There are many different types of housing available to rent privately. You might be looking to rent a self contained flat or house, or just a room.

This section tells you what to consider when deciding whether or not to rent privately. It gives information about what it will cost to rent and explains how to find a place. It explains about landlord registration & licensing and gives information about letting agents.

1. Search online
Use the internet to search for a place to rent. Popular websites advertising house shares and homes to rent include:

• Rightmove
• Zoopla
• Spareroom
• Gumtree

You may find local websites or social media sites advertising places to rent. When using these sites, never pay any money without seeing the property first.

2. Use a letting agent
Use a letting agency to help you find a home to rent. Be aware that you might need to pay a fee once they have found you somewhere.

3. Check or advertise locally
Look in local papers, magazines, shop windows and notice boards. You could also place an advert yourself.

4. Contact your local council
Your local council housing options service should be able to help you (especially if you need a landlord who accepts housing benefit or universal credit housing cost payments).

Private housing for rent can vary greatly in quality, size, price and services. Think carefully about the sort of place that will suit you before you start looking around.

You need to be realistic about what you are prepared to accept. In some areas of the country it is easy to find affordable places to rent but in other areas there may be very little available within your price range.

Have a look at our checklist Getting the right place to help you think about where to rent.

Private places are often let quickly. If you find somewhere you might be interested in:

• ring the landlord or letting agent as soon as you can
• ask as much as possible about the property to decide whether it is suitable
• ask the landlord if they are registered and have a licence under the Rent Smart Wales scheme. If you are dealing with a letting agent, ask the agent if they have a licence
• if you’re still interested, arrange to visit the accommodation as soon as possible – before you agree to anything
• get another person to go with you to view the property and let someone else know where you are going
• have details of referees or references ready
• be prepared to supply a deposit (but don’t carry large amounts of cash and always get a receipt) and be sure you view the property before handing over any money.

Print off and take with you our ‘Staying safe renting a private property : 10 Top Tips‘.

If the landlord or letting agent refuses to rent the property to you, or tries to charge you a higher rent than others in the property, they might be discriminating against you. Have a look at this Open Doors project YouTube video to find out more about your rights.

During the viewing, check that:

• the property is secure
• the heating, lighting and plumbing works
• any furniture is in a good state of repair.

If other people live there, try to meet them to see if you will get on with them.

Take a look at our Viewing a property checklist for ideas about other things you should look at before deciding whether to rent a place.

You should find out as much as you can about the costs of the accommodation before you agree to move in or sign anything. This includes:

• how much is the rent?
• does the rent include bills?
• how much is the council tax?
• how much are the bills (in winter and in summer)?
• are the bills shared with other people?

Renting privately can be expensive.

Use a budget planner to work out if you can afford the accommodation.

It is usual to have to pay a deposit and rent in advance, when you sign the tenancy agreement. Landlords normally ask for one month’s rent in advance and one month’s deposit, although it can be more than this. Make sure you ask how much these are before you sign anything.

The landlord or letting agent may also ask you to pay letting fees (or ‘admin fees’). For example, to prepare the tenancy agreement or to hold a property for you whilst they check out any references. The letting agent should clearly display any fees and you shouldn’t have to pay any fees before you have signed a tenancy agreement.

From the 1st September 2019 certain letting fees will be banned in Wales and it will be an offence for a landlord or agent to try and charge them. These pages will be updated with more information soon, but, in the meantime, have a look at our campaign page here.

If you are on benefits or have a low income you may be able to get housing benefit or universal credit housing costs to help you pay the rent. If your income isn’t too high you may be able to get help even if you are working. However, it can sometimes be difficult to find a landlord who lets accommodation to tenants who claim benefit.

It is possible to check what the maximum housing benefit would be before agreeing to move in. You can do this by checking the local housing allowance for your area. But remember that you may not be eligible for the maximum amount if your income or savings are too high.

Landlords often ask potential tenants to provide references to prove that you are reliable and will be able to afford the rent. This usually means providing bank details and/or a letter from your employer confirming employment. Sometimes landlords request character references or references from former landlords. If you are taking on a tenancy for the first time, a landlord might accept a reference from a parent or guardian.

You might be asked to provide a guarantor for the rent. This is more common for young people. A guarantor is someone who agrees to pay the rent if you do not.

When you have found a suitable place and paid the necessary charges, you will usually be given a tenancy agreement to sign before you move in. This states the rights and responsibilities that you and your landlord will have during the tenancy. You should check it carefully before you sign it, and get advice if you are unsure about anything it says.

Private tenants usually have fewer rights than people who rent from councils or housing associations, but all tenants have certain basic rights under the law, even if they don’t have a written agreement. Your landlord can’t take away these basic rights, regardless of what your tenancy agreement says. Even if the landlord doesn’t give you a written tenancy agreement, you still have legal rights.

Most new private tenancies are assured shorthold tenancies but there are other types of tenancy in the private sector. If you’re not sure what type of tenancy you have, contact a Shelter Cymru adviser or look at our pages on private tenancies.