“Disclaimer:Tenant Support UK is not a law firm and does not provide regulated legal advice. All content on this website is for general informational purposes only, based on publicly available legal guidance and personal experience. If you need legal advice tailored to your situation, please consult a qualified solicitor or a trusted housing advice service.“

Imagine this: your landlord knocks (or texts, more likely) and says, “We’ll give you £500 to move out by Friday.” No notice. No paperwork. Just a fistful of cash and a smile that says, “Let’s not involve the legal system, shall we?”

Welcome to the shadowy world of cash for keys, where landlords pay tenants to leave… quietly. And if you’re a UK tenant, you need to understand this practice, because cash for keys is legal, shady, tempting, risky, and often offered when your rights are strongest.

What is “Cash for Keys”?

Cash for keys is when a landlord or letting agent offers you a cash payment to vacate your property voluntarily, usually instead of serving an official eviction notice or going to court. It sounds like a bribe because, well… it kind of is. But legally speaking, it’s an agreement. If both parties consent, no pressure, no threats, it can be valid.

Why Do Landlords Offer Cash for Keys?

Because they want you out. Fast. Quietly. Without paperwork. Without council involvement.
And (spoiler alert) they probably can’t evict you easily through the proper channels.

Here’s why landlords might dangle the cash carrot:

• They’re avoiding a legal eviction process (which can take months)
• The property is unlicensed (hello, Rent Repayment Order risk!)
• There’s a pending sale and you’re “in the way”
• They know they’ve breached your tenancy rights and want you gone before you realise it
• You’ve complained to the council or reported disrepair, and they’re panicking

How Much Cash for Keys is Usually Offered?

Get ready to laugh or cry.

Some landlords offer as little as £100 the price of a good microwave.
Others offer £1,000–£2,000 or more, especially in cities or high-risk situations. There are no fixed rules, and that’s the point: cash for keys is informal, off-the-record, and designed to look like a favour.

Here’s the Truth: If They’re Offering Cash… You’re Holding the Cards

If someone’s offering you money to leave your own home, ask why.
Ask yourself:

• Have I done anything wrong?
• Is my tenancy still valid?
• Is this offer a shortcut around proper eviction?

Because the truth is, if they could legally evict you, they would.
They wouldn’t offer you a penny.

Cash for Keys vs Section 21 (or Section 8)

Let’s compare: So you might be thinking: “Well, at least I get something with cash for keys, right?”, yes. But…

What You Might Be Giving Up (Without Realising)

• Your legal right to remain in the property
• Potential compensation (for disrepair, harassment, illegal eviction, etc.)
• The ability to stay until the council rehouses you
• Protection from becoming “intentionally homeless” (which affects benefits/housing)

If you leave just because someone flashed cash, you may lose your eligibility for council housing help, and your case could be dismissed as “voluntary homelessness.”

Tenants Who Should Be Extra Cautious

• Tenants in unlicensed HMOs
• Tenants who recently reported disrepair or hazards
• Tenants who weren’t given a legal tenancy agreement
• Tenants who are receiving benefits and need official eviction to trigger help
• Tenants who suspect their landlord is trying to avoid Rent Repayment Orders

If this sounds like you?
Take the money only if it makes sense after weighing up your legal position, and preferably after speaking to someone who knows tenant law.

Funny (But Real) Signs You’re Being Cash-for-Keyed

• “I’ll even help you move out myself!” (Yeah. I bet you will.)
• “I’ll give you £300 and write you a nice reference.” (Why do I suddenly feel like I’ve been fired?)
• “No need for any formal process. It’s better for everyone this way.” (Better for who exactly?)
• “This stays between us.” (Of course it does. And I’ll just ignore the mould, rats, and seven-bedroom HMO you’re not declaring.)

So Should You Ever Accept Cash for Keys?

Sometimes, yes but never blindly.

You might accept if:

• You’re ready to leave anyway
• You negotiate a fair amount (think £1,000+, especially if they’re desperate)
• You document everything in writing
• You’ve been advised it won’t harm your housing rights

But remember: you’re not obligated to accept. Ever.

How to Respond to a Cash for Keys Offer (Like a Boss)

1. Ask for everything in writing.
2. Don’t agree on the spot. Say you’ll think about it.
3. Check your tenancy rights. Are you on a periodic tenancy? Are they breaking the law?
4. Contact Shelter, Citizens Advice, or a tenants’ group.
5. Negotiate up. If they offered £400, ask for £1,200 and a clean reference and make it clear you know your rights.

Cash for Keys Is a Red Flag and an Opportunity

It’s not always a scam. It’s not always bad. But it’s always strategic and it usually means the landlord is the one on thin ice.

If you’re being offered cash for keys, it means:

• You have leverage.
• You likely have strong legal rights.
• And you might be entitled to a lot more than what’s being offered.

So take a breath. Ask questions. Don’t let the panic push you into a bad deal.
And remember, tenants aren’t powerless anymore.

The Toolbox: 9 Ways to Fight Back Without Moving to Mars

1. Shelter England – england.shelter.org.uk — 0808 800 4444.
2. Citizens Advice Redditch & Bromsgrove – citizensadviceredditch.org.uk.
3. TSUK Letters Templates – TenantSupportUK.com
4. ACORN Community Union – acorntheunion.org.uk.
5. Generation Rent – generationrent.org.
6. Renters Reform Coalition – rentersreformcoalition.co.uk.
7. Housing Ombudsman Service – housing-ombudsman.org.uk.
8. Redditch Borough Council Housing Solutions – redditchbc.gov.uk/housing or call 01527 587 000.
9. Tenancy Deposit Schemes – depositprotection.com (DPS) • tenancydepositscheme (TDS) • mydeposits.co.uk (MyDeposits)

Tenant Support UK

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