How Much Does it Cost a Tenant to Move?

According to recent research, it costs the average renter £1,175 to move home. This goes up to a whopping £2,043 for Londoners looking to move property. So, how realistic is this? How much does it cost a tenant to move? And, where is this money spent?

Costs involved in moving

For a tenant looking to move, the moving costs include, but are not limited to:

• Removal company fees. Depending on your possessions, these can vary significantly. The cheapest way to move is usually doing it yourself. Though you can use a removal company to do it all for you, but this will cost a minimum of £500. Alternatively, you could enlist the services of a ‘man and van’ for around £35 per hour.
• Lettings agency fees when moving out the property, if applicable- in England, Wales and Scotland, many fees are banned or restricted, so you should check whether any charge is legally allowed before paying. These can include, where permitted:

1. A reasonable charge if you ask to end the tenancy early and the landlord agrees
2. A payment for damage, unpaid rent or other losses that can fairly be deducted from your deposit
3. A default fee for late rent or replacing a lost key, where this is allowed and set out correctly

• End of tenancy cleaning. You can do this yourself or employ a team of professionals to clean your rental property for you. Check what you’re paying for as some companies don’t include cleaning materials in their quote, nor do they include the removal of rubbish. If the cleaning company can guarantee the return of your deposit, it’s worth using them

Costs from your new property

Unless you’re moving into your own home, you should also consider these costs for the next property:

• Permitted letting agent or landlord fees. Note that you should not usually be charged separately for:
  • Drawing up the tenancy agreement or occupation contract
  • Drawing up an inventory of the property
  • Running credit checks
  • Gaining references from your past employers, past landlords, or bank to verify your identity and check you’re a suitable tenant for the property
  • Admin charges to cover the above
  • Right to Rent checks in England

• They could also charge you to ‘hold’ the property, while they run the above checks, if it’s in popular demand. In England and Wales, a holding deposit is capped at one week’s rent. In Scotland, holding deposits and other charges to secure a tenancy are generally unlawful.
• One month’s rent in advance. You usually pay rent in advance so the landlord doesn’t risk losing out if you choose to abscond from the property. In England, the Renters’ Rights Act has restricted rent in advance for assured tenancies, so landlords and letting agents cannot usually require rent before the tenancy is entered into, and only permitted initial rent can be required.
• Tenancy deposit. This is usually 4-6 weeks rent, depending on where you are in the UK. This is used at the end of the tenancy to pay for any damages you may have caused to the property. This is held in a government-backed tenancy deposit scheme until you vacate the property

Phil Spencer’s Property Report contains information on local valuations and rental estimates. Get your full report here.

Last Updated: June 9th, 2026