The tenancy agreement is one of the most important documents any renter in the UK will sign. It determines the terms you'll live by, how much you'll pay and the rights you'll have. Yet plenty of people sign without reading it properly — and run into unpleasant consequences later, from unexpected charges to a lost deposit. In this article we've gathered the most common mistakes and explained exactly what to check before you put pen to paper.
Since 1 May 2026, under the Renters' Rights Act 2025, most private tenancies have become open-ended periodic — the usual fixed 6 or 12-month terms have been abolished. For most renters that means more flexibility, but you still need to read the agreement carefully.
The deposit can't be more than 5 weeks' rent and must be protected in a government-approved scheme (DPS, MyDeposits or TDS).
Rushing — the root cause of most mistakes
Almost every costly mistake starts the same way: pressure to sign quickly. Agents or landlords will often say "if you don't sign now, someone else will take it". That pressure isn't always fair — a good place is worth a day's thought, and a bad agreement will cost you far more than one missed property.
Signing is easy. Undoing a mistake is expensive and difficult. Give the agreement an hour today so you're not paying for it all year.
Mistakes you can avoid
Below are the most common slip-ups renters make in the UK and how to protect yourself from each one:
- Not reading the agreement. Many people skim the first few pages, assuming "it's all standard". The small print can hide penalties, extra charges or repair responsibilities shifted onto you. Read the whole document; if you need to, take a copy home.
- Ignoring clauses you don't understand. Agreements are full of legal terms. If a clause isn't clear — ask. You can turn to Citizens Advice or a letting agent to explain it in plain English. Never sign anything you don't understand.
- Not checking deposit protection. Your landlord must register your deposit with the DPS, MyDeposits or TDS scheme and give you the official confirmation within 30 days. Without that document, you risk having to go to court to get your money back. Also check that the deposit doesn't exceed 5 weeks' rent.
- Being unclear about bills. Who pays for electricity, gas, water, internet and council tax? Make sure the agreement clearly states who covers each bill — otherwise unplanned costs await.
- Overlooking repair clauses. Some agreements state that minor repairs are the tenant's responsibility. Check exactly what counts as your duty; by law, some things must remain the landlord's responsibility.
- Not checking the inventory. An inventory — a record of the property's condition and contents — is usually attached to the agreement. When you move in, go through it and photograph or film every room, so you don't lose your deposit over damage you didn't cause.
- Relying on verbal promises. "We'll replace the carpet", "we'll fix the window" — verbal promises are often forgotten. Insist that everything is written into the agreement or confirmed by email.
- Signing in a hurry. Pressure to "sign today" shouldn't drive your decision. Take your time and make sure the terms work for you.
A real-life example
Tom and Inga found a flat in London for £1,400 a month. The agent pushed them to sign within a day. They didn't review the inventory, which listed the sofa as "as new" even though it was already scuffed when they moved in. When they moved out, the landlord refused to return £800 of the deposit for alleged damage. A few move-in photos would have saved that money. Learn from them: document everything from day one.
What about landlords?
The other side makes mistakes too. Landlords who don't protect the deposit in time, fail to provide the prescribed information, or don't update their agreements to the new Renters' Rights Act 2025 rules risk fines and difficulties if they ever need to take the property back. A clear, fair and legally compliant agreement protects both sides and builds trust — which is why it's worth getting it right from the start.
We help tenants review their tenancy agreement before signing: we explain unclear clauses, check deposit protection and the break and termination terms, and remind you to document the inventory. For landlords, we prepare tidy agreements that meet the 2026 rules and protect deposits properly, so there are no disputes later.
A quick checklist before you sign
- Read the whole agreement, not just the first few pages.
- Ask if there's anything you don't understand — and get the answer in writing.
- Check the deposit: no more than 5 weeks' rent and protected in a scheme.
- Sort out the bills — who pays for what.
- Document the inventory with photos or video.
- Don't rush — pressure is no reason to sign a bad agreement.
The new rules have done away with fixed terms, but the detail of the agreement still matters. Read more about ending a tenancy early in our guide to break clauses and ending a tenancy →, and check where you stand in renters' rights in the UK →. All our articles are gathered in the guides.