Your questions about London, straight answers

Yes, it's possible, but harder. Without proof of stable UK income, you'll generally need to strengthen your application: a UK-based guarantor, several months' rent paid upfront, or proof of sufficient income or savings from abroad. See our guide on UK guarantors for the concrete alternatives.

Passport, proof of income (last 3 payslips or an employment contract), a bank reference, a reference from your employer or previous landlord, and often a UK-based guarantor.

Beyond the advertised rent: council tax (usually the tenant's responsibility), energy and internet bills, and occasionally residual agency fees — though most fees charged to tenants have been banned since the Tenant Fees Act 2019.

A maximum of 5 weeks' rent, or 6 weeks if the annual rent exceeds £50,000 (Tenant Fees Act 2019).

No. Only once a year at most, with at least 2 months' notice via a Section 13 notice. If you believe the increase is excessive compared to the market, you can challenge it before the First-tier Tribunal. See our guide on the end of Section 21.

No, this has been banned since 1 May 2026: the rent advertised in a listing is the maximum amount a landlord can accept, on pain of a financial penalty.

£29,000 a year for the household, since April 2024. The increase originally planned to £38,700 was scrapped. See our UK family visa guide.

B2 since 8 January 2026 for new applications (up from B1 previously), tested across all 4 skills: reading, listening, speaking and writing. See our Skilled Worker Visa guide.