Going to see a rented house - Advice please!
Discussion
Hi all,
I'm looking at renting a place with my girlfriend and moving in together, I've never rented a house before (Only flatshares) so was wondering what kind of things I need to be asking when I go on a viewing?
And when usually do they take deposits? Along with the first months rent? Problem is I'm not sure I can fork out that much money in one go without waiting another month or so!
I'm looking at renting a place with my girlfriend and moving in together, I've never rented a house before (Only flatshares) so was wondering what kind of things I need to be asking when I go on a viewing?
And when usually do they take deposits? Along with the first months rent? Problem is I'm not sure I can fork out that much money in one go without waiting another month or so!
They'll want the deposit pretty quickly, normally about the same time they process your application. They'll possibly want references and an admin fee at the same time, maybe even an application fee - so, in sum, ask what fees are there ON TOP of the deposit or you may get a nasty surprise.
Also worth asking what the minimum rental period is and what you are allowed to do to the porperty (eg can you put a satellite dish up?). Is the phone line already connected, if not could be another £100 to throw at that. Do you have pets? If so is there an extra charge / move out cleaning charge?
Are there 'maintenance' charges if it's a flat or anything with any communal areas / grounds. Is the rent negotiable (everything is, so try!).
Good luck!
Also worth asking what the minimum rental period is and what you are allowed to do to the porperty (eg can you put a satellite dish up?). Is the phone line already connected, if not could be another £100 to throw at that. Do you have pets? If so is there an extra charge / move out cleaning charge?
Are there 'maintenance' charges if it's a flat or anything with any communal areas / grounds. Is the rent negotiable (everything is, so try!).
Good luck!
Edited by LeeME3 on Tuesday 6th April 16:08
Scott330ci said:
Go in for £500 at first
Exactly - they want to rent out the property and if it is empty when you view they will be eager to get someone in as soon as possible. Make an offer below the rent being asked for - every pound saved is another one in your pocket.
Edited by soad on Tuesday 6th April 16:16
Going back to the deposit thing, we have just moved into a place..
Agent took £200 holding deposit when we agreed a price
Then they took £100 each for references and admin
We then had to stump up £1600 on the day we collected the keys, this accounted for the rest of the deposit and the first months rent in advance
What may help you is that most of the bills are paid in arrears, so when you move in, you dont actually have a lot going out straight away on bills, they can come out of the next paycheck
In my area (S.E London) those agency fees were pretty typical
With regard to an offer, if its been on since Jan then yeah put in a take the p
s offer and also question why, is the rent too high or are there other issues
I would visit the property on a few occasions (just wander past) and listen for noise or look for pissheads etc
I moved into a fantastic flat a year ago, couldn't believe the price I got it for, 2 weeks in I found out why, Students below playing music all night long and pissheads congregating outside, it was hell
Find the right place and you will love it though
Good Luck
Agent took £200 holding deposit when we agreed a price
Then they took £100 each for references and admin
We then had to stump up £1600 on the day we collected the keys, this accounted for the rest of the deposit and the first months rent in advance
What may help you is that most of the bills are paid in arrears, so when you move in, you dont actually have a lot going out straight away on bills, they can come out of the next paycheck
In my area (S.E London) those agency fees were pretty typical
With regard to an offer, if its been on since Jan then yeah put in a take the p
s offer and also question why, is the rent too high or are there other issuesI would visit the property on a few occasions (just wander past) and listen for noise or look for pissheads etc
I moved into a fantastic flat a year ago, couldn't believe the price I got it for, 2 weeks in I found out why, Students below playing music all night long and pissheads congregating outside, it was hell
Find the right place and you will love it though
Good Luck
Big ones in my book (beyond the usual basics) are around TV/internet. Easy to assume it'll be OK but worth getting answers, preferably via email so you've got a record of:
- whether there's a working Sky/Virgin feed
- if they mind it being installed (if you have a strong preference)
- if you don't like paying for your TV, does the aerial work properly? Don't accept "yes, there's an aerial".
- is there a working BT line, and can you get ADSL over it?
Also worth checking if water is metered or not (I've lived in a place where the landlord didn't like the idea of metering, refused to get it changed and my water bill was about 10 times what it should have been!), what the heating system is (hopefully not horrible economy 7 things), worth checking when you visit to view things like the pressure of the shower. If there's a garden check how far your responsibilities go and see if equipment to maintain it (lawnmower, etc) are provided.
They're legally required to, but worth following up to check that your deposit is secured in one of the approved schemes and that you have the details of it.
- whether there's a working Sky/Virgin feed
- if they mind it being installed (if you have a strong preference)
- if you don't like paying for your TV, does the aerial work properly? Don't accept "yes, there's an aerial".
