Properties · tenant guide
Renting, in the order it actually happens
Eight stages, from looking to getting your deposit back. Where the law sets a limit, the limit is stated here rather than left for you to find out later.
Boxes by a doorway on moving day
Replace with a calm moving-day still. No people.
Full specification
- Purpose
- Open the tenant journey with something recognisable and calm.
- Subject
- Cardboard boxes stacked by a doorway in an empty room, one open, daylight from the left.
- Focal point
- The open box
- Motion
- One 450ms opacity settle. No pan, no zoom, no loop.
- Source
- AI concept media permitted for the private demo
- Must never imply
- No people. No implication of a completed Dukes tenancy.
- Alt intention
- Decorative.
- Accepted when
- Reads at 320px; no branding on the boxes.
The eight stages
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Find a property
Search, or tell Dukes what you are looking for so a person can watch for it.
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Enquire and view
Ask about a specific property and arrange to see it. A viewing is only confirmed by a person.
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Apply and be referenced
Referencing and Right to Rent checks. A tenant cannot be charged for either.
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Holding deposit
At most one week's rent, for the proposed tenancy, not per applicant. It is normally refunded or put towards what you owe.
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Sign and pay
Rent cannot be requested or accepted before the agreement is signed. After signing, no more than one month's rent in advance may be required.
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Tenancy deposit
At most five weeks' rent below £50,000 annual rent, six weeks between £50,000 and £100,000. It must be protected in a government-approved scheme.
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During the tenancy
Rent, repairs and everyday contact. Report a repair through the repairs route.
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Ending and deposit return
Notice, check-out, and how the deposit is returned or disputed through the scheme.
Pending client evidence The stage names describe how renting works in England. Dukes' own process, documents and who performs each step still need client confirmation.
What changed on 1 May 2026
Most existing assured shorthold tenancies became assured periodic tenancies, and new assured tenancies are periodic. Rent cannot be requested or accepted before the agreement is signed, and after signing no more than one month's rent in advance may be required. Advertised rent cannot be bid above.
Applies to England. Last reviewed 31 July 2026. Review owner to be named before publication.
Tenant FAQs
Can I be charged for referencing or a Right to Rent check?
No. Referencing, Right to Rent checks, tenancy set-up, renewal, inventories, check-out, deposit registration and mandatory professional cleaning cannot be charged to a tenant in England.
How much can a holding deposit be?
At most one week's rent for the proposed tenancy. It is for the property, not per applicant, and there are specific rules about when it must be refunded.
How much can the tenancy deposit be?
At most five weeks' rent where annual rent is below £50,000, or six weeks between £50,000 and £100,000. It must be protected in a government-approved scheme.
Who do I contact about a repair?
Use the repairs route in the Dukes Receptionist. If there is a fire, gas leak, serious electrical fault, flood or any risk to safety, contact the emergency services first — this website does not monitor reports.
Does Dukes carry out Right to Rent checks?
Unconfirmed. An agent can only say it performs these checks where the landlord has assigned that responsibility in writing and the agent has the verified procedure. That evidence has not been supplied.
Speak to Dukes
Prefer to be guided? Open the Dukes Receptionist. It is an automated route that collects details for a person to follow up.
