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The short answer
Under the CBN's 2026 Foreign Exchange Manual, effective 1 June 2026, outward transfers from a self-funded domiciliary account no longer need Form A, so a parent can wire rent to a UK landlord through their bank. Send pounds from a GBP domiciliary account where possible: if dollars arrive, the landlord's UK bank converts them with its own margin and may deduct a receiving fee, leaving the rent short. Allow several working days, since a SWIFT payment from outside the EEA has no fixed arrival time.
Many Nigerian students and new arrivals in the UK have rent paid by a parent or sponsor at home. A domiciliary account, holding dollars or pounds in Nigeria, is the natural source. The rules for sending from it changed in June 2026, and the UK side has its own rules on how much rent a landlord can ask for upfront. Both affect how you set this up, and getting either wrong usually shows up as rent that arrives late or a few pounds short.
What changed on the Nigerian side
Reports on the 4th edition of the CBN Foreign Exchange Manual, effective 1 June 2026, agree on the main point and differ on one detail:
- Form A
- Mondaq (Pavestones Legal, 24 June 2026) and TheNigeriaLawyer (2 June 2026) report that Form A is no longer required for outward remittances from self-funded domiciliary accounts.
- Source of funds
- TheCable (3 June 2026) reports that no source-of-funds disclosure is needed to open or fund a domiciliary account.
- US$10,000 a day
- Pavestones describes direct transfers of up to US$10,000 a day without exhaustive trade documents; TheCable reports a domiciliary transfer figure of US$10,000 a day; TheNigeriaLawyer describes it as a cap on cash deposits. The reports conflict, so the account holder should ask their bank.
Monthly rent sits well within US$10,000 on any reading. A large upfront payment for several months may not, which matters if the landlord asks for it. Our Nigeria guide to the 2026 FX Manual for personal accounts has the detail.
How much rent can be asked for upfront?
In England, the Renters' Rights Act changes from 1 May 2026 mean a landlord cannot take rent before the tenancy is signed, and after signing can ask for no more than one month's rent in advance, according to GOV.UK's tenant overview. That makes monthly payments from Nigeria the normal pattern for new tenancies in England. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own rules. See rent in advance for international renters.
Why the currency you send matters
Rent is due in pounds. If a parent sends dollars, the landlord's bank converts them. Lloyds Bank's page on receiving money from abroad, as an example, says foreign currency is converted at its standard rate with a margin over wholesale of 3.55% for amounts up to £10,000, and charges £7 to receive a payment over £100 (£2 up to £100). Other banks differ, but the pattern is common.
Worked example
Example only. Rent is £1,200 a month. The parent sends US$1,560, which is £1,200 at an assumed wholesale rate of US$1.30 to £1.
| Step | Sent in dollars | Sent in pounds |
|---|---|---|
| Amount sent | US$1,560 | £1,200 |
| Landlord's bank converts with 3.55% margin (Lloyds example) | £1,158.86 | No conversion |
| Receiving fee (Lloyds, payment over £100) | −£7.00 | −£7.00 |
| Landlord receives | £1,151.86 | £1,193.00 |
| Short by | £48.14 | £7.00 |
Sending from a GBP domiciliary account, and asking the parent's bank to send so that the sender pays all charges where it offers that option, gets closest to the full rent. Intermediary banks can also take a fee on international payments, so build in a small buffer or agree with the landlord how shortfalls are handled. Our guide to GBP domiciliary accounts covers setting one up.
Timing
- No fixed arrival time. Lloyds says timing for payments from outside the EEA depends on the sender's bank. Ask the Nigerian bank its cut-off and usual delivery time to the UK.
- Send early. Instruct the payment at least a week before the due date for the first few months, until you know how long it takes.
- Keep the SWIFT confirmation. If a payment goes missing, the UK bank needs the reference (UETR) to trace it.
- Use the same reference every month. Your name and the property address help the landlord or agent match a payment that arrives from a name they do not recognise.
Steps
- Agree with the landlord or agent the account details, the reference and that payments will come from a named third party in Nigeria.
- The parent confirms with their bank the outward transfer process, cut-off and charges for a domiciliary transfer.
- Send pounds where possible, at least a week before the due date.
- Share the confirmation with the landlord and keep a copy.
Where Pryme fits
A parent in Nigeria can pay naira or pounds into a Pryme account, and the student can hold pounds with local UK account details, so rent can be paid from a sterling balance in the UK rather than wired from Nigeria each month. Conversions through Swap show the rate and fee first. Outside Nigeria, Pryme's services are carried out through regulated partners. For a direct arrangement, see Nigerian parents paying UK rent directly.
Questions people ask
Do I need Form A to pay UK rent from a domiciliary account?
Not for a self-funded domiciliary account, according to June 2026 reports on the CBN's new FX Manual. The account holder's bank confirms its own process.
Is there a limit on sending money from a dom account to the UK?
Reports cite a US$10,000 daily figure but disagree on what it applies to. Monthly rent is usually well below it; ask the bank before a large payment.
Should my parents send dollars or pounds for my UK rent?
Pounds where possible. If dollars arrive, the landlord's bank converts them with its own margin and may charge a receiving fee, leaving the rent short.
Can my landlord ask for six months' rent upfront?
In England, GOV.UK says that since 1 May 2026 landlords can ask for no more than one month's rent in advance after signing. Other UK nations have their own rules.
Sources
- Mondaq (Pavestones Legal): The CBN Foreign Exchange Manual 2026 (24 Jun 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- TheNigeriaLawyer: CBN grants domiciliary account holders unrestricted access (2 Jun 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- TheCable: CBN FX Manual 2026 (3 Jun 2026) · accessed Oct 2026
- GOV.UK: Renters' Rights Act overview for tenants · accessed Oct 2026
- Lloyds Bank: Receive money from outside the UK · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.