the fixed term ends you usually need a break clause in the contract (often allowing you to leave after the first few months with notice) or the landlord's agreement to find a replacement. Always check the minimum term and notice period before you commit.
A room in a flatshare means you rent one bedroom and share the kitchen, bathroom and living space with housemates — the cheapest and most social option. A studio is a self-contained single room with your own kitchenette and bathroom — private but pricier. A whole flat or house gives you (and anyone you rent with) the entire place. Instamove lets you filter by property type so you only see what suits you.
It depends where you work or study. As a rule of thumb rents fall the further out you go (zones 4–6), but a strong transport link can make an outer area very convenient. Rather than guess, use Instamove's 'search by travel time' feature — enter where you need to get to and your maximum commute, and we'll show only rooms that fit within that journey, with nearby stations and walk times shown on every listing.
Yes — use the 'Pet friendly' and 'Couple friendly' filters to find rooms that welcome them. On benefits: blanket 'No DSS' bans have been ruled unlawful discrimination by the courts, so a landlord shouldn't refuse you purely because you receive housing benefit or Universal Credit — they should assess you on affordability, like any other applicant.
London moves fast. Most rooms are advertised as available within 2–4 weeks, so searching many months ahead turns up limited stock. The sweet spot is to start looking around 2–3 weeks before your ideal move-in date, have your documents ready, and be quick to request viewings — good rooms at fair prices often go within a day or two.
An AST is the standard private-rental contract in England. It gives you the right to live in the property for a fixed term (commonly 6–12 months) and sets out the rent, deposit, notice periods and each side's responsibilities. After the fixed term it usually rolls on as a 'periodic' tenancy. Always read your AST before signing and keep a copy — it's your main protection if there's ever a dispute.
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