10 Easy Hacks For Tenants To Win At Renting

Zahraa Valu

By Zahraa Valu

07 December 2015

With rental properties being snapped up like hotcakes in a frantic market, there’s definitely an art to being a good and successful tenant. So, from first viewings to taking occupancy, here are our top tips to help any first-time tenants get ahead in this competitive rental market. While it may not all be smooth sailing, by following our handy hints your rental process should be as stress-free as possible.

When you’re looking for a rental property…

  1. Make sure you research the area you want to rent in thoroughly and analyse what it is that makes it so attractive to you. This might sound obvious but knowing what draws you to one suburb (be it café culture, commute or bars and nightlife) means that you’ll quickly know if there’s another area that might offer you the same things, should you be unable to find something suitable in the neighbourhood that you first target. It will also help you identify what’s important to you and what you can do without.
  2. Be realistic about whether a rental property meets your needs. It’s easy to be taken in by a well-dressed rental property. Seduced by the soft furnishings, you might quickly forget that the 15-minute walk to the station is too long to do in heels or that the second bedroom is too small for the home office that you need. Make sure you can fit the life that you have, not the one that you want, into a rental property.
  3. Don’t forget the bills. When viewing properties at the top end of your budget, it can be tempting to stretch yourself a little further if you see a house that you love. That’s all well and good, but don’t forget to factor TV licence, council tax, internet access and utility bills into your final budget. Then be realistic about what you can afford.
  4. When it comes to viewings, flexibility and speed win the day. It’s an overcrowded market with good properties being snapped up within hours of being advertised. If you can be flexible and reactive when it comes to viewings and are able to make decisions quickly, you’ll have much more luck than someone who can only view properties on evenings and weekends and can’t make up his mind.
  5. If you’re renting via a letting agent (as the vast majority of tenants do) make sure to check whether they are a member of one of the leading industry bodies ARLA, NALS or RICS.  Each of these organisations imposes rules on their members to help to protect both tenants and their landlords.

When you’re moving into your rental property…

  1. Safety first – make sure that all the appliances have been checked and certified. Landlords have a legal duty to have all gas appliances in their property checked annually – make sure they’ve been checked by a Gas Safe registered engineer. And be sure to check that the new requirements relating to smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms for rental properties have been complied with.
  2. In addition to the safety stuff, it’s also a good idea to make sure you know how everything works as soon as you move in. Now’s the time to check that the white goods come with manuals and operating the microwave doesn’t require a masters degree.
  3. It might be unrealistic to expect that good neighbours will become good friends, but it’s definitely worth introducing yourself when you move in. Neighbours are a valuable source of information on the area and establishing a good relationship from the start can only make your life easier. Plus, you know where to go to in an emergency if you run out of milk!
  4. Moving in with a mate? Make sure that you both have the same expectations when it comes to how you plan to live together and for how long. Many a beautiful friendship has been tarnished by flatmates having completely different ideas on how long they’re planning to live together and who’s responsibility it is to buy the milk (or borrow it from the neighbours!).
  5. It’s also worth checking out what kind of a tenancy agreement you’re on. In a flatshare on a joint tenancy agreement, if your housemate refuses to pay the rent or the bills, you’re liable in his place. If you both sign individual tenancy agreements, it’s the landlord’s responsibility to chase up your flatmate, not yours.
  6. Don’t underestimate the importance of the inventory. While going through the inventory on the day you move in may seem like an incredibly boring process when you’re itching to unpack and begin your new life, it really is worth it. Document the condition of everything and take your own photos if you’re able to – you could save yourself a fortune when it comes to moving out.

When you’re moving out of your rental property…

Refer back to the inventory – now’s the time that you won’t be sorry for taking the time to conduct a thorough inventory at the start of your tenancy. Once you and the letting agent or landlord sign off on the inventory and your tenancy has come to an end, you should get your deposit back within 10 days, once you and your landlord agree the amount. It’s useful for most tenancy agreements to stipulate a professional or high standard of cleaning on exit – don’t scrimp on this as a few hours’ worth of elbow grease could net you your entire deposit back. You should be attempting to return the property in the state that it was in as you found it – which is why we can’t underestimate the importance of the inventory.
 
And above all, enjoy it - as a first time tenant, flying the family nest, can be daunting - but there’s nothing quite like finding a home of your own.

BLOG DISCLAIMER

This article is intended for information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you have any questions related to issues in this article, we strongly advise contacting a legal professional.
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Zahraa Valu

By Zahraa Valu

07 December 2015

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