Application process
Tenancy Setup Process in London: From Offer to Keys
Follow the usual journey from submitting an offer and completing checks to signing, payment and key collection.
Company Let in London: A Complete Guide for Tenants and Employers
A company let in London can make relocating for work much easier when your employer rents a property on your behalf. This arrangement is also called a corporate let.
A company let in London can work well for international assignees, executives, employees on secondment and businesses arranging accommodation for members of staff. However, it is legally and practically different from an individual residential tenancy, and not every landlord or property can accept one.
This guide explains who signs the agreement, how corporate referencing works, why every company applying through us needs a qualifying personal guarantor, and the information you should prepare before making an offer.
Important: A company let is not simply an individual tenancy paid from a business account. The company must become the legal tenant, sign the company let agreement and accept the contractual responsibilities. Every company applying through us must also provide an eligible personal guarantor.
What Is a Company Let in London?
A company let is a rental arrangement in which a registered company rents a residential property to accommodate an employee, director or another approved member of staff.
The company is named as the tenant. The person who lives in the property is normally named as a permitted occupier. The company remains responsible for the obligations in the agreement, while the occupier must use and look after the property in accordance with its terms.
Company Let At a Glance
Who does what?
1
The Company
Signs the agreement, becomes the tenant and is responsible for the rent and contractual obligations.
2
The Occupier
Lives in the property as an approved permitted occupier and must complete identification and Right to Rent checks.
3
The Guarantor
An officially registered owner or director who personally guarantees the company’s agreed obligations.
Company Let vs Individual Tenancy
| Key point | Company let | Individual tenancy |
|---|---|---|
| Legal tenant | The company | The individual resident or residents |
| Referencing | The company, its finances and its guarantor | The applicant’s identity, income, credit and rental history |
| Personal guarantor | Mandatory under our company-let policy | Only where the application or landlord requires one |
| Occupier | Named employee or approved occupier | The tenant |
| Term and notice | Set by the company-let agreement | Governed by the assured periodic tenancy framework |
| Right to Rent | Required for adult occupiers in England | Required for adult occupiers in England |
How Is a Company Let in London Different Under the Renters’ Rights Act?
The Renters’ Rights Act changed the framework for assured residential tenancies in England from 1 May 2026. A genuine company let is different because a company cannot be the tenant of an assured tenancy: under section 1 of the Housing Act 1988, the tenant must be an individual.
A company let is therefore governed primarily by its written contractual terms together with the other laws that remain applicable. This can create important differences:
- the agreement may have a fixed contractual term;
- notice periods and break clauses are set by the company-let agreement;
- rent-payment arrangements are governed by the contract;
- the assured-tenancy rent-in-advance restrictions do not automatically apply in the same way;
- the statutory deposit rules for assured tenancies do not automatically apply; and
- rights and procedures created specifically for assured periodic tenancies may not apply to the company in the same way.
This does not remove the landlord’s applicable repair and safety responsibilities, and it does not remove Right to Rent checks for adult occupiers in England.
Our No-Bidding Standard for Every Company Let in London
Although a company let sits outside the assured periodic tenancy framework, every company-let application handled through us must follow the same transparent no-bidding standard.
Fair and Transparent Offers
No rental bidding
01
Clear advertised rent
Every written advert includes a specific monthly rent.
Clear advertised rent
Every written advert includes a specific monthly rent.
02
No encouragement
Nobody will ask or encourage the company to offer more.
No encouragement
Nobody will ask or encourage the company to offer more.
03
No higher offer accepted
An offer above the advertised rent will not be accepted.
No higher offer accepted
An offer above the advertised rent will not be accepted.
04
Listed or lower
The company may offer the advertised rent or a lower amount.
Listed or lower
The company may offer the advertised rent or a lower amount.
Personal Guarantor Requirements for a Company Let in London
Every company applying for a company let through us must provide at least one individual who will personally guarantee the company’s obligations under the agreement.
The guarantor must be:
- a natural person rather than another company; and
- officially recorded as an owner, shareholder, person with significant control or director of the company that will become the tenant.
How the connection is verified
UK company: the owner or director must be verifiable through Companies House.
Overseas company: the owner or director must be verifiable through the equivalent official company register in the company’s country of incorporation.
An ordinary employee, HR representative, manager, accountant, friend or unrelated third party who is not officially registered as an owner or director of the tenant company will not be accepted as the personal guarantor.
The proposed guarantor may need to provide identification, proof of address, evidence of their registered company position, personal financial or credit information and a signed personal guarantee. Because the guarantee creates personal responsibility for the obligations it covers, the guarantor should read it carefully and obtain independent legal advice if uncertain.
Providing a guarantor does not guarantee acceptance. Both the company and guarantor remain subject to referencing and the landlord’s final approval.
Can Any Company Apply for a Company Let in London?
No. Acceptance is always subject to the landlord’s approval and successful corporate referencing.
Many referencing providers and landlords prefer an established, UK-registered and actively trading company with verifiable UK financial information. An overseas company, newly incorporated business, dormant company or small personal service company can be more difficult to reference.
This does not automatically mean the application will be refused. Additional accounts, proof of funds, a parent-company guarantee or other security may be requested. However, our qualifying personal-guarantor requirement applies to every company regardless of its age or financial strength.
Do not create a company solely to avoid individual affordability checks. A newly formed company without a genuine trading history or sufficient assets is unlikely to provide the security a landlord requires.
What Corporate Referencing Usually Checks
With a company let, the affordability assessment focuses primarily on the company rather than the employee’s personal salary. Corporate referencing may be processed through Goodlord where the tenancy is arranged through us.
