Looking to rent a home but don’t know where to start, what to look for or what to avoid? We’ve put together a quick guide on the process to help you find your perfect property and hopefully help you avoid any pitfalls...
Your first dip in the pool of properties will probably make you feel as though you’re drowning in homes. However, the internet has made it so easy to find properties in your area so why not take a look through our website? It’s a good idea to look around the area before viewing specific properties, but once you have decided on a location, register on our websites for email and SMS updates.
When registering you must be clear and accurate about your circumstances. We will have to ask about your credit status, employment details and salary to ensure that you fit the criteria set by our referencing company. Affordability will be dictated by your income which should not be exaggerated. This will save you disappointment and loss of fees if you are not successful with an application through failure of the references.
Once you have decided that you wish to rent a particular property we will put your offer to the Landlord; again, be guided by us. An offer which is too low may have a detrimental effect as it may offend the landlord and risk losing this property. Once agreed, we would take a holding deposit from you to take the property off the market for a limited period whilst your references are being processed. This holding deposit will be subtracted from your first month’s rent.
Once all parties are satisfied, you’ll receive a tenancy agreement. We know you’ve been waiting a long time for this, but don’t be tempted to just sign it and ask “when can I move in?” Take the time to read it thoroughly. Don’t be afraid to ask about anything that was unexpected or if you need something clarifying. It is vital that both parties have a crystal clear understanding of all terms and conditions along with knowing exactly what to do and who to contact if an area of the property needs repairing in the future.
You’ve dotted the I’s and crossed the T’s, we’ve given you the keys, and it’s almost time for you to move in. There’s just a few more important things to do. Firstly do a walk-through of the house create an inventory of any faults or discrepancies that you find. This reduces the risk of any disputes at the end of the tenancy. We recommend that you thoroughly check the inventory before you sign it. If the Landlord or his agent does not supply an inventory we recommend that if you have any concerns you list these, take photographs and let us and the Landlord have copies immediately.
If we are managing the property you would contact us about all matters throughout your tenancy as we would have the authority to arrange for certain repairs. Your rental payments would come to us and we would pass them onto the landlord. Conversely, if the Landlord is managing the property, we would supply you with their contact details and you would need to contact them about all matters. We would have no authority to agree or arrange repairs; however we would always be here to help throughout your tenancy and welcome your call if you need our assistance.
