Tuesday 21-11-2017 - 15:48

1. Tenants are a tenant’s best friend

Ask the current tenants about their time in the property, if you get the opportunity. They will be well placed to give an honest assessment of any pros and cons, as well as an honest insight into any maintenance or repair issues.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Checklist

Take our House Viewing Checklist along with you. Either download or find at the back of our booklet.

3. Take Photos

Going on a viewing can sometimes be really rushed. Take photos so you can remember all the rooms etc. It’s also super handy for any housemates that can’t make it.

P.S. Turn on your phone. Check for a signal to see it's not a mobile dead zone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. ALWAYS check letting agency fees

If you rent a property with a letting agent, always check for any extra fees or charges first, and factor them in. These can be huge and vary between agencies. As of May 2015, letting agents in England must display their fees on their website and in their offices (specifying if they cover the whole house and if each tenant must pay).

5. What comes with the house?

Check what the house comes with, don’t just assume it comes with a washing machine, hoover, kettle, microwave etc. Some landlords make you bring your own – this can add up to extra costs for you!

 

 

 

 

6. Check your deposit's protected

If house comes with an 'assured shorthold tenancy' (the most common type), your landlord MUST put your deposit into a tenancy deposit protection (TDP) scheme within 30 days. Make sure your money is safe – it can be a LOT of money.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7. Renting via a letting agent (Boring, but important stuff)

Check they're a member of a professional body such as the Association of Residential Letting Agents, National Approved Lettings Scheme, UK Association of Letting Agents or National Association of Estate Agents.

8. Your landlord has responsibilities too

If you're renting your property, you're not responsible for everything and there are several things your landlord needs to take care of.

• A Gas Safety Certificate
• Deposit Protection Scheme paperwork
• A fire safety label on any furniture that's been provided.
• An Energy Performance Certificate.
• A copy of the Government's How to Rent guide (either a link or printed copy).

 

Our Ready to Rent campaign is up and running and we have a number of resources to make house hunting an exciting and stress-free experience.

We also have our Housing Advice Fair on 30 November. This is a great opportunity to meet ethical letting agents and take part in talks aimed at making you more housing savvy!

Get Ready to Rent now!