The company may be asked to provide:
- its full registered name, company number and registered address;
- country and date of incorporation;
- trading history and nature of business;
- details of directors and beneficial owners where required;
- filed accounts or other financial information;
- evidence that it can afford the rent;
- an authorised signatory and an HR, relocation or accounts contact;
- previous corporate rental references, if available; and
- full details of the mandatory personal guarantor.
For UK companies, public company information, officers, filing history, charges and insolvency information may be checked through Companies House.
The Occupier Must Still Be Checked
Even though the company is the legal tenant, the landlord and agent must know exactly who will live in the property.
Each adult occupier will normally need to provide their full name and contact details, passport or other accepted identity document, current address, employment or assignment details, intended move-in date and evidence of their Right to Rent in England.
Details of children, pets and any other proposed residents must also be disclosed. The company must not replace an occupier or allow additional people to move in without following the agreement and obtaining any required written consent.
A Company Let Is Not Permission to Sublet
A company let for an employee is different from a rent-to-rent, serviced-accommodation or short-let arrangement.
Unless the landlord gives specific written consent, the company and occupier must not advertise the property, offer rooms to paying guests, use it for holiday accommodation or sublet it through platforms such as Airbnb. The intended use and identity of every occupier must be disclosed before the offer is accepted.
Who Pays the Rent, Deposit and Bills?
The company will normally be contractually responsible for the rent. The agreement should clearly state who pays the deposit, council tax, utilities, internet and television licence; where invoices are sent; and what happens if the employee’s assignment or employment ends.
Because a genuine company let is not an assured residential tenancy, the statutory deposit-protection rules that apply to assured tenancies do not automatically apply. The contract should state the amount held, permitted deductions, how deductions are assessed and when the balance will be returned.
Employer-provided accommodation can also have tax and payroll implications. Employees should speak with their HR or payroll team, and companies should obtain appropriate tax advice where necessary.
How to Make a Strong Offer for a Company Let in London
A complete and transparent offer is easier for the landlord to assess than one that simply states that a company will pay.
Tip: prepare a fast way to pay
Have at least the one-week holding deposit ready before you make an offer. In a competitive market, the property is not reserved until the holding deposit has been received. If several applicants are interested, a delay of even a few hours or until the next day can make it difficult for the landlord to keep the property available. We have also seen overseas transfers take a week to arrive.
Consider preparing a suitable GBP payment account in advance. Options may include Wise, Revolut or Monzo, depending on your country, eligibility, fees and personal circumstances.
Lucia personally uses Wise because it allows her to hold multiple currencies. For example, if your main currency is euros, you can add euros, convert them into pounds and hold a GBP balance with UK account details. An eligible domestic GBP transfer may arrive much faster than a traditional international bank transfer and can sometimes arrive within seconds, although timing is never guaranteed. Depending on the provider, amount and exchange rate, it may also reduce transfer and currency-conversion costs.
Check Lucia’s Wise referral offer. This is a referral link. If you use it, Lucia may receive a benefit, and you may receive the offer displayed by Wise. Always review the current fees, exchange rate, eligibility and terms before opening or using any account.
Offer details
- Property address
- Advertised monthly rent or a lower proposed rent
- Preferred start date
- Intended contractual term
- Preferred furnishing
- Any special conditions
Company details
- Full legal company name and company number
- Country of registration and registered address
- Website, nature of business and length of trading
- Authorised signatory’s name, position and contact details
- HR, relocation or accounts-payable contact
- Confirmation that the company will sign the agreement and accept responsibility for the rent
Mandatory guarantor details
- Full legal name, address and contact details
- Position in the company
- Confirmation that the guarantor is an officially registered owner or director
- The official UK or overseas company register where this can be verified
- Confirmation that the guarantor will complete the required checks and sign the personal guarantee
Occupier details
- Full name and contact details of every proposed occupier
- Job title and relationship to the company
- Reason for the relocation or assignment
- Right to Rent status
- Details of any children or pets
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a company let in London the same as my employer paying my rent?
No. If the tenancy is in your personal name, it remains an individual tenancy even if your employer reimburses you. In a company let, the company is named as the tenant and signs the agreement.
Can I use my own limited company?
You may propose it, but acceptance is not automatic. The company must complete referencing, and an officially registered owner or director must provide the mandatory personal guarantee. A newly formed or low-asset company may require further security or may not be accepted.
Who can be the personal guarantor?
Only an individual officially recorded as an owner, shareholder, person with significant control or director of the tenant company. For a UK company, this is verified through Companies House. For an overseas company, it must be verified through the relevant official register in the country of incorporation.
Does Right to Rent still apply?
Yes, where the property will be an adult occupier’s only or main home in England. The check applies to the people who will live there, even though the company signs the agreement.
Can the company change who lives in the property?
Only if the agreement allows it and the landlord gives any required approval. A new occupier will normally need to provide identification and complete a Right to Rent check before moving in.
Need Help Finding a Company Let in London?
We can help employees, employers and relocation applicants search for a suitable London home, including properties available through the wider market and not listed directly with us.
This service is particularly useful for overseas applicants who do not have a trusted person in London. We can help coordinate suitable properties, virtual or in-person viewings, communication with letting agents and preparation of a complete company-let offer.
Start Your London Property Search
Browse our available rental properties or contact us to discuss your company-let requirements.
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Important information: This article provides general information for residential lettings in England and does not constitute legal, tax or financial advice. Company-let terms, referencing requirements and landlord criteria vary. The company, guarantor and occupier should review the proposed agreement and obtain professional advice where required.
Official information: Housing Act 1988, section 1 · Rental-bidding guidance · Home Office Right to Rent code · HMRC company-provided accommodation guidance
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