Under 30s: uncertain & uneducated about renting (but help is here)

Renting a home is often quicker, from enquiry to move in, than buying a property but that doesn’t mean it is straightforward.

Survey results published earlier this year revealed many younger tenants are bemused by the whole renting process. The statistics were released before the Renters’ Rights Act came into effect, meaning those questioned now have even more information to process.

The Understanding Renters in 2025 report, produced by Housing Hand, saw

1,700 working professionals and students renting privately across the UK take part in the study.

It was evident Gen Z - those born between 1997 and 2012 and currently aged under 30 – had gaps in their knowledge. For context, the largest age group of private renters in the UK is 25 to 34 year olds, according to the Office for National Statistics. 

Headline findings included

• 45% of Gen Z renters do not understand how a credit score affects their rental options

• 35% did not know what a rent guarantor was when first asked to provide one 

• 50% were not aware of deposit protection schemes

• 59% would not know what to do if they could not pay their rent

• 66% were unsure about how the deposit return process works

Gaps in rental knowledge were expressed in a variety of emotions. Among Gen Z, 26% felt overwhelmed, 20% felt uncertain, 19% felt anxious and 8% felt scared at the start of their property search.

We want our renters to be as informed as possible before they start looking for a property, during the viewing process, while referencing takes place and once moved in. Our team is here to explain each step and answers any questions, especially in light of the Renters’ Rights Act.

As a starting point, here are the core fundamentals when renting a property:

• Preparation - you and your finances: realising what it takes to successfully apply for a rental property. Current employment, debt, financial health, upfront deposit costs and the availability of a guarantor must be taken into account. 

• Search, view & offer: knowing how to pick a property that suits your needs and budget, together with how to get the very best from a viewing and what happens when you make an offer. Renters should understand what the ban on rental bidding looks like in practice, and be clear that they can’t be discriminated against if they have children or receive benefits. 

• Paperwork & checks: providing the information and paperwork needed to secure a tenancy. This will include credit checks, contact made with your employer, ID verification, Right to Rent checks and details of any guarantor available.  

Renters should also know what to look for in a tenancy agreement, understanding that periodic ‘rolling’ tenancies are the only contracts now available. There should also be clear knowledge of the ban on rent in advance and awareness that rent increases are limited to once per year. 

• Expectations & responsibilities: explaining who is responsible for maintenance, which upkeep responsibilities fall to the landlord and how to behave correctly in the property. The latter could be tips on preventing mould, outlining tenant-like behaviour and stating superior landlord covenants, such as not drying laundry on a balcony. 

• Renters’ rights: tenants should understand how the Renters’ Rights Act has changed the eviction process (a ban on Section 21 evictions, new notice periods and new grounds). There should also be awareness regarding new rights regarding pet requests, and what to do if a tenant wants to challenge a landlord’s decision. 

• Moving in and out: renters should realise the importance of check in and check out procedures, especially the initial inventory and how a mid-term inspection can help if there is a deposit dispute.

There’s simply not enough room to cover every rental detail but we have guides and a friendly team to support you every step of the way. If you’re thinking of renting for the very first time, please get in touch.