Considering renting - how much would I be looking at paying?

Rachel_1990

Hi everyone,

Me and my friend are looking at renting either a flat or a terraced house, probably around the Wigan area; ideally we would like a furnished flat with bills included in the price, just wondering where to start looking and how much we would be paying approx?

Thanks!

Rachel
xxx

BitterAndTwisted

I've never heard of renting a self-contained flat or house with bills included.

Try RightMove for rentals in your desired post-code.

EDIT: Having consulted RightMove it looks like prices start at £325 going up to £750 a month

MrsManda

Student rentals are usually furnished and occassionally include bills but I think it's highly unusual in the private sector. What bills are you expecting to be included in the price?

ironflower

Rachel,

you also need to consider Agency fees, if you go with a property through an agency.
They will typically charge the following:
- Admin fee (anywhere from £40 - £100)
- Credit Check (approx £60)
- Deposit (1 Month's rent, payable before moving in)
- Holding Fee (1/2 1st Month's rent)

some places even charge a month in advance on top.
Make sure they give you the full picture before you move.

BitterAndTwisted

In my experience ALL landlords charge a month's rent in advance. They'd be mad not to

spudnik

Hello,

i know the wigan area

First the letting agents all charge different agency fees Ask for the costs they charge before viewing any houses. (except healy simpson which don't charge any, but their houses go really quick)
what used to be B&B only 50% of the time show up for a viewing, don't know what they are like now they split up. RR was reasonable, I've heard bad reviews from northwood, sapphire are ok.

I have always negotiated the price of the fee off the first years rent.

I've never seen a bills included in a wigan rental except some house shares round near the hospital.

Pay attention to the energy efficiency of the rental, and check the area for the cost of contents insurance/car insurance. I moved from a 2 bed semi all electric (£500per month) council tax band B to a 2 bed mid terrace (£400per month) council tax band A and my bills almost doubled just because of the extra heating as it was so poorly insulated and the insurances almost doubled because of the area.

Check the area, drive around at night.

One of my mates rented a mid terrace in scholes she was there 6 mths was burgled 4 times.

don't underestimate the value of a parking place, when the football on there are some areas where you aren't going to be able to park within 6 street of your house let alone outside.

Jowo_2

Rachel_1990 wrote: »

.. ideally we would like a furnished flat with bills included in the price,..

You are in fantasy land.

Virtually all self-contained properties that are available to rent exclude virtually all bills. The occasional property will have the council tax included if it's a HMO so the responsibility falls on the landlord but that's only a tiny percentage of properties. It's only really shared properties or lodgings (renting it on a per bedroom basis) that tend to have some or all bills included.

You should budget approximately £100 per month for council tax, £25 for water, £80 for energy but that's just a rule of thumb because it will depend on area and/or consumption, energy efficiency, type of heating etc.

Then you might have £20 contents insurance, £30 telecoms/broadband, £11 for the TV licence. Download the free budget planner on the MSE free tools section to help you model your full expenses.

What do you earn?