A private rented property is owned by a private landlord (not the Council or Housing Association) who allows someone to live in it for a monthly fee (usually known as rent).
Finding a property
You can find properties by contacting accredited agencies and websites such as Rightmove, Zoopla, and Openrent. You can also visit estate agents.
You can check if a landlord or agency is licensed, and a property is registered through Rent Smart Wales property checker .
If you are planning to claim Universal Credit or housing benefit, you should check the local housing allowance rates for your household needs. You can check the local housing allowance rates on the DirectGov calculator.
If you need help with this, please contact our LETS team on 029 2057 0750 (select option 1) or LETS@cardiff.gov.uk.
We can also help you look for private rented accommodation at our Homefinder workshops at the Hubs. The workshops are run by our Into Work team. You can find out more on the Into Work website.
Deposit
Your new landlord might ask for a deposit (sometimes called a bond) before starting your contract. This is usually around one month’s rent and is used to cover any cost of repairs or outstanding payments if the contract ends.
Your landlord needs to issue a written statement within 14 days of the occupation date.
Your landlord or agent must register the deposit in a recognised Deposit Protection Scheme within 30 days of your contract starting. They must also provide you with details of this in writing within 30 days of your contract starting.
If you are struggling to find a deposit for your new property, depending on your circumstances, we may be able to help with this. Please contact our LETS team on 029 2057 0750 (select option 1) or LETS@cardiff.gov.uk
When you move in, your landlord or agent might complete an inventory with you. This is a record of how the property looks when you move in, including what furniture, electrical items, and appliances have been provided.
It is always a good idea to look through the inventory and check whether it is an accurate representation of the property. Your landlord or agent might ask you to sign a copy to confirm you are happy with the contents.
Rent
Your rent is the amount of money set by the landlord that you agree to pay, for the right to live in a property.
This is usually a monthly payment, but you should confirm this with your landlord. Your contract will state how much rent you should pay and how often.
It is your responsibility to pay rent on time. Make sure you get receipts for any payments that you make.
If you do not pay the rent, the landlord can start proceedings to evict you from the property.
You should not withhold rent in an attempt to force the landlord to carry out repairs. This will increase your risk of eviction. For information about what to do if your landlord is not taking action over disrepair in your home, visit Shelter Cymru (repairs).
You can also contact the Housing Options Centre on 029 2057 0750 or email housing.solutions@cardiff.gov.uk.
More information can be found on the Shared Regulatory Services website.
If you are struggling to pay your rent, please contact us on 029 2057 0750.
Holding fee
Your landlord might ask for a holding fee to take the property off the market whilst they are completing necessary checks. This is a maximum of one week’s rent.
Like a deposit, this is a refundable fee. If you are successful in getting the property, your new landlord should either return this payment or take it off your rental liability for the first month.
If you do not get the property, your landlord should return the payment unless they feel you have deliberately misled them before they began checks. If you wish to challenge this, you can speak with Citizen’s Advice or Shelter Cymru, or seek independent legal advice.
Utility bills
Before you sign a contract, you should find out if gas, electric, water and phone services are included in the rent. You might need to pay utility suppliers separately.
