Rental Advice For First Time Tenants

Making the decision to rent a property doesn’t have to be a stressful process. With a few simple guidelines you can plan your way to a successful tenancy agreement and find the perfect rental home to suit your requirements.

Where To Start Your Search

There are plenty of simple ways to set up some initial viewings. Estate agents in Loughton and other local areas market their properties across the company website and on platforms such as Rightmove. Private landlords can also be found via word of mouth, but it is usually a good idea to keep things professional with the involvement of a lettings agent.

Viewing Potential Properties

When it comes to arranging your first viewings, try not to get swept up in the moment. Take measuring tools with you if you need to gauge space for certain items of furniture. Checking whether fittings and fixtures such as carpets and curtains will be cleaned or replaced before you move in is also a good idea. It is also important to clarify with estate agents whether the listing will be long-term or short term as this may influence your decision on whether to sign the agreement.

Fees And Reference Checking Processes To Prepare For

There are several financial aspects that you can expect to plan for if you are moving into a rental property. Landlords will require a deposit from you and in some cases, you will be asked to pay one months rent up-front. There may also be credit checks and other required steps, so you should consult your estate agents or lettings agents with any queries.

As with any new financial outlay it is important to ensure that you have sufficient funds to cover your monthly outgoings. When considering how much you can afford to pay per month for rent it is helpful to list all of your monthly outgoings and compare this with how much you are earning. With costs of living skyrocketing, don’t get caught out by signing up to pay more than you can afford.

Arrange Your Contents Insurance

If you find the perfect place to rent, don’t forget to arrange all of your new utilities and take out contents’ insurance. Whilst this may seem like an unnecessary outlay, it could pay-off massively in the future if your home is broken into.

Moving Into Your New Home

Set a date with your estate agent that is mutually convenient for you to collect the keys to your property. You will be given a folder containing important documents, instructions and your tenancy agreement. Store these somewhere safe in case you need to familiarise yourself with them at a later date.

Once you are happy that everything is as it should be within the property, you can start the exciting process of moving in! You are now liable for any damage that occurs in the house, so ensuring that floors and walls are protected from scratches and damage rests solely on you. Communicating the need for careful and considerate moving of furniture to your removals firm should ensure that things go smoothly.

What Happens If You Decide To Move Out?

If you decide to move out of your property you should refer back to your tenancy agreement to check how much notice you are required to give. Give the property a thorough clean and fix any superficial damage in order to up your chances of a hassle-free deposit repayment.