Flatshare & renting glossary

Rent guarantee insurance

Insurance landlords take out to protect against unpaid rent - worth knowing about if a landlord asks for extra references.

PCM

PCM stands for "per calendar month" - here's what it actually means for your rent payments.

Zero deposit scheme

An alternative to a traditional deposit - you pay a smaller non-refundable fee instead of a lump sum upfront.

Holding deposit

The small deposit that reserves a room while referencing checks happen - and when you can and can't get it back.

Rent arrears

Rent that's overdue - and why talking to your landlord early matters more than avoiding the conversation.

PW

PW means "per week" - easy to misread against PCM listings if you're not careful.

Council tax (for renters)

Who's actually responsible for paying it in a flatshare, and what happens if you're a student.

Wear and tear

Normal, expected use of a property that landlords legally can't deduct from your deposit - know the difference from real damage.

Assured Shorthold Tenancy (AST)

What an AST was, and what replaced it after the Renters' Rights Act reforms took effect in May 2026.

Break clause

How break clauses work under periodic tenancies - and what to check before you sign.

Joint and several liability

The clause that means you could be on the hook for a flatmate's unpaid rent.

Periodic tenancy

The standard rolling tenancy for private rentals in England - not just what happens after a fixed term ends.

Subletting

Renting out your room to someone else - and why doing it without permission can end your tenancy.

Fixed term tenancy

Why fixed-term tenancies are no longer available for new lettings in England - and what replaced them.

Assured Periodic Tenancy (APT)

The official name for the tenancy type every renter is now on since the Renters' Rights Act - sometimes called a rolling or open-ended tenancy.

Section 21 notice

Section 21 was abolished on 1 May 2026 - here's what that meant and what replaced it.

Section 8 notice

Since Section 21 was abolished, this is now the only legal way a landlord can end your tenancy.

Notice to quit

The formal notice used to end a lodger arrangement - different rules apply than for Section 8.

Grounds for possession

The specific legal reasons a landlord can now use to end your tenancy - more important than ever since Section 21 was abolished.

Right to rent check

The legal check every landlord in England must carry out before renting to you.

Guarantor

Someone who legally agrees to cover your rent if you can't - commonly required for students or new renters.

Landlord reference

The reference a previous landlord provides about you as a tenant - and what to do if you don't have one.

Tenant reference check

The background checks landlords run before approving you - what's involved and how to prepare.

Credit check for renting

What landlords actually look for in a credit check, and what to do if yours isn't strong.

Affordability check

How landlords work out whether you earn enough to afford the rent - and the rule of thumb they typically use.

Gas safety certificate

The annual safety check every landlord is legally required to provide you.

EPC rating

The energy efficiency rating every rental property must have - and what it means for your bills.

Rental inventory (check-in report)

The document that records a property's condition at move-in - and your best protection if there's a deposit dispute later.

Let agreed

You'll see this on almost every listing that's about to be taken - here's what it actually means for you as a renter.

Letting agent fees

What letting agents can and can't legally charge you, since the Tenant Fees Act changed the rules.

Fixtures and fittings

The furniture, fittings, and contents included with a room - and why it matters at move-in and move-out.

House share

The basics of what a house share actually means, and how it differs from renting a whole property.

Renters' Rights Act

The biggest renting reform in 30 years came into force on 1 May 2026 - here's what actually changed.

HMO

A House in Multiple Occupation - a property shared by 3+ unrelated tenants. Here's what it means for you as a renter.

Tenancy deposit scheme

The government-backed schemes that legally protect your deposit. Here's which one covers you.

Deposit protection scheme

Same as tenancy deposit scheme - the scheme your landlord must use to protect your deposit by law.

Tenancy agreement

The legal contract between you and your landlord setting out your rights and responsibilities.

Lodger agreement

What should - and shouldn't - be in your lodger agreement.

Lodger vs tenant

Your legal status changes everything about your rights, including how fast you can leave.