The world of renting property can be baffling to beginners.
Anyone looking to rent a place to live for the first time needs to learn some basics – and it can be a minefield. Current reports show that competition for rental properties is high, so it’s important to know what you’re doing before you start. Here’s our guide to getting prepared.
1. Register with agencies
Make sure that you choose a reputable agent. A good agent will have relationships with good landlords and should be able to guide you through your options. Remember that landlords and agents are not allowed to charge any fees, so anyone requiring you to pay to sign up, or demanding a fee for administration, credit checks or references is acting illegally and should be avoided. Ideally you will know what you’re looking for – whether it’s a one-bedroom flat ro a three-bedroom house, for instance, and roughly where you’d like to live. The agent should be able to give you a clear idea of what your budget can realistically achieve. If you need to adjust your expectations it’s a good idea to do that at the start. There’s no point viewing lots of properties you can’t afford.
2. The viewing
Make sure that you check in with your agent regularly, and ask them to contact you when something suitable comes up. There might be lots of people competing for the same property, so try and view it as soon as possible. When viewing a property, you’re looking for more than just whether you like it. It’s important to check out the details: do the taps work? What kind of heating is there? Whether the place is furnished or unfurnished, are white goods included and who is responsible for their maintenance? There should be at least one smoke alarm on each floor, and if there’s a garden, are tenants responsible for its upkeep?
3. Energy consumption
Ask to see the Energy Performance Certificate. The better the rating, the lower your fuel bills will be. Look at the property’s windows: are they double-glazed? Check for any signs of mould and flag anything suspicious. Investigate the heating and look at whether the system is likely to be expensive to run. Also check that there is a working carbon monoxide detector.
4. Have your deposit in order
Deposits are generally five or six weeks’ rent, and must be refunded at the end of the tenancy. Landlords are required by law to put all deposits into government-approved tenancy deposit schemes for the duration of the tenancy, and return them at the end, so check that this is part of the agreement before you hand over any money.
5. The contract
Tenancy agreements usually specify a fixed period of either six or 12 months. Check the break clause: it might be that you are able to give notice after a certain period of time (and so is the landlord). Make sure you understand all the terms (including things like smoking, pets and hanging pictures on the walls) and check the inventory of fixtures and fittings, because this is a record of things you are responsible for. Once you are happy with everything, collect the keys and move in!