The Corporate Let is back: why London landlords are suddenly interested again

For years, corporate lets were not necessarily at the top of every London landlord’s wish list.

They could mean more paperwork. More people involved in approving the tenancy. Company contracts to review. Requests for invoices. And, occasionally, the sort of administrative process where everyone involved seems to be waiting for someone in a different department to sign something.

Given the choice between all that and a straightforward private tenancy, many landlords preferred the simpler option.

Well, times have changed.

Since the main tenancy reforms under the Renters’ Rights Act came into effect on 1 May 2026, the corporate let has found itself enjoying something of a comeback.

Why are landlords looking at Corporate Lets again?

A genuine corporate let, where a company rather than an individual is the tenant, sits outside the assured tenancy regime that applies to most private residential tenancies.

This means that many of the changes introduced for assured tenancies under the Renters’ Rights Act do not apply to a company let in the same way.

Suddenly, the extra paperwork doesn’t look quite so tedious.

For landlords, a genuine corporate tenancy can offer greater contractual flexibility, including the possibility of agreeing a fixed term. There may also be the reassurance of having an established company responsible for paying the rent rather than relying solely on the financial circumstances of an individual employee.

And for companies relocating employees to London, a corporate let can offer a practical way to secure accommodation for someone who has only recently arrived in the UK and may not yet have the UK income history or financial footprint normally expected during referencing.

After years of being the slightly awkward cousin of the London rental market, the corporate let is back in fashion.

But corporate lets come with their own complications

Before everyone rushes off to put “Ltd” after their name, there is an important distinction to make.

A corporate let is a genuine business arrangement in which the company is the legal tenant and an individual, usually an employee, occupies the property under that arrangement. It is not simply a private tenant creating a company for the purpose of renting a flat and sidestepping the rules.

The agreement also needs careful attention. A corporate tenancy is not a standard assured tenancy, so the contract should properly reflect the relationship between the landlord, the company and the person who will actually live in the property.

The company itself will usually need to be referenced and landlords may want to examine its financial standing. For smaller, newer or overseas businesses, this can sometimes be more complicated than referencing an individual.

There are practical considerations too. Who pays the deposit? Who is responsible for damage? What happens if the employee leaves the company or is transferred elsewhere? Who pays the utilities and council tax? And, yes, who needs the monthly rent invoice?

All of this needs to be clearly agreed from the outset.

It is also important for the person occupying the property to understand that their legal position is different when the company, rather than the individual, is the tenant. Some of the statutory protections associated with an assured tenancy will not apply in the same way.

A new advantage for international relocations?

For companies moving employees to London, the renewed appetite for corporate lets could be good news.

In a rental market where international arrivals can struggle with UK referencing requirements, particularly if they have no UK credit history or have only just started their UK employment, having an employer willing to take the tenancy can make an application considerably more attractive.

Of course, not every landlord will accept a corporate let, and not every company is willing to become a tenant on behalf of an employee.

But after several years in which corporate lets sometimes felt like the option that generated a collective sigh from everyone involved, they are very much worth considering again.

Further reading

If your company is considering taking a corporate tenancy for a relocating employee, read our detailed guide to what companies need to know before signing a corporate let in London, including the responsibilities, challenges and potential pitfalls.

We also explain what employers and employees should agree between themselves before moving in, from paying household costs to what happens if an assignment ends early.

Need help navigating a corporate let?

At Simply London, we help companies and individuals relocating to London navigate the realities of the rental market, including understanding which tenancy structure may be appropriate for their circumstances.

Because in the London property market, fashions have a habit of coming back around.

Apparently, that now includes corporate lets.

Read more about our Home search services, and contact us today if you need help with your Corporate or Private let.