Guide to Renting Property
Guide for Tenants
Finding the right place to live is likely to be at the top of your to-do list if you are relocating to the UK or a local resident who has a new job in another area. The good news is that there is a thriving rental property market with accommodation to suit all preferences and budgets, so finding the right place shouldn’t be too difficult.
Let’s get started with this helpful rent guide to the entire process.
Before you begin your search
Before you begin your search
You should prepare financially by learning about the costs and permitted payments associated with renting as you will also need to pay a security deposit and possibly one month’s rent in advance before moving in. You should also need to learn about the basics of renting a property in the UK. These preliminary checks establish that you can afford the rent and will thus be a good tenant.
On the other hand, you also need to consider what kind of property you want and what best suits your current lifestyle. Below are some of the common questions you need to ask yourself.
- How much is your maximum budget for the rental fee?
- How many bedrooms do you prefer?
- Which location do you want to rent?
- How long do you want the tenancy for?
- Do you own a car and thus require off-street parking or a garage?
- Do you have a lot of furniture and need an unfurnished rental, or do you have a little and would prefer a part-furnished rental?
- Have you recently graduated from university and lacked furniture, necessitating the need for a fully furnished apartment?
- If you choose a furnished or partially furnished apartment, you must maintain the furniture or risk losing some or all of your deposit to cover the damage.
- Do you want or require a garden for yourself, your family, your children, or your pets?
Schedule a viewing
Schedule a viewing
The only way to truly understand the type of property you might rent is to schedule some viewings.
Go through your list of favourite properties, then schedule viewings through the website or with the branch that is renting the property. Many letting agents provide video tours or virtual viewings so you can get a sense of the property and whether or not it’s right for you before paying a visit.
Bring your list of criteria to the viewings to ensure the property is a good fit. It is also a good idea to prepare a list of questions to ask; here are some examples:
- How much does rent cost per calendar month?
- What exactly is included in the rent?
- What other bills are there? What is the most likely price? In the case of a house share, how are the bills divided, and who pays them?
- How much of a deposit is required? Where will my deposit be safe?
- What permitted payments must I make to establish the tenancy?
- Are there any additional payments allowed if I choose to renew the tenancy?
- What is the duration of the tenancy agreement?
- When I want to leave the property, how much notice do I need to give?
- In the event of an emergency, who should I call?
- What kind of property insurance does the landlord have? What kind of insurance do I need to protect myself?
Tenant Referencing
Guarantor Referencing
