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What is Rental bidding?
Last verified 23 October 2026
Rental bidding is when a prospective tenant offers more than the advertised rent to secure a property. In England, since 1 May 2026, landlords and letting agents must state a fixed asking rent in any written advert and cannot ask for, encourage or accept an offer above it.
Why it matters to landlords
The asking rent must be a specific amount, not a range. Landlords and agents must not invite offers within or above a range, suggest that other people have offered more, or act in any way that leads someone to believe they need to offer more than the advertised rent. Written adverts include online listings, printed adverts, social media posts, emails, texts and direct messages, but not a 'to let' board outside the property.
A council can fine a landlord or agent if it is satisfied that rental bidding happened, even after the tenancy has been signed, and a repeat breach of the same type within five years can lead to a further civil penalty. When several people want the same home, the landlord can still choose between applicants, but only at the advertised rent.
Example
A two bedroom house is advertised at £1,300 a month and attracts six applicants. One offers £1,400 to beat the others. The landlord must not accept the higher figure and chooses a tenant at £1,300 based on references and move in dates.
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