Renting A House: What You Need to Know

Embed from Getty ImagesFor most of us, owning our own home can sometimes seem like a pipe dream and for a large chunk of our adult lives, we will have to rent our homes. There are positives and negatives to renting, for example, you don’t have to carry out any major property maintenance yourself, but you are paying towards the Landlord’s mortgage rather than your own which can be very frustrating, especially considering you don’t have the right to make adjustments to the property. Here, we offer some tips on how to go about renting property, as it can be a risky business.

Application

Embed from Getty ImagesThe application process for rental properties can be stressful. Agencies work on a first come first serve basis when they have more than one suitable application, so not only do you need to make sure you see any properties you like as soon as possible, which can involve taking time off work so make sure they’re worth it, you also need to have your application fee ready. If you need help with this expense, contact https://www.gobear.com/. You also need to be able to make it to the agency’s offices to fill out your forms as soon as possible after your viewing, which also requires you to have all of your important documents on you.

When it comes to applying, you need to take the opportunity to highlight any important aspects of your situation which would appeal to the Landlord. For example, if you have been in your current job role for some time, they will assume that you will be reliable with your rent payments. Things that could dissuade them from going ahead with your application are any unpaid debts in your name, so make sure any parking tickets etc are paid off. They will also take into account any previous Landlord references so it’s important to make sure you don’t make a bad reputation for yourself by being a troublesome tenant.

Property Maintenance

Embed from Getty ImagesAlthough it is the Landlord’s responsibility to rectify any major issues such as problems with the central heating system and plumbing, it is your responsibility to look after the property day to day. For example, you need to clean regularly and make sure you don’t do any damage to fixtures and fittings. Unlike if you owned your own house, even the slightest damage could cost you a lot in repairs, for example, if you make a small stain on the carpet you would have to pay for the cost of replacing the entire carpet rather than being able to cover it with a rug if it was your own.

Complaints

Embed from Getty ImagesAs a tenant, you have certain rights regarding your privacy, your security, and your living conditions. For example, nobody can enter the property without your permission (unless it is a real emergency), you cannot be given notice during your tenancy (unless you break any terms in your agreement, in which case you are still given a full two months’ notice), and you can’t be left without heating and hot water for more than 72 hours. Do not be afraid to complain if any of your rights are not being met. Agency employees are not always forthcoming in acting upon your requests, so you need to put pressure on them when needed.
As long as you’re fully prepared while looking for properties, you’re aware of your rights as a tenant and you’re not afraid to stand up for them, renting a property can be a problem-free solution while you raise the funds to apply for a mortgage. For more property advice, take a look at stressedrach.co.uk.

This is a featured post.