UK property and housing portals for renting & buying homes as a new arrival

Rightmove is the largest UK property portal by listing volume and is the first port of call for most renters. Zoopla carries a substantial overlapping inventory. OnTheMarket often lists new properties 24–48 hours before the other portals under its ‘only with us’ rule — checking it regularly can give you a first-mover advantage in competitive markets.

Yes. The major portals are freely accessible without registration from any country. You can save searches, set up email alerts for new listings, and conduct video viewings with most agents. However, most UK landlords and agencies require a UK guarantor or 6 months’ rent upfront if you don’t yet have a UK credit history — worth factoring into your planning.

Rightmove has the broadest listing inventory and highest traffic. Zoopla adds valuation data and neighbourhood insights. OnTheMarket is agency-owned and often receives exclusive listings before other portals. For best coverage, search all three — most serious property hunters run saved searches on at least Rightmove and OnTheMarket simultaneously.

You will need a UK bank account to pay your deposit and rent by the time you sign a tenancy agreement. Most landlords and agents won’t accept recurring international transfers for rent. Opening a digital bank account (Monzo, Starling) before or immediately on arrival is strongly recommended — most can be opened with a passport and a UK address.

Set instant email alerts for your target area, price range and property type across more than one portal. Check listing dates and contact agents on the same day for popular rentals — good properties in major cities let within 24–72 hours. Use Zoopla’s area comparison tools to research commute times, schools and local amenities before committing to a neighbourhood.

They can be, particularly for renters. An aggregator pulls listings from many agent and landlord sites into a single feed, so you spend less time checking dozens of sites individually and can react faster when something new appears. They work best alongside the main portals rather than as a replacement — the goal is wide coverage and fast alerts, since speed is often what wins a competitive rental.

In high-demand cities, well-priced rentals can be let within 24 to 72 hours of appearing online, sometimes faster. Desirable listings often receive multiple enquiries within hours. Being set up with instant alerts and ready to view and apply the same day makes a meaningful difference, especially if you are competing without a UK credit history or guarantor.

It is possible, but you may be asked for additional reassurance. Common options include providing a UK-based guarantor, paying several months’ rent in advance, or supplying references and proof of income from abroad. Some letting agents specialise in working with international tenants and are more familiar with these situations, so it can be worth seeking those out if standard referencing is a barrier.

Searching listings and setting up alerts on the major property portals is free for home seekers. Some search tools and aggregators offer a free tier alongside an optional paid upgrade that unlocks extra features such as direct contact details or unlimited viewings. Always check what a given service includes for free and what sits behind a subscription before signing up.

If you are buying, new-build developments can be worth considering — they often come with warranties and predictable condition, which some new arrivals prefer. Many developments are sold directly by developers or specialist new-build agents and don’t always feature prominently on the main portals, so a dedicated new-build portal can surface options you might otherwise miss. Buying off-plan can also give you more lead time to organise finances and your move.