The rental bidding ban in England

From 1 May 2026, landlords and letting agents in England have to publish an asking rent for a property and cannot ask for, encourage or accept offers above it. This is the rental bidding ban in the Renters' Rights Act 2025.

What is banned

• Asking for offers above the advertised rent.
• Encouraging offers above the advertised rent.
• Accepting offers above the advertised rent.

What a landlord has to do

Publish an asking rent for the property, and let the property at no more than that rent.

Penalties and enforcement

GOV.UK says local councils can impose civil penalties of up to £7,000 for breaches, and repeated or continued breaches can attract more than one penalty. GOV.UK also points tenants to the Private Rented Sector Ombudsman and to letting agent redress schemes. The Ombudsman is being introduced in a later phase of the Act, so check GOV.UK for its current status.

When it started

Law-firm and trade summaries of the government's roadmap place it in phase one, from 1 May 2026. The GOV.UK guide itself gives no date. The rule applies in England only.

Related limits on what a landlord can ask for

• Rent in advance: up to one month's rent after signing and before the start.
• Deposit cap: five weeks of rent, or six if annual rent is £50,000 or more.

Common questions

Is rental bidding banned in England?

Yes. From 1 May 2026 landlords and agents must publish an asking rent and cannot ask for, encourage or accept offers above it.

What is the penalty for rental bidding?

GOV.UK says civil penalties of up to £7,000, imposed by local councils.

Does the ban apply in Wales and Scotland?

No. It applies in England only.

Can a tenant offer to pay more?

The ban is on landlords and agents asking for, encouraging or accepting offers above the asking rent.

Free tools for this

• Deposit cap: Maximum deposit and holding deposit for a given rent.

More guides

• Renters' Rights Act 2025: what changed on 1 May 2026
• How much rent in advance can a landlord ask for?