Viewings: filling a property without breaking the rules
Viewings are sales, but they are regulated sales: how you advertise, who you show round and how you choose between applicants all carry legal edges in 2026.
Advertising the property
State the rent honestly: the Renters' Rights Act requires a published asking rent and bans inviting or accepting bids above it, so the teaser-price auction is over. Adverts cannot say no DSS, no benefits or no children: blanket bans are unlawful, and wording like professionals only is treated as code for exactly that. Describe the property, not the tenant you imagine.
Viewings in an occupied property
The sitting tenant's rights hold in full: 24 hours' written notice, reasonable times, and their agreement to each visit. A cooperative tenant is earned, not assumed: block bookings, tidy-up demands and surprise visits sour exactly the relationship a smooth re-let depends on. Where a tenancy is ending, agree a viewing pattern in writing early.
Choosing between applicants
Consistent criteria, applied in order: affordability, references, Right to Rent. Record why the successful applicant was chosen. Take one holding deposit of up to a week's rent from one applicant at a time, never several in parallel, and return it promptly if you withdraw.
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Start my agreement →Frequently asked questions
Can a landlord accept an offer above the advertised rent?
No. The Renters' Rights Act requires a published asking rent and prohibits inviting or accepting bids above it.
Can a tenant refuse viewings?
Yes, individual visits require their agreement even with notice given. Reasonableness usually prevails when viewings are arranged considerately and the relationship is intact.