renting questions

eeetee

Hi all
i will be moving into my first rented flat over the next couple of weeks.
having not done so before i have a couple of questions about the process.
I am going through a (high street) letting agent. Once I am signed, who do I deal with should there be any issues- agent or landlord. e.g. say there was maintenance issues, who would be my first point of call, or would i be expected to resolve it myself?

Are there any restrictions bringing in your own appliances- currently it has no separate freezer so i have been looking at buying a small one. I'm thinking around safety?

I don’t think there is a dryer either, just wondering how people cope with drying washing- avoiding laundrettes or drying on radiators. Apologies if these seem basic but i am new to this!

Pixie5740

Your tenancy agreement will contain an address for the serving of notices. This could be your LL's address or the LA's address. If it's your LL's address then report repairs and maintenance directly to the LL. If it's the LA's address then report maintenance and repairs to the LA. Some LL employ LL to fully manage the property and some just use an LA to find a tenant. Regardless your contract is with the LL, not the LA.

There's no issue taking your own appliances into the rental property. It's your home.

I dry my clothes outside most of the time and inside when it rains and I've never had a problem with condensation and mould. I use a clothes horse and don't hang wet clothes over radiators, I also open a window to let the air circulate.

Take the meter readings when you move in and contact the utility companies as well as the council and update your address with the electoral register.

Check the inventory and only sign if it accurately reflects the condition of the property.

Enjoy your new home.

Yellabowley

Firstly for maintenance you need to ask your agent. Some landlords use the agent as a go between and don't want any direct contact from you. Others use a maintenance company. Some do it all themselves and you need to contact them direct. My landlord used the agent to rent the place out initially but if I need anything I have to go direct to him. The agent will be able to tell you this.

It is normal that you would bring your own appliances unless of course the flat is furnished. If it is furnished then the landlord should replace items that need replacing. If you have a better appliance than the one in there I would speak to the landlord about using your own. He may ask that you store his property while using your own and put his back in when you leave. Again speaking to the agent or landlord is your best course of action. Bringing in additional items shouldn't be a problem though, you don't need them PAT tested or anything. It's your home.

If there is a washing machine but no dryer maybe look at doing the above and putting your own combination washer-dryer in. If your landlord is reasonable they may agree to pay something towards a washer-dryer on the condition that you leave it in the flat when you leave.

Simplest thing is to ring and ask all of these questions.

kinger101

For maintenance, contact the agent first, but if there's any tardiness in their response, write copying in the landlord. The landlord is responsible for the building, fixtures and fittings (with the exception of stuff like lightbulbs).

You're free to bring in your own appliances, and it's normal practice to do so where they are not provided. However, modifications to the property, eg. installing dryer vents, would require permission so perhaps better to get a condenser type.

Your contract might say something about picture hooks etc, but in the pass I've just tended to knock them in (check for wires first using, erm......one of them thingies that go beep). As long as you touch up (the wall, not the landlord) when you leave it won't matter.

fishpond

kinger101 wrote: »

For maintenance, contact the agent first, but if there's any tardiness in their response, write copying in the landlord. The landlord is responsible for the building, fixtures and fittings (with the exception of stuff like lightbulbs).

You're free to bring in your own appliances, and it's normal practice to do so where they are not provided. However, modifications to the property, eg. installing dryer vents, would require permission so perhaps better to get a condenser type.

Your contract might say something about picture hooks etc, but in the pass I've just tended to knock them in (check for wires first using, erm......one of them thingies that go beep). As long as you touch up (the wall, not the landlord) when you leave it won't matter.

Yes, it does matter, there is no excuse for putting nails, screws, pins etc in walls.

theartfullodger

fishpond wrote: »

Yes, it does matter, there is no excuse for putting nails, screws, pins etc in walls.

That depends what the tenancy says, or what agreement can be reached between landlord & tenant. (eg a recent tenancy I emailed tenant saying 10 picture pins OK).

As long as the property is returned, less fair wear 'n tear, at the end of the tenancy what happens in between largely does not matter (eg coal in bath, filthy washing strewn on carpets, sink full of mouldy pots, the odd pin in a wall - subsequently restored sufficiently.)
The location is the tenant's home, the tenant's property, whilst there is a valid tenancy (even if rent not being paid, even if court case ongoing).

Cheers all!

kinger101

fishpond wrote: »

Yes, it does matter, there is no excuse for putting nails, screws, pins etc in walls.

Other than wanting to hang pictures maybe? What does it matter as long as it's made good when the tenant leaves. If they mess it up, just make deductions for their deposit.

sniggings

take loads of pictures on move in day and again when leaving...some landlords seem to think the property should have no wear and tear even after a number of years of receiving rent for said property.

eeetee

Thankyou very much for your responses, that makes a lot of sense (: I should have said the flat is furnished, so appliance wise it would only be the freezer I'd be bringing ( it currently has a fridge with a freezer slot, not enough space for even a bag of veg lol)
As I haven't done this before, I wanted to be as informed as possible (:

I sent my form off for reference checking on Thursday so all being well should get the keys at some point this week

Re: utilities, how does that work? Once I have the keys I guess I have to choose an electricity supplier, how long does this take to set up ei would there be a period where I wouldn't be connected? As I am hoping to move in immediately

sniggings

eeetee wrote: »

Re: utilities, how does that work? Once I have the keys I guess I have to choose an electricity supplier, how long does this take to set up ei would there be a period where I wouldn't be connected? As I am hoping to move in immediately

most times the gas and electric is left on, all you do is take readings on move in day, then ring the supplier, the agent should tell you who it is, if they don't know (which is not a good sign they are a good agent) there is a number you can ring. Tell them you have just moved in, they will set up an account, if you want to change supplier, mention it at the time,then they will setup a tempory account, after you have set up the account with the present suppliers,just ring the new supplier and tell them you want to switch to them, they will do the rest.

theartfullodger

sniggings wrote: »

take loads of pictures on move in day and again when leaving...some landlords seem to think the property should have no wear and tear even after a number of years of receiving rent for said property.

If a tenant takes loads of pictures on move in at high definition, and low definition on move out (with me??)

Landlords may take a different view....