“Bidding wars” and offers above the advertised rent

WHAT THIS MEANS

A “bidding war” is when a landlord or letting agent encourages people to offer more than the advertised rent (or hints that you will only get the property if you pay extra).

This can be common in high-demand student areas and it can push people into taking on rent they cannot really afford.

BEFORE 1 MAY 2026

In practice, you may still see situations where:

you are invited to “offer more”,
you are told “someone else has offered higher”,
you feel pressured to raise your offer quickly.

Even where this happens, it is still sensible to protect yourself:

do not agree to a rent you cannot comfortably pay,
get the rent amount confirmed in writing before you commit.

AFTER 1 MAY 2026 UNDER THE RENTERS' RIGHTS ACT

The government’s published summary of the Renters' Rights Act says it will end rental bidding by:

requiring an asking rent to be advertised, and
making it illegal for landlords/agents to ask for, encourage, or accept offers above that advertised rent.

Important: the principle is clear, but the start date for this rule may depend on when the relevant parts of the Act are brought into force. If you are renting around the transitional changeover period, check the latest position.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

If in doubt, you are entitled to ask the landlord/agent: “Can you confirm the asking rent in writing, and whether that is the amount you are seeking?”
If you feel pressured to bid above the asking rent, keep evidence (screenshots/messages) in case you need to challenge it later.
If you are unsure what applies right now, ask your landlord/agent directly (they may also be adjusting to the new rules) and get advice if needed.

COMMUNICATION TIP

It’s okay to be straightforward and professional: “I’m happy to proceed at the advertised rent. Please confirm next steps and any required paperwork.” This keeps things clear without escalating the tone.