If you’re looking to rent a new home, there are a lot of things you need to think about. Honestly, it’s sometimes enough to give you a headache. But there are some things that are more important to remember, and these need to be at the top of your checklist when you’re getting ready to rent. After all, it’s easy to get swept up in the excitement when you’re browsing through properties on Rightmove! As estate agents, we often meet tenants who are missing some key things when they start looking for a rental property, so today we wanted to share some of our top tips for renters that should be done before you commit to a property.
Know What You’re Looking For
First of all, you need to know what you’re looking for, in order to make your search easier. After all, properties come in all shapes and sizes, and it can be a bit overwhelming to sift through them all. So try to narrow down your search by knowing:
- Where you want to live
- Whether you want furnished or unfurnished
- What your budget is
- When you want to move
- How long you want to rent for
What’s Affordable For You?
Again, rental prices can vary depending on a lot of things, including your location, property size and extra allowances like pets etc. Rent prices also don’t usually include bills or any other kind of services for the home, so you need to make sure you can afford the rent in your chosen property. The best way to do this is to put together a rough budget. A few things you should include are:
- Gas
- Electricity
- Water
- Council tax
If you have a property in mind, you can look at the EPC to give you a rough idea of how much the property will cost to run, and where you could save money in your budget.
Arrange Some Viewings
No good estate agent will recommend you rent a property without viewing it first. Even if you’re looking to relocate and the property is far away, a virtual viewing can be done to give you a feel for the property, and make sure it’s right for you. If you need a Saturday viewing, you need to plan ahead as these are very popular, and if there is a tenant in the property you will have to wait at least 24 hours so that they can be given notice. We recommend you write up a list of questions to ask when viewing the property, as well as things to look for that are important to you.
Find Our What’s Included In The House
Knowing what’s going to be in the property when you start is always a good idea. Furnished properties often come with kitchen appliances and the ‘big ticket’ items like sofas, beds and wardrobes. But sometimes these can vary, so it’s important to ask the question. You can do this by asking to see the current inventory (which will list what is provided), and if you need specific items, ask the estate agent directly. Importantly, just because you’re viewing a furnished property don’t assume it will come furnished, and vice-versa; it’s rather embarrassing to turn up at a property with your van full of furniture only to find it comes furnished; it happens!
How Much Will It Cost To Move
Moving is not a cheap thing, and many people forget that the cost of physically moving can add up pretty quickly. So when you’re putting that budget together, you need to know how much you’ll be spending. The things you need to think about in that first month are:
- The cost of the deposit
- The first month’s rent
- Cost of hiring a moving company
- Moving van hire costs
Get Your Information Ready
When you’ve found the perfect property for you, it’s time to get the paperwork in order! Before renting a property you will need to present a range of documents to the estate agent, so it’s worth spending a little time getting these together in one place before you start your search. This usually includes:
- Photo ID
- Proof of existing address
- Evidence about your income (usually requiring a work reference)
- The name of a guarantor (if you need one)
Make Sure The Property Is Right For You
If you’re looking for a long-term let, you’ll want to make sure the property is right for you before you move in. Some landlords will have requirements or restrictions about who they consider suitable for a property, and you’ll need to check that you meet their requirements. If you have any of the following, you might want to check that the landlord is happy for you to rent:
- Pets
- Poor credit history
- Children
- Support with rent from housing benefit
Find Out Who Manages The Property
Each property will be managed a different way, so it’s important to know who will be in charge of managing your property and who you will be dealing with during your tenancy. It could be an estate agent, it could be a third-party company, or it could be the landlord themselves.
Sort Your Internet Before You Move In
There’s nothing worse than moving into a new property and not being able to access the internet. With so much relying on the internet now, it’s important to get that sorted before you move in. Reserving a date for installation before you move can save you up to 3 weeks delay getting things activated. So once you have the paperwork signed and know when you’re moving in, get the ball rolling.
Get Insured
Finally, get yourself insured. While the landlord is responsible for insuring the building and external area, they aren’t responsible for your belongings. That’s why we strongly recommend taking out cover for your own contents, and any other obligations you may have as a tenant. The most popular options are contents insurance and tenant’s insurance. At Northwood, we aim to provide the best experience for both landlords and tenants in the rental process. If you’ve never rented before, our team are happy to walk you through the process, give you some tips and support you as you find your first property. And even if you’ve rented before, you never know what you might have missed! If you’d like to know more, please just get in touch with the team today.
