Permitted fees (Tenant Fees Act)
The only charges a landlord can lawfully make to a tenant.
3 min read · Updated 2 August 2026
Overview
The Tenant Fees Act 2019 bans landlords and agents from charging tenants any fee that is not a 'permitted payment'. Permitted payments are the rent, the tenancy deposit, the holding deposit, a default fee for lost keys, and changes to the tenancy requested by the tenant (capped at £50, or reasonable costs if higher). Any prohibited fee is repayable with a fine of up to £5,000 (or £30,000 as an unfair contract term).
Legal requirements
- Only charge permitted payments.
- Cap tenant-requested variations at £50 unless reasonable costs are higher and evidenced.
- Repay any prohibited payment on demand.
Common mistakes
- Charging an 'admin' or 'referencing' fee to the tenant — these are banned.
- Charging check-out or cleaning fees at the end of the tenancy.
This wiki entry is general information for UK landlords and letting agents, not legal advice. Rules differ across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland — check your local requirements or take advice before acting.