- is there a working BT line, and can you get ADSL over it?
Also worth checking if water is metered or not (I've lived in a place where the landlord didn't like the idea of metering, refused to get it changed and my water bill was about 10 times what it should have been!), what the heating system is (hopefully not horrible economy 7 things), worth checking when you visit to view things like the pressure of the shower. If there's a garden check how far your responsibilities go and see if equipment to maintain it (lawnmower, etc) are provided.
They're legally required to, but worth following up to check that your deposit is secured in one of the approved schemes and that you have the details of it.
sjg said:
Big ones in my book (beyond the usual basics) are around TV/internet. Easy to assume it'll be OK but worth getting answers, preferably via email so you've got a record of:
- whether there's a working Sky/Virgin feed
- if they mind it being installed (if you have a strong preference)
- if you don't like paying for your TV, does the aerial work properly? Don't accept "yes, there's an aerial".
- is there a working BT line, and can you get ADSL over it?
Also worth checking if water is metered or not (I've lived in a place where the landlord didn't like the idea of metering, refused to get it changed and my water bill was about 10 times what it should have been!), what the heating system is (hopefully not horrible economy 7 things), worth checking when you visit to view things like the pressure of the shower. If there's a garden check how far your responsibilities go and see if equipment to maintain it (lawnmower, etc) are provided.
They're legally required to, but worth following up to check that your deposit is secured in one of the approved schemes and that you have the details of it.
+1 Excellent post/advice, also ensure gas, electric is with no third party via meters etc., and for checking council tax band/rates use this link;- whether there's a working Sky/Virgin feed
- if they mind it being installed (if you have a strong preference)
- if you don't like paying for your TV, does the aerial work properly? Don't accept "yes, there's an aerial".
- is there a working BT line, and can you get ADSL over it?
Also worth checking if water is metered or not (I've lived in a place where the landlord didn't like the idea of metering, refused to get it changed and my water bill was about 10 times what it should have been!), what the heating system is (hopefully not horrible economy 7 things), worth checking when you visit to view things like the pressure of the shower. If there's a garden check how far your responsibilities go and see if equipment to maintain it (lawnmower, etc) are provided.
They're legally required to, but worth following up to check that your deposit is secured in one of the approved schemes and that you have the details of it.
http://www.voa.gov.uk/cti/InitS.asp?lcn=0
Wings said:
sjg said:
Big ones in my book (beyond the usual basics) are around TV/internet. Easy to assume it'll be OK but worth getting answers, preferably via email so you've got a record of:
- whether there's a working Sky/Virgin feed
- if they mind it being installed (if you have a strong preference)
- if you don't like paying for your TV, does the aerial work properly? Don't accept "yes, there's an aerial".
- is there a working BT line, and can you get ADSL over it?
Also worth checking if water is metered or not (I've lived in a place where the landlord didn't like the idea of metering, refused to get it changed and my water bill was about 10 times what it should have been!), what the heating system is (hopefully not horrible economy 7 things), worth checking when you visit to view things like the pressure of the shower. If there's a garden check how far your responsibilities go and see if equipment to maintain it (lawnmower, etc) are provided.
They're legally required to, but worth following up to check that your deposit is secured in one of the approved schemes and that you have the details of it.
+1 Excellent post/advice, also ensure gas, electric is with no third party via meters etc., and for checking council tax band/rates use this link;- whether there's a working Sky/Virgin feed
- if they mind it being installed (if you have a strong preference)
- if you don't like paying for your TV, does the aerial work properly? Don't accept "yes, there's an aerial".
- is there a working BT line, and can you get ADSL over it?
Also worth checking if water is metered or not (I've lived in a place where the landlord didn't like the idea of metering, refused to get it changed and my water bill was about 10 times what it should have been!), what the heating system is (hopefully not horrible economy 7 things), worth checking when you visit to view things like the pressure of the shower. If there's a garden check how far your responsibilities go and see if equipment to maintain it (lawnmower, etc) are provided.
They're legally required to, but worth following up to check that your deposit is secured in one of the approved schemes and that you have the details of it.
http://www.voa.gov.uk/cti/InitS.asp?lcn=0
ask whats included and what isnt with regards to furniture
check out the neighbours gardens- well kept? cars newish/maintained?
speak to neighbours, if not next door then a few doors away.
check you both get mobile signals throughout the house
heating- new boiler, covered in a maintenence agreement? (better if is)0
check effect on your car insurance as may go up
check how much home insurance is (see if its high risk)
near a pub? ie drunks walking home or a school?
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