If you haven't rented a new home for a while, don't assume the rules are the same as last time.

They aren't.

Some of the biggest changes to private renting in years came into force on 1 May.

If you want the official detail, you can read the GOV.UK guide to the Renters’ Rights Act for tenants.

So if you're looking for somewhere in Peterborough now, here are seven things worth knowing before money changes hands.

1. The old fixed-term AST has gone

Remember signing a six or 12-month assured shorthold tenancy?

For most private renters in England, that's now history.

New private assured tenancies are generally assured periodic tenancies.

In normal language?

They're rolling tenancies rather than having a fixed end date.

Most existing ASTs automatically changed over on 1 May too.

2. You can't be asked for months of rent upfront

This is a big one.

A landlord or letting agent cannot ask you to pay rent before the tenancy agreement has been signed.

Once it has been signed, they can normally ask for up to one month's rent in advance before you move in.

That could make a real difference to renters who previously found themselves being asked for several months upfront.

3. Deposits haven't disappeared

There can still be a holding deposit of up to one week's rent.

A tenancy deposit can generally be up to five weeks' rent where annual rent is below £50,000, rising to six weeks where annual rent is £50,000 or more.

And if a tenancy deposit is taken, it must be protected in a government-approved scheme.

So still ask:

Where is my deposit being protected?

4. Got a pet? The conversation has changed

Previously, renters with pets could find themselves hitting an immediate:

“No pets.”

Now you can ask to keep a pet and the landlord must consider the request. If they refuse, they should give you a reason.

That doesn't mean every landlord has to say yes.

But it does mean asking is worth doing rather than assuming the answer is automatically no.

5. Rental bidding has been stopped

See a Peterborough rental advertised at £1,200 a month?

That should be the asking price.

Landlords and agents must advertise a specific rent and cannot encourage or accept offers above the advertised amount.

So the rental hunt shouldn't turn into:

“Someone else offered £1,300. Can you beat it?”

6. Rent rises have new rules too

For assured periodic tenancies, rent can generally only be increased once a year, and not during the first 12 months of a new tenancy.

The landlord must use the proper process and give at least two months' notice.

And if you believe the proposed increase is above the market rent, there is a route to challenge it.

7. Section 21 has gone

This is probably the change most people have heard about.

From 1 May, landlords can no longer use the old Section 21 “no fault” eviction process for these private tenancies.

If a landlord wants possession, they need a valid legal ground for example, certain circumstances involving selling, moving into the property, rent arrears or antisocial behaviour and must follow the correct process.

Tenants can also normally end an assured periodic tenancy by giving two months' notice, subject to the rules around when that notice ends.

So what should you check before signing?

Don't be afraid to ask basic questions.

What exactly am I paying before moving in?

Where will my deposit be protected?

Who deals with repairs?

What does the inventory say?

What happens if I want to leave?

Can I have my pet?

And does what I'm being told actually match the written agreement?

Because the rules may have changed.

The need to read what you're signing hasn't.

A Peterborough perspective

Y-US Lettings works with landlords and tenants across the Peterborough area, so if the new rules have left you wondering what applies to your situation, you can ask the question before it becomes a problem.

Whether you're renting, moving, a landlord or simply trying to understand the new rules, it's better to ask than guess.

Ten minutes now can be considerably easier than sorting out a disagreement after you've moved in.