Payment boundary check

Who pays what in the Move to Own UK route?

Buyer pays Move to Own UK £0: no listing, application, option, renewal, management, or completion fee. Landlord pays £0 upfront. Platform success fee is one month of agreed rent, uncapped, plus VAT where applicable, and becomes payable only after signed tenancy and option, cleared first rent to landlord, and key handover. Tenancy rent and any lawful protected deposit remain separate.

Reviewed 9 September 2026 · England route

England rules limit payments that landlords and agents can require from tenants. Current GOV.UK guidance says a refundable tenancy deposit can be up to five weeks' rent where annual rent is below £50,000 and up to six weeks where annual rent is between £50,000 and £100,000. If a deposit is taken, applicable protection and prescribed-information duties must be completed.

Move to Own UK's commercial fee is paid by landlord to platform after the whole operational trigger. It is not rent, tenancy deposit, holding deposit, buyer option premium, conveyancing fee, or evidence that a future sale will complete. Independent solicitor, referencing, survey, valuation, lender, or insurer charges belong to their own disclosed arrangements.

What should the payment record separate?

Use distinct labels, recipients, triggers, and receipts. A single blended figure makes compliance, refunds, value proof, and customer understanding harder.

Agreed periodic rent, due date, recipient, signed-tenancy date, first cleared payment, and tenancy start.
Tenancy deposit amount where used, legal cap calculation, protection scheme, protection date, and prescribed information.
Holding deposit where used, permitted treatment, deadline, credit or refund record, and no duplication with platform charges.
Move to Own UK success-fee invoice showing one month of agreed rent, applicable VAT, and each satisfied trigger condition.
Separate professional costs and written terms, with no suggestion that a paid provider changes applicant priority.

How should payment events be ordered?

Legal documents and actual money movement determine status. Do not record expected rent or an unsigned route as realised value.

Give applicants clear tenancy, deposit, option, and third-party cost information before commitment.
Keep Move to Own UK buyer fee at £0 and refuse priority, ranking, or acceptance payments.
Have independent solicitors approve tenancy and option before signature and handover.
Record cleared first rent to landlord and actual key handover rather than a scheduled date.
Invoice landlord success fee only after every agreed trigger is evidenced; record collection, refund, dispute, and VAT treatment separately.

Which payment problems should halt progression?

Buyer is asked to pay Move to Own UK for application, option, ranking, renewal, or completion.
Deposit or rent request conflicts with current England limits, timing, protection, or disclosure rules.
Platform fee is invoiced before signed documents, cleared first rent, and key handover.
Expected future rent or sale proceeds are presented as money already delivered.

Platform boundary

What Move to Own UK does

Move to Own UK discloses its fee, records operational trigger evidence, and keeps buyer platform fees at zero. It does not hold buyer savings or purchase deposits, provide tax advice, control solicitor fees, or treat payment as guaranteed future ownership.

Common questions

Is the landlord success fee capped?

No. It is one full month of agreed rent, plus VAT where applicable. It is payable only after every stated trigger has occurred.

Does the buyer pay an option fee to Move to Own UK?

No. Buyer option and platform fees are £0. Tenancy rent, a lawful protected deposit, and independently contracted professional costs are separate matters.

Primary sources

Property intake

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