From 01 May 2026, you or your letting agent will not be allowed to ask for, encourage, or accept an offer that is higher than the advertised rent. If someone offers to pay more than the advertised rent for a property, this is known as ‘rental bidding’.
When you advertise a property
When you advertise or offer a property in writing, you must include the exact rent amount. It must be a specific figure—a price range will not be allowed.
A written advert may include: an online property listing, a printed advert, a social media post, any digital communication (for example, emails, text messages, or direct messages)
This requirement does not apply to ‘To Let’ signs outside a property.
After you’ve advertised a property
Once you have published an advertised rent price, you will not be allowed to: ask for offers above the advertised rent, publish a price range and ask tenants to bid within (or above) that range, encourage someone to offer more than the advertised rent, tell someone you have received other bids to prompt them to offer more, act in any way that leads a person to believe they must offer more than the advertised rent or accept an offer to pay more than the advertised rent
If someone offers more than the advertised rent
You will not be allowed to accept an offer that exceeds the advertised rent. You may be reported to the local council if you accept a higher offer, even if the tenancy agreement has already been signed.
If someone reports you for ‘rental bidding’
The council may request: evidence of the advertised rent, the tenancy agreement or a statement from you or your agent.
If the council agrees that rental bidding has taken place, they may issue a civil penalty of up to £7,000 for a first offence.
You may receive a higher penalty for a repeated breach if the same offence occurs within five years.
On or from 01 May 2026, you or your letting agent will not be allowed to ask for, encourage or accept an offer that is higher than the advertised rent. If someone offers to pay more than the advertised rent for a property, this is known as ‘rental bidding’.