Renting for the first time
Discussion
My girlfriend and I are looking to rent our own place in the near future, within 6 months.
Neither of us have rented before and so I'm trying to see if anyone out there can give me some advice on things to look out for, pitfalls to avoid and any things which I may have forgotten to budget for. For what it's worth we're looking to rent in or around York.
Also, what's the usual process for renting?
Any and all help appreciated!
Neither of us have rented before and so I'm trying to see if anyone out there can give me some advice on things to look out for, pitfalls to avoid and any things which I may have forgotten to budget for. For what it's worth we're looking to rent in or around York.
Also, what's the usual process for renting?
Any and all help appreciated!
t. 
I think it may be the case anywhere though.
In 2009/2010 I was paying 675 ish for a 2 bedroom house near to bishopthorpe road. Unfurnished.
Normally you see a property you like, look at it with the agent, they then charge you a lot of money to do a credit check and 'draw up' (photocopy) a contract. You sign, pay, give deposit (make sure its protected), get keys and do an inventory together. Be ANAL. Make them record the tiniest scratch or stain.
Then try your hardest to ignore letting agent unt you move out.
In 2009/2010 I was paying 675 ish for a 2 bedroom house near to bishopthorpe road. Unfurnished.
Normally you see a property you like, look at it with the agent, they then charge you a lot of money to do a credit check and 'draw up' (photocopy) a contract. You sign, pay, give deposit (make sure its protected), get keys and do an inventory together. Be ANAL. Make them record the tiniest scratch or stain.
Then try your hardest to ignore letting agent unt you move out.
Whilst I will not generalise like others, if you are considering a property via a letting agent, then you need to set out from the outset what their charges will be throughout the tenancy contract.
When you are viewing a property, you will also have to vet the agents/landlord, can you get along and work with them?
As for the property, is it next door to a pub, nightclub or church, what are the neighbours curtains, garden like, is there adequate parking, are there lads, youths hanging around.
Once inside the property, you will first want to see the Energy Performance Certificate, check if there is central heating, what type, service providers and whether quarterly payments or meters. Look for security locks on doors and windows, as for the latter are they double glazed, is there mould stains around the walls ceilings in shower room and sleeping quarters.
Find out what white goods (washing machine etc) and furniture, effects are with the property. How long the Tenancy Agreement is for, the amount of rent, what Deposit and who protected with, what the council tax and water payments are, whether the latter again is on meter. Whether the property has landline telephone line, Sky or Cable installed, with the former whether BT line, whether TV aerial fitted.
Hope the above helps.
When you are viewing a property, you will also have to vet the agents/landlord, can you get along and work with them?
As for the property, is it next door to a pub, nightclub or church, what are the neighbours curtains, garden like, is there adequate parking, are there lads, youths hanging around.
Once inside the property, you will first want to see the Energy Performance Certificate, check if there is central heating, what type, service providers and whether quarterly payments or meters. Look for security locks on doors and windows, as for the latter are they double glazed, is there mould stains around the walls ceilings in shower room and sleeping quarters.
Find out what white goods (washing machine etc) and furniture, effects are with the property. How long the Tenancy Agreement is for, the amount of rent, what Deposit and who protected with, what the council tax and water payments are, whether the latter again is on meter. Whether the property has landline telephone line, Sky or Cable installed, with the former whether BT line, whether TV aerial fitted.
Hope the above helps.
When you come to sign the tenancy agreement in the letting agent's office, be very careful of anything else they want you to sign.
My agent pushed a couple of Scottish Power forms in front of me and told me I needed to sign them to take over payment of the gas and electricity bills. Lies. They were actually forms to change supplier to Scottish Power, thereby earning the letting agent a nice commission. Greedy, cheating b******d!
I'd better not name the letting agent but they are one of the leading agents in the south. Yes, definitely one of the LEADERS.
My agent pushed a couple of Scottish Power forms in front of me and told me I needed to sign them to take over payment of the gas and electricity bills. Lies. They were actually forms to change supplier to Scottish Power, thereby earning the letting agent a nice commission. Greedy, cheating b******d!
I'd better not name the letting agent but they are one of the leading agents in the south. Yes, definitely one of the LEADERS.
Edited by JoeBolt on Wednesday 9th November 15:53
Don't discount properties advertised in the local paper. Yes they might not have any glossy photos and well written descriptions. But I found a belting place, being rented out by a very nice couple for at least £100 less than it would have been with an agency.
Everything worked out fine.
Rented a few places before I bought. All worked out ok.
I never did this, but I always wished I had negotiated something like one free month every 12 months I stay. I ended up staying much longer than I initialy expected (2 years in both cases) and I would expect a landlord to find the deal appealling as it encourages a long term tenancy! Either way give somehting a try. Yes rental values are rising, but both times I left, they offered to slash the rental by up to about 30%!!!!
Everything worked out fine.
Rented a few places before I bought. All worked out ok.
I never did this, but I always wished I had negotiated something like one free month every 12 months I stay. I ended up staying much longer than I initialy expected (2 years in both cases) and I would expect a landlord to find the deal appealling as it encourages a long term tenancy! Either way give somehting a try. Yes rental values are rising, but both times I left, they offered to slash the rental by up to about 30%!!!!
Gassing Station | Homes, Gardens and DIY | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff