The best way to rent in the UK without a UK credit history is to find a UK resident to act as your guarantor or use a professional rental guarantor service like Rentmigo.
If you’ve just moved to the UK, one of the first things you’ll realise is that renting a home isn’t just about being able to afford it. It’s about proving that you can afford it.
Especially in busy cities, most landlords and letting agents will want to run a credit check to decide whether to approve a tenant. So if you don’t yet have a UK credit history, even if you have a good income or savings, you might find yourself getting turned away.
It’s frustrating, especially when you know you can comfortably pay the rent. The good news is that there are ways to rent in the UK without a credit history. And, if you find yourself needing a guarantor to make your application more appealing, Rentmigo can help.
At Rentmigo, we act as your UK rental guarantor for you. All you need to do is apply, prove you can afford the rent, and we’ll be happy to be included in your application. It really is that simple.
How long does it take to get a UK credit history?
For those new to the UK, building a UK credit history can take at least 3-6 months for a basic credit profile, often 6-12 months to be strong enough for renting.
To get one, you’ll normally need to open a UK bank account, register on the electoral roll (if you can), and start using credit in some form, like a phone contract or credit card.
The problem is that many landlords will want to see a strong credit history straight away, even though it naturally takes time to build. This is why a lot of international tenants get caught out during the rental process.
Why renting without a UK credit history is difficult
Renting without a UK credit history is difficult because landlords use it as a way to assess risk.
Ultimately, before they agree to take you on as a tenant, they will want to make sure you’re responsible financially. Credit histories allow them to see a track record of payments, responsible borrowing and financial behaviour. The problem is, if you’ve just arrived in the country, that track record just doesn’t exist yet.
As a result, landlords may ask for extra reassurance, usually in the form of:
- A UK guarantor
- Rent paid upfront
- Proof of income or savings
Not having a UK credit history doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t rent, it just might make things more difficult.
What other options exist for renting without a UK credit history?
If you are trying to secure a UK rental but don’t yet have a strong enough credit history, you do have some other options.
These include:
Using a UK-based guarantor
One commonly used route is to use a UK guarantor. This is a friend or family member that lives in the UK and agrees to take on financial responsibility for your tenancy.
Essentially, this person agrees to cover the rent if you’re unable to pay, which gives landlords the reassurance they need to approve your tenancy - even without a credit history.
The problem is that not everyone has someone in the UK who can do this. And even if you do, it’s a big financial responsibility to ask someone to take on.
That’s why many tenants look for options that don’t involve putting that pressure on people they know.
However, another option does exist.
Using a professional rent guarantor service
This is where things start to become much easier.
A professional rent guarantor service does exactly what a personal guarantor would do, but without you needing to rely on friends or family.
In fact, professional rent guarantor services like Rentmigo were designed specifically for tenants who can afford the rent, but don’t have a UK credit history or a UK-based guarantor. Instead of focusing on a tenant’s credit history, Rentmigo looks at what actually matters, income, savings and ability to pay rent.
All you have to do is apply online. If you’re approved, Rentmigo acts as your guarantor and provides landlords with rent guarantee coverage. That gives them the confidence to say yes, even if you’re new to the UK.
For many tenants, this is the easiest way to rent without a credit history, because it removes the two biggest barriers at once: no credit history and no guarantor.
Check your eligibility with Rentmigo today
Paying rent in advance
Another commonly used way to rent without a UK credit history is to pay several months of rent upfront.
Normally, landlords might ask for three to six months in advance. From their perspective, this reduces risk because the rent is already covered for a period of time.
Whilst it might sound like a good option, it can be quite limiting.
If your rent is £1,200 per month, paying six months upfront means finding £7,200 straight away, not including your deposit or moving costs. For many people who have just moved, that’s a lot of money to tie up.
It can work, but it’s not always the most practical option for everyone.
Renting from private landlords
Some tenants try to bypass these referencing checks by renting directly from private landlords.
Platforms like OpenRent or even Facebook Marketplace can sometimes offer more flexibility than traditional letting agents might. If you can explain your situation and show proof of income, a landlord may be willing to take a chance.
However, this can take time and isn’t always reliable, especially in competitive cities where landlords have a big choice of applicants.
Top tip: start building your UK credit history early
Starting to build your UK credit history early might not help you immediately, but will be useful in the long term.
If you can, try and do this as soon as you move to the UK. If you have temporary accommodation already sorted, this can be a great time to get started.
However, not every international tenant has the time to build this, so whilst it is ideal to get going early, we know it’s not possible for everyone.
The good news: Renting in the UK without a credit history is possible
Not having a UK credit history can feel like a major setback when it comes to renting, but the good news is that other options exist.
Whether you know someone who can act as a guarantor for you, lock in a professional rent guarantor service or pay a chunk upfront, many international tenants manage to rent without a credit history, so it definitely is possible.
If you can afford the rent but don’t yet have the UK financial footprint landlords are looking for, Rentmigo can help.
We help tenants rent based on what really matters, whether you can afford the property, not whether you have a UK credit history.
For tenants who are new to the UK, that can make all the difference.
Apply with Rentmigo today and take the first step towards securing your home in the UK.
