Renting a Property

[Marky Mark88]

It goes like this,

My girlfriends cousin is currently living in a rented property with his other half, and they keep splitting up/cant afford it etc etc. so me and the missus were thinking about taking on the tenancy. Im off to watch the darts tomorrow, so won't be around, whilst my girlfriend is going to meet the landlord of the property for a bit of a chat about us taking it on when her cousin moves out (imminent apparently).

This would be the first time i have moved out of home and the same for her, so is totally new (but exciting) territory!

What questions should she ask the (potential) landlord about the property and what information do we need to know?

I have no idea how these things work, so teach me to suck eggs guys!

Cheers,

Mark

[mk1fan]

You need to know what the rent is, how it's to be paid, where your deposit is being held, what bills are and aren't included.

[trix-a-belle]

basics would be;

Deposit (amount)
Rent (amount)
Get confirmation deposit will be held in protected account https://www.depositprotection.com/Public/Legislati...
What bills included or excluded?
What can/can't you do to the property (decorating wise)
Notice period (from either party)
Who fixes/pays for issues arising (broken boiler/maintenance etc)
Whether pets are allowed/excluded
What is included in the property (inventory)

[briSk]

...is it furnished

sort of irrespective of this.. you need to know how detailed the inventory. personally i have preferred really detailed ones. at least this way everyone knows that the wardrobe has a bit missing etc..

deposit protection thing is exactly right.

not a deal breaker but it's nice to know if the agents have a maintainance person.

our last agents were Lanes in MK and they were very professional.

your move i think it was were absolutely scumbags and basically stole £300 of our money.

[Maxf]

What council tax band it is in, and how much it costs.
How is heating/hot water supplied (run a mile if its all electric, IMO)
Look for signs of damp and/or poor maintenance.
Look at the doors and windows - are they secure and will your home insurance cover contents with them (ie 5 lever door locks, locking windows).
Who is responsible for the garden if it has one - if its you does the LL leave a lawn mower on site for you.

just off the top of my head.

[stefd]

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/resources/property-guid...

[Marky Mark88]

Thanks for all your help, we managed to get the place!

Lovely little house with a garage, garden, 6 month old kitchen and ample space for the two of us. All in a lovely area for 500 a month, with the landlord paying water and sewage (so basically 450 a month)

Hopefully be moving in on the 1st of Jan, anything we should be doing before then? Apart from the obvious of getting all our stuff in!

Cheers,

Mark

[trix-a-belle]

make sure you have set up the payment to be in on the correct day, & have a camera on hand to take pics of everything to show condition before you move any of your stuff in.