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Renting advice for tenants

Why rent privately?

Finding an affordable home doesn’t have to be limited to a social housing property.

There has been a lot of growth in the private rented sector creating greater choice for prospective tenants. From a room in a shared house, to studio flats and larger properties to suit families, there are a variety of property types to choose from.

We can help you

Whether you have been threatened with homeless, are currently homeless or are just looking to rent privately, we can help by:

  • Offering advice on looking for a property
  • Speaking to your landlord on your behalf
  • Helping you to prepare for a viewing and/or meeting with an agent/landlord
  • Providing advice on what financial assistance may be available to you towards a deposit or rent in advance

Why rent from a private landlord

  • There are no waiting lists, so you’ll be able to move in quickly
  • You have more choice about where you want to live, and can easily move between areas
  • The properties will usually be well decorated, carpeted and often include white goods such as a fridge, freezer and washing machine; this is often not the case with social housing
  • If you’re on a low income, you may be entitled to help with your housing costs through housing benefit universal credit to cover some or all of your rent

Where to find a property

You can find properties to rent by searching online for local letting agencies or

checking websites, such as:

Viewing a property

Once you find a suitable property, you’ll need to make an appointment and arrange a viewing. It’s a good idea to take a checklist. This will help you to remember anything that you want to discuss during the viewing. See more: Tips for viewing a home to rent

Your landlord has certain responsibilities, as do you as a tenant. If you want to know more about your rights and responsibilities, or where to get help the How to Rent: the checklist for renting in England section on the GOV.UK website can help.

Affording my rent

The market rent on properties varies depending on what area you live in. If you are receiving some form of benefit to help pay towards the cost of your rent, it is important to rent a property that is affordable to you and in line with the Local Housing Allowance (LHA). The LHA is the maximum amount of rent you can claim from government benefits for a private tenancy in your area.

All properties larger than 4 bedrooms are subject to the maximum rate of a 4 bedroom LHA. If you are under 35 and in receipt of benefits, you will often only be eligible for the shared room rate. Generally this would be in room in a house of multiple occupancy (HMO).

The best way to find out how much LHA you may receive is to do an Entitled To calculation. You can also use the following search tool to see what LHA the property you are considering renting falls under. You can also talk to your universal credit coach, housing benefit officer or use organisations such as Turn2Us for more information.

What to do if you are in arrears?

If you are behind on your rent and in arrears, speaking directly to your landlord may help. It is important not to ignore the issue, as it is likely to get worse. Your landlord may be happy to negotiate a repayment plan. You could also see if there is any help that may be able to get by contacting your local Citizens Advice, Universal Credit coach or the Housing Team at the Council.

If you are in receipt of housing benefit or the housing costs through universal Credit, you may be able to apply for a discretionary housing payment.

Houses of multiple occupancy

Houses that are occupied by three or more people who do not live as a single household are known as Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO). HMOs are often inclusive of all bills and can be a good stepping stone for tenants who may find the cost and responsibilities of having their own property too much. The rent is often in line with the local housing allowance, making it affordable to tenants in receipt of benefits, as well as those professionals who would prefer to live in shared accommodation without having the associated responsibilities of having their own property.

Support from local organisations

See our Community support page for details on local organisations who maybe able to offer help, advice and support in times of need.

© West Oxfordshire District Council 2025