Renting a Property
1. How much can you afford?
There is more to budget for then just the monthly rent, utility bills and council tax will increase your outgoings.
2. Finding a Property
List the priorities for your new home, taking into account the location; is it close to local amenities, schools, your workplace, family and friends, are the surrounding the surrounding transport links adequate?
If you are a pet owner will you require a garden, not all rental properties allow pets. If your planning on sharing with someone else will you require your own defined space so you don’t feel on top of each other?
Once you know what to look for, with a budget in mind – use our search to find properties to rent.
3. The Landlord
All landlords whether letting agents or private landlords have obligations and rights that you should be aware of:
The landlord's obligations are as follows:
1. The landlord must keep the property in "tenantable repair", however this excludes having to carry out repairs during the tenancy due directly to fair wear and tear.
2. Allow the tenant to "peaceably hold and enjoy the premises" during the tenancy, as long as the tenant complies with all the terms of the tenancy.
3. To keep the property insured against fire and other risks.
4. To return any rent money paid, whilst the property is uninhabitable due to fire or other insured incidents.
5. To pay all outgoings and taxes not payable by the tenant.
The landlord also has the following additional rights:
1. To enter and take possession of the property if rent is unpaid for 14 days or more, where the tenant breaches the terms of the tenancy or becomes bankrupt or enters into an arrangement with creditors.
2. Any unclaimed property left at the premises and not claimed within a set period can be disposed of.
3. If the tenancy has a break clause either the landlord or the tenant can exercise this after the first six months of the tenancy.
All landlords and letting agents who take deposits for Assured Shorthold Tenancies in England and Wales must join a Government-authorised tenancy deposit protection scheme. Within 14 days of receiving the deposit, the landlord must provide the tenant with details of the scheme chosen by him to safeguard the deposit. Details of the 3 schemes and further information can be found at:
The Deposit Protection Service (The DPS)
Tenancy Deposit Solutions Ltd (TDSL)
The Dispute Service (TDS)
4. Tenancy Agreement
The tenancy agreement is the contract between you and the landlord. The agreement gives rights to both you and the landlord, for example, your right to occupy the property and the landlords right to receive rent for the accommodation.
If you rent a property from a letting agency or private landlord, the most common type of tenancy agreement is the Assured Short Hold Tenancy, which gives you legal right to live in the accommodation for a period of time (usually 6 months). If you require a longer tenancy period, you should make it clear when enquiring about the property, It also offers the landlord guaranteed right to repossess the property at the end of the tenancy.
You should read the agreement carefully before signing it. Check the type of letting, what your repairing obligations are, who is responsible for bills and what happens if you want to leave.
5. Moving In
One of the first things to do when moving in is to go through the inventory with the landlord, checking every item is actually there, in good working order and the condition. Mark the items that you have any doubts about and send the marked version back to the landlord and request a receipt. Once your tenancy agreement has ended this could save you problems when requesting your initial deposit back from the landlord.
6. End of Tenancy
You may have the option of extending your tenancy with the landlord, but when the tenancy has expired, the landlord can gain back possession of the property providing they give two months written notice to you.
If at least two months of rent is overdue the landlord can ask you to leave.