Frequently Asked Questions

No. Under the Tenant Fees Act 2019, letting agents in England can only charge tenants for a limited, defined list of payments — rent, a refundable deposit, and a capped holding deposit being the main ones. ATLAS doesn't charge tenants admin fees, referencing fees or check-out fees. See our Letting Fees page for the full breakdown.

A holding deposit secures a property while referencing takes place, capped by law at one week's rent. If everything proceeds, it's put towards your first month's rent or deposit. It's only retained if you provide false information, fail Right to Rent checks, or withdraw without good reason.

Referencing lets a landlord confirm you can comfortably afford the rent and have a good track record as a tenant. It typically involves a credit check, employer reference and previous landlord reference. It's a standard, legally-supported part of letting in England.

A guarantor agrees to cover your rent if you're unable to pay it — usually needed if referencing doesn't quite meet the landlord's income requirements, or if you're new to renting or the UK. A guarantor must normally be a UK homeowner and will also need to be referenced.

By law, any traditional cash deposit must be protected in a government-backed scheme within 30 days of receipt. We also offer Reposit, a deposit alternative that lets you pay a smaller one-off fee instead of a traditional five-week deposit — ask us if it's available on your chosen home.

Usually, yes — tenants are typically responsible for council tax and utility bills unless the tenancy agreement states otherwise. Your agreement will always make clear which bills you're liable for.

Landlords (or ATLAS, on their behalf) have the right to inspect a property periodically to check its condition. You'll always be given at least 24 hours' written notice, and the visit will be arranged at a reasonable time of day.

There's no blanket yes or no — every property is different, and each request is considered on its own terms. Under the Renters' Rights Act, you have the right to ask, and a landlord can't unreasonably refuse; they must give you a written decision within 28 days, and can attach reasonable conditions such as pet insurance. Permission from the landlord is still required either way, and for a flat or apartment, the freeholder or head lease's permission is needed too — if the head lease prohibits pets outright, that's valid grounds for the landlord to say no. Speak to us before bringing a pet home so we can check what applies to your specific property.

Generally, yes, so long as it wouldn't cause overcrowding at the property. Both the person joining and all existing tenants will need to be fully referenced, and there's a charge to formally amend the tenancy agreement partway through a tenancy. Get in touch and we'll talk you through the process and the cost.

Since the Renters' Rights Act came into force, fixed-term tenancies no longer exist — every tenancy is now periodic, rolling on a monthly basis from day one. To end your tenancy, you'll need to give at least two months' written notice, and that notice has to expire on the first or last day of a rent period (in practice this can occasionally run a little longer than exactly two months, depending on your rent due date). Get in touch and we'll confirm the exact date that applies to you.

Landlords are responsible for keeping a property safe, habitable and structurally sound, including gas, electrical and heating systems. Tenants are expected to use the property in a "tenant-like manner" — day-to-day care such as changing lightbulbs and smoke-alarm batteries, keeping the property clean, and reporting problems promptly. Use our Report a Repair portal to log any issue.

Speak to us as early as possible — the sooner we know, the more options we can look at together. Falling into rent arrears can put your tenancy at risk, so don't wait until it becomes a bigger problem. Citizens Advice can also offer free, independent guidance if you're struggling.