About £1,394 each to move into an average Manchester 4-bed, £1,681 in Bristol. The legal caps on deposits and rent in advance, and a full worked example, every figure sourced.
Moving into an average four-bed shared house in Manchester costs each sharer about £1,394 upfront: their share of the deposit and first month's rent, a van, a bed and broadband. In Bristol it's about £1,681(EvenRound calculation from ONS rents and the legal caps, working below). That's nearly three months' rent before you've unpacked a box.
| Payment | The limit |
|---|---|
| Holding deposit | 1 week's rent, normally credited to your first payment |
| Tenancy deposit | 5 weeks' rent if annual rent is under £50,000 (6 weeks above), protected in a government scheme |
| Rent in advance (tenancies from 1 May 2026) | At most 1 month, and nothing before the tenancy is signed |
| Other fees | Banned, apart from a few (e.g. up to £50 to change the tenancy) |
In a shared house the caps apply to the whole tenancy, not to each sharer, and on a joint tenancy everyone is liable for the full rent.
| All homes | 4+ bed | Change in a year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester | £1,380 | £2,024 | +4.6% (all homes) |
| Bristol | £1,893 | £2,558 | +5.7% (all homes) |
| UK | £1,406 | £2,089 | +3.8% |
| Per person | Manchester | Bristol |
|---|---|---|
| House rent (ONS 4+ bed) | £2,024 a month | £2,558 a month |
| 5-week deposit for the house (rent × 12 ÷ 52 × 5) | £2,335.38 | £2,951.54 |
| Deposit + first month, ÷ 4 | £1,089.85 | £1,377.38 |
| Van hire for the day (ONS £81.28 ÷ 4) | £20.32 | £20.32 |
| Bed basics (IKEA frame £89 + mattress £99 + ONS duvet £52.82 + cover £35.02) | £275.84 | £275.84 |
| Broadband, first month (Ofcom £31.05 ÷ 4, no set-up fee) | £7.76 | £7.76 |
| Total upfront | £1,393.77 | £1,681.31 |
| Furnished house (no bed to buy) | £1,117.93 | £1,405.47 |
| Then, monthly rent each | £506.00 | £639.50 |
Start a free house group on EvenRound: housemates join from a link without signing up, and recurring bills add themselves each month. Running costs once you're in are in our shared house cost report.
Figures checked 30 October 2026. This is general information, not legal advice. Free to quote with a link to this page. More in our cost reports.
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