Renting soon - any tips on making money & saving money...?!

Shopaholic82_2

Hi all :j

Im moving out soon to rent for a while before buying - I have some saving but while Im renting I'm prob not going to be able to save anything as I dont have loads left after everything has come out of my account.

Does anyone have any good tips for making extra money, and saving tips while Im renting, so that I have more money to spend on myself and also some to save?!

Thanks!

Tomarse_2

The first saving you can make is make sure you immediately create a detailed list of EVERY little tiny problem you can find with the property. Get the landlord to sign to agree it and keep a copy each.

From experience, I've found that 95% of the time, they'll try and get you for something at the end. I once had an inspection done 2 weeks after moving out and they tried to charge me for leaves that had blown outside the front door! If this happens, try standing in the letting agency and telling everyone that walks in.

From then on, don't forget who's paying the bills. When it's your own money disappearing, you probably won't, but what I mean is use a bit of common sense and don't be wasteful.

Check for an economy rated boiler and avoid old electrical heating.

Also, be careful as to the dates of when the bills arrive. Chances are they won't all be evenly spread so be prepared!

chrisclem

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olly300

To add to what Tomarse said every time there is a problem, whether you created it or not, in the property phone the landlord up within office hours asap. If the landlord/LA doesn't come around to fix it within 7 days follow it with a letter or email with a photo attached of the problem.

I've had landlords' where I've had accidents notified them asap, and not ended up paying because the amount to fix it was little and they fixed it when they had to carry out some other maintenance. There as I have landlords' who tried to take my deposit but because I've had evidence to prove that I didn't make the fault they ended up giving it all back.

Notify all the utility companies immediately that you have moved in and take readings. If you can't get through to the company on the phone write a letter to them,send by recorded delivery or fax, ask them to acknowledge the letter within 21 days and inform them that you will take them to the regulator if they don't.

Keep a folder containing all the bills until you get your deposit back. Put the date you have paid the bills on the bills either by stapling receipts to the bills, write the date the DD went out and amount, or the date you paid the bill online. Using this when you switch suppliers you know how much you pay and can do it using units to give a more accurate estimate of usage.
Plus the landlord/LA cannot claim you haven't paid any bills or didn't notify the suppliers when you moved in.

Change all your light bulbs to energy saving ones. (Use the Philips ones, which you can always get on special offer somewhere, not those from Ikea.) Keep the old light bulbs in a draw and when you move out switch them and at the same time clean the lampshades.

Make sure if there is central heating you have a timer on the boiler and if you can find a place where you have individual radiator thermostats so you can control the temperature of rooms individually.

Read the small print for every telephone and broadband contract to ensure it will not last longer than your rent contract. Most lock you in for a year. If you are on a six month rental contract it may be more expensive to get one that allows you to leave easily but as the landlord can give you notice, it may be cheaper as you are not paying for the contract when you leave the property.

Go to the old timer money savers board to get cleaning tips. If you clean things like around grouting regularly when you move it it will be easier and you are unlikely to get the LL/LA trying to charge you for stained grouting.

If you use herbs or eat salad leaves grow your own on a window sill.