Renting for the first time - any tips?

pcg2001

Hi everyone,
We will be renting for the first time and because we are not british, how the rental market is still not very clear to us... We have so far been living in a student hall. Can you please share any advice on renting, so that we can at least avoid newbie mistakes?

For instance, one lettings agency charges £300 as a fee, is that too much?
We don't watch TV, but the house comes with tv, can we say we don't want the tv so as not to pay tb license?
We want to stay for 12 monts, should/can we ask for a 12 month contract?

etc.

clutton_2

if there is a tv in the house, you will be responsible for the license - if you do not want it, then get the agent to take it away

Guy_Montag

pcg2001 wrote: »

Hi everyone,
We will be renting for the first time and because we are not british, how the rental market is still not very clear to us... We have so far been living in a student hall. Can you please share any advice on renting, so that we can at least avoid newbie mistakes?

For instance, one lettings agency charges £300 as a fee, is that too much?
We don't watch TV, but the house comes with tv, can we say we don't want the tv so as not to pay tb license?
We want to stay for 12 monts, should/can we ask for a 12 month contract?

etc.

£300 seems a lot, check the small ads in the local paper.

tv - if you don't want it, find a flat without one or ask them to remove it.

Contract - ask for a 12 month contract, that's fine.

daveyjp

Take photographs of every room and outside before accepting the keys and get them attached to the agreement. It's easier to argue your point on damage etc with photos available.

pcg2001

I understand the deposit is to cover problems that may arise with the apartment if the tenants are not careful, but once you live in a house for 12 months it never looks as good as it did after connstruction, even if you're particularly careful. Does this mean the deposit is inevitably lost, since normal wear will certainly occur? Or is the deposit only for extraordinary situations?

ukmike

Fair wear & tear cannot be taken from the deposit.

bristol_pilot

For any new tenancy (AST) started after April 2007, the deposit must be held in a Tenancy Deposit Scheme. These schemes were set up by the government to stop landlords keeping the deposit without good reason. The landlord has to infiorm the tenant within 14 days of which of the three possible schemes the deposit is held in. Failure by the landlord to comply with this can lead to a court ordering him to pay three times the deposit.

£300 is too much for an agency fee.

pcg2001

We will be renting privately after all (since £300 fee /12 adds another £25 per month to the cost!!). I was wondering in terms of rent payment: if we pay by check (no sure about his), the landlord has to deposit it, doesn't he? That would serve as proof of payment?
If we do the bank transfer to an account in his name, that would also serve as proof?
Thanks.

msmicawber

Hi,

I've always had good relationships with landlords and their agents and would recommend starting from the assumption that you are each doing the other a favour and would like a good relationship.

You should be given an inventory and about a week to return it signed to the letting agent/landlord. Please take the time to go around the property checking the inventory and making any appropriate amendments - remember this is the document that will decide on whether you get your deposit back in whole or in part when you leave and whether any damage is 'wear and tear' or not. It's a lot more important than people give it credit for, I believe. If you aren't given one - insist.

As for the fee - what is it for? I pay about £75 per year for renewal of the tenancy agreement ( I think that also includes the managing agents' visits to check that I haven't trashed the place). When you first move in you often pay a fee for an inventory to be taken pre- and post-tenancy. If the £300 quid inclues all this, then that is quite usual.

Another thing is that the landlord or agent should arrange for gas and electrical checks to be carried out. If they aren't - ask; if they are, don't block them by being awkward as they're for your safety.

The landlord or agent is entitled to have some access to the premises for genuine purposes (as above), but should give you notice. If they comply, then don't interfere as this doesn't endear you to them, and the visits are often for your benefit.

msmicawber

You asked whether the checks (are you American? if so, welcome to the UK) can be taken as proof of rent payment - yes, provided you keep your bank statements as proof of their being cashed. I'd be surprised if anyone took a cheque and didn't cash it, however.

diddlydum

£300 is fairly typical for a fee from a lot of letting agents, the ones around here charge 1/2 month rent + VAT (in addition to what they charge the landlord). My opinion of letting agents is not very high as a result of this. It is an "administration charge", which basically means you're paying for the agent's holiday in the Seychelles this summer.

Basically if you go into it expecting to be robbed blind by the landlord and letting agent you won't be disappointed.