Letting to an international student should start with the same clear description of the home and application process given to other applicants. Nationality is not a substitute for an individual assessment, and an unfamiliar credit history should not be filled in with assumptions. Explain what information is needed, why it is relevant and how the applicant can provide it securely.
Set out the offer
Describe the rent, included services, available date and application stages in plain language. Give the applicant time to ask questions about the agreement. Someone arranging a move from overseas may also need practical information about collecting keys, contacting the landlord and reporting a fault. Do not turn uncertainty about arrival arrangements into an unsupported promise that the tenancy can be changed later.
Follow the current England rules
For residential property in England, GOV.UK says landlords must check the right to rent of adult tenants and lodgers within the applicable rules. Follow the official process, including any exemptions and permitted checking methods. Apply checks consistently rather than selecting people because they appear to be from overseas. Right-to-rent rules are not a UK-wide procedure.
Review payments and guarantees carefully
Older student-letting articles sometimes suggest demanding many months of rent in advance. Those suggestions should not be reused as a current procedure for England's assured periodic tenancies. The Renters' Rights guidance limits what can be requested in advance and distinguishes payments before and after signing. Check the current rules before requesting money. If a guarantor is proposed, obtain suitable advice on the agreement, its scope and enforceability rather than relying on a generic downloaded clause.
Make decisions explainable
Use relevant, consistent criteria and record the information actually considered. Tell applicants how they will hear the outcome and avoid collecting documents that have no purpose in the process. Keep personal information secure and limit access to the people who need it.
At handover, provide the operating and contact information an occupant needs to live in the property. A fair process depends on clear terms and lawful checks, not on promises that a particular group of tenants is always more profitable or reliable. Reviewed 30 October 2026; general information, not individual legal advice.
Source and further reading: https://www.gov.uk/check-tenant-right-to-rent-documents