Home  /  Insights  /  Residential Property Services in London
Residential Property Services in London  

Do You Need a Guarantor if You Pay Rent in Advance?

Large upfront payments are now restricted.

Do You Need a Guarantor if You Pay Rent in Advance? Residential Property Services in London

Updated October 2026 · Fraser Bond

Renting · Guarantors

Rent in advance and guarantors

Advance rentrestricted
Guarantorservices
Deposit5-week cap
Referencingstill applies
In short: In the past, some tenants without a UK guarantor offered six or twelve months' rent upfront. Under the Renters' Rights Act, landlords in England can no longer require or accept large sums of rent in advance before the tenancy starts, so that option is now very limited. Alternatives include a UK-based guarantor, a commercial guarantor service, or a landlord's rent guarantee insurance after referencing. The deposit remains capped at five weeks' rent for most lets.

Frequently asked questions

Can I pay six months upfront?

Generally no longer, under the new rules.

What if I have no UK guarantor?

Try a guarantor service.

Looking for a home?

Talk to our team or get a free valuation.

Speak to our teamGet a free valuation

Related guides

Next step

You are one message away from an answer.

If you have a question

Send it to us and get a straight answer.

Describe the property and the problem. We will tell you what we would do, what it should cost, and if we are not the right people, who is.

  • Replies the same working day
  • The person who answers is the person who handles it
  • No fee, and no obligation to instruct us
If you are looking for a property

See everything we are instructed on.

Sales and lettings across Prime Central London and the wider UK, with the same team behind every listing.

  • Residential and commercial in one search
  • Filter by borough, budget and size
  • Register once and we will send matches first