New findings from Housing Hand have highlighted widespread uncertainty among renters aged under 30, with many reporting anxiety about the process and limited understanding of core financial and legal concepts.
The insights come from the Understanding Renters in 2025 report, based on a survey of 1,700 working professionals and students renting privately across the UK. This analysis focuses on the 1,125 respondents aged 16 to 30.
The data points to significant gaps in preparation for renting. Some 85% of under-30s said they did not receive sufficient financial education at school. As a result, many rely on informal sources for guidance:
36% turn to family for advice
31% use websites
16% ask friends
While advice from relatives and peers may appear helpful, ongoing changes linked to the Renters’ Rights Act mean much of this information risks being outdated. That mismatch could deepen the knowledge gap and leave younger renters more exposed to mistakes or misunderstandings.
Awareness of financial tools is also uneven. Although 82% of Gen Z renters know what a credit score is, 45% do not understand how it affects their rental options. In addition, 35% did not know what a rent guarantor was when first asked to provide one. Knowledge of alternative schemes remains limited, with only 32% aware of depositless rental schemes and just 50% aware of deposit protection schemes.
These gaps help explain the emotions reported by young renters at the start of their search. Among respondents aged 16 to 30, the most common feelings were overwhelmed (26%), uncertain (20%), anxious (19%) and scared (8%).
“Young people should feel excited about heading out into the world and renting their first home, but lack of knowledge is denting confidence and negatively impacting the experience from the start,” said Dani Smith, sales manager at Housing Hand.
Uncertainty extends to managing financial difficulties. Nearly six in 10 respondents, or 59%, said they would not know what to do if they could not pay their rent. Of those, 84% said they would turn to their parents for help. Confusion also surrounds the end of tenancies, with 66% unsure how the deposit return process works.
Awareness of upcoming legal reforms is similarly low. When surveyed in early 2025, 69% had not heard of the Renters’ Rights Bill, and 74% were unclear about how it would affect them. This is despite the legislation promising stronger protections for tenants.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has said the reforms will “give 11 million renters stronger rights, better protections and more security in their homes.”
“The Renters’ Rights Act presents a huge opportunity to address a range of issues in the rental sector, including knowledge gaps among tenants,” Smith added. “As the Act comes into force this year, we look forward to working with young renters to ensure they understand their rights in relation to different types of rental accommodation, supporting them to navigate the rental sector with confidence.”
