A Tenants' Guide to Renting

Make a list of your essential requirements for your rented property, which should include:

SIZE

• The minimum number and size of bedrooms for your household

MOVE IN DATE

• A landlord will normally receive one month’s notice that tenants are moving out and they will try to find new tenants as quickly as possible. As a result, most rented properties are only available for a few weeks before they are let

FURNISHING

• Most properties are provided part-furnished, which means the landlords will supply the basic furnishings, which include beds, sofas and kitchen appliances

• This leaves you room to add your own bits and make the house more of your own home. However, student accommodation is normally fully furnished

RENTAL BUDGETS

• Don’t forget to budget for bills and council tax

• Close to work, availability to bus routes/tube stations/main roads, school catchments

CHILDREN

• If you have young children, then you will probably want ground floor accommodation or a property with a lift

• Check if there is a garden for your children to pay and avoid properties where the front door leads directly onto a main road

TENANCY RESTRICTIONS

Your agreement may limit the uses to which you can put the property and you must check for any restrictions that could be included:

PETS

• It is common for the landlord’s insurance policy to stop pets being kept at the property

• If you are allowed a pet, then expect to pay a premium and to pay for steam cleaning of carpets and flea de-infestation at the end of the tenancy

SMOKERS

• Many managed properties adhere to a strict NO-SMOKING policy, smokers are taken on but told to smoke outside the property

• Smoke damages the decorative surfaces of the property and leaves a smell which repels non-smokers

YOUNG CHILDREN

• Crayon marks on walls, sticky handprints and extra wear and tear can mean that some landlords would prefer a childless professional couple

• However, if it’s a larger house with a garden, then it’s well worth asking the landlord, though apartments with balconies are a no-go area for children

SHARERS

• Higher levels of wear and tear and a requirement in some circumstances for the property to be licensed as a ‘’House in Multiple Occupation (HMO)’’ with attendant costs for the landlord

• Shared properties command a higher rent to compensate the landlord

BENEFIT RECIPIENTS

• The landlords’ insurers and mortgage lender may impose this restriction

FINDING A PROPERTY TO RENT

Create the widest possible selection of properties that you could consider:

• Your search criteria should be based upon the lowest number of bedrooms you would need, the maximum price you could afford, a reasonable drive time radius from you where you want to live, and the latest date by which you need to move

• Research local information e.g. transport links, schools, important to get a ‘feel’ for an area before booking viewing appointments

• For an agent to help you find the correct property, you need to be truthful and realistic about your budget and requirements

• Do not pay an agent an application fee before you have found suitable property and you wish to apply for a tenancy

VIEWING PROPERTIES

• You must always view your future home before making a decision, no matter how much you enjoyed the property descriptions as a prospective tenant

• View the property together if you are moving in with a partner or sharing

• View properties that you are considering as quickly as possible one after the other. This will give you a better chance of being able to compare each property you view

• Take a tape measure to check if your furniture will fit and a pen and paper to make notes

• Ask to see the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) for the property

Get in touch with the team at Jo & Co Property Management for further advice on finding a property.