Top 10 Tips for Tenants
By Kate Faulkner – Leading independent property expert
Check the Energy Performance Certificate (EPCs)
EPCs explain how energy efficient a property is. This is important as the more energy efficient a home, the lower your electricity and gas bills will be. A brand new home will have an ‘A’ rating and the average home in the UK has a ‘D’ rating, so try to find rented properties with an EPC that shows a rating somewhere between ‘A’ and ‘D’.Click here for more information
Ask to see essential Safety Certificates
Legally, if there is gas in the property, for example a boiler, then the landlord must have a Gas Safety Certificate which needs to be updated annually. They also need to either have an Electrical Safety Certificate, or certify that the electrics and appliances are safe to use.Is the property legally let?
Try not to fall in love with a property before you’ve checked that you can live in it safely (for example, you’ve seen gas and electrical safety checks). With repossessions on the rise, check that the landlord or letting agent you are dealing with has the approval of their mortgage lender to let the property, otherwise if they miss any mortgage payments and the lender repossesses, you might lose your home through no fault of your own!Who will independently protect your deposit?
From April 1st 2007, by law, all deposit monies taken from tenants must be protected in an approved government scheme. Make sure you ask the landlord or letting agent which scheme they use and which of the three approved companies administers it before visiting any properties.Click here for more information
Can you afford the all the costs?
When you want to rent a property, you will incur two costs upfront. Firstly, the cost to rent the property, such as paying the landlord or letting agent an application fee which includes a credit and reference check. Your next big cost will be to pay a deposit in advance, which is normally four to six weeks rent. So, if the rent is £1,000 per month, the deposit will be between £1,000 to £1,500 AND you will have to pay the first month’s rent upfront on top!Secondly, you will incur your rental costs, typically the utility bills, contents insurance and council tax. Sometimes you will pay the water rates and other times the landlord will pay these. Make sure you know exactly what you are responsible for and what your landlord will pay. Ensure you can afford both the cost to rent the property and the running costs before you agree to rent.
Check your contract before you sign
It is hard to take time out to read the small print when all you want to do is move into a new home. It is however essential that you understand the contract you are signing. It should be written in plain English and make sense, so If you don’t understand any paragraphs, then either ask the letting agent or landlord to explain it or pay for a solicitor who has experience of lettings contracts.Be clear about your rights
Your contract will set out your rights to live in the property in return for the landlord receiving rent on an agreed day. You should be allowed to live in the property without being constantly disturbed by the landlord; any repairs should be carried out quickly and by prior appointment. Your personal details should also be protected at all times.Click here for more information