So, you’ve decided to take the plunge and move to a new rental property. Having worked out where you would like to live, with who and how much you can afford you now have a property shortlist! But whether viewings of the rental property are in person, or virtually, what are some of the key questions to ask letting agents or landlords when looking at renting your new property?
We have compiled a handy list of some of the questions to ask when viewing a rental property to either the letting agent, landlord or the existing tenant / tenants. Make sure you ask plenty of questions!
1. Money Money Money
It is important to know what’s included and what isn’t within the cost of the rent. Asking these questions in order to help plan your budget and finances is a must. Typically if you’re moving into a house share, utility bills are usually included within the price of the rent which can help lower your cost. However, if you are taking on an entire property then you’ll have to pick all these up – council tax, gas (if you have it, some apartments don’t), electricity, water and broadband will all need to be budgeted for! You could always ask for the tenancy agreement to make sure you don't get caught out and see what's in the contract. You might also want to try and negotiate some of these into the price when speaking with any letting agents or landlords.
2. Everyone tenant loves good neighbours
Be sure to see who you might be living next to, above or below! Always worth checking out the property during the day and night just to make sure there are no nasty surprises after you move in. It's also one of the questions you can also ask the landlord, agent or current tenant. Be aware you might not always get an honest answer when you ask during a viewing, so you should take responsibility and check for yourself.
3. Don’t freeze on those Zoom calls
Broadband is arguably a major factor when deciding where to live, so well worth doing your homework to see which companies supply the property and whether you can get high speeds or not. You could always ask existing tenants if they've been happy and content with existing speeds. Best not to use up all your mobile data when trying to connect to those all important video calls. Also, check the lease agreement if there is anything stopping you from using a particular supplier. Landlords will usually want their tenants to contact them if any holes are going to be drilled!
4. What happens if anything goes wrong?
It is worth asking if the landlord has taken out any insurance contracts on things like the boiler – the last thing you want is a long delay getting it fixed and be without heating and hot water, or low water pressure in the cold weather! The cost of repairs may also mean the landlord isn't the quickest at getting things fixed.
There are lots of policies that cover Home Emergencies (including dealing with vermin), so it is well worth asking if it's included. Appliances like washing machines can also come with an extended warranty which is also a bonus for any tenant - and it might also save the landlord from unexpected bills.
5. Making it look like home
Your idea of homely might be very different to the landlords. Before you decide to take the plunge and start playing with the colour scheme, a good idea is to get approval. Most landlords will be happy for you to freshen up the place, but be aware, you might need to turn it back to the original colour before you move out. You might even want to get their advice on colours and point out the ones you prefer - it might save you a job having to revert back to the original colour and help your finances along the way.
6. Rules are rules, check your tenancy agreement
If you are renting directly from a landlord, it definitely pays to do your homework and check things are done by the book. If your property requires a license to be rented out (this will depend on where you live), make sure the landlord has a license in place. If there is gas in the property, there needs to be an annual gas safety certificate – it is important this is in place and that you see proof. Every property needs an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) – you can check here if your property has an up to date one – they last 10 years. Finally, make sure there are working smoke alarms and a carbon monoxide alarm (for properties with gas). Not all rental properties have everything in place, so these are questions you should ask any landlord or agents you're talking to.
7. Where’s my security deposit?
Every deposit needs to be held in government approved tenancy deposit scheme. You can find more details here. There are three schemes in total and your landlord or letting agent can use any one of the three. You will be provided with a reference number once the deposit has been put into a scheme and this should be provided to you within 30 days of your moving in date. Some tenants will know from experience deposits aren't always secured so this is a key one to be on top and ask during any viewing or contact with landlords and letting agents.
8. Can I bring my pet?
The short answer is it depends. Recent rule changes may make it slightly easier for you to keep a pet, but the final decision is with the landlord and may even depend on their personal experiences or circumstances.
9. Can I use the garden or the parking space?
If you are lucky enough to have a garden, it's worth checking if you're able to use it! With some flats, the garden might belong to a particular property and it's worth making sure you have access. The same rule, for example, might also apply to parking. If you see a parking space at the property, check if it belongs to the rental property.
Moving to a new property can feel daunting, but with our list of questions at the ready for any landlord, letting agent or even the previous tenant, we hope it might be a little less scary! Finally if you do rent through a letting agents, they can't charge you any agent fees - these have been banned.
CreditLadder can help you improve your credit score
If you want to improve your credit position by reporting your rent payments, CreditLadder is the only way to improve your credit score and position across all four of the main Credit Reference Agencies in the UK, namely Experian, Equifax, TransUnion and Crediva. Building up a high credit score has a lot of benefits, including helping you access finance at better rates - this can also help save you money.
CreditLadder also runs a free mortgage application service in partnership with Tembo which will tell you how much you could borrow.
Remember the information provided in this article is for information purposes only and should not be considered as advice.
