Rental worries

Bob_Bank_Spanker_2

Are you a tenant or landlord?

BJV

mrginge wrote: »

Bacterial vaginosis

Made me chuckle which in a packed office is not good had ha ha.:rotfl:

BJV

Rental_Help wrote: »

Hi, I'm thinking about renting but I've heard some horror stories. So I'm looking for some other opinions. I wanted to know what everyone's top worries/concerns are about renting? So I know if it's a good or a bad idea. Thanks.

Joking apart I took the leap a couple of years ago. For me I did not want to be called in the middle of the night or equally not get paid. I wanted to fair for the tenant and for me. I use an estate agent who manage the properties I now have.

OK yes it costs a little but for me two kids busy life it is worth it to know the money is paid and I am not called with issues they handle everything. I know that lots of other people will say it is a doddle to rent and you don't need EA but for me at least it was the best choice. Equally the properties are a pension pot so I never want to know the tenants do not want to have any emotional attachment. Instead I want to get paid on time and in return the property be looked after.

Hey may not work for you but works for me.

Ps for what it is worth I have never rented out my own home not sure how I would feel about that? We did think of keeping our old house if it did not sell in time but it did so job done.

AnotherJoe

BJV wrote: »

Joking apart I took the leap a couple of years ago. For me I did not want to be called in the middle of the night or equally not get paid. I wanted to fair for the tenant and for me. I use an estate agent who manage the properties I now have.

.

That is not renting. That's letting.
Renting is when you are the tenant.
If you are the landlord, you are letting your property.

Rental_Help

I'm currently living with my parents. But hoping to move out soon. I've heard from people I need to be concerned about:


Losing my deposit
That someone else will have access to my home
Having security of a long term contract - one is only 6 months!
That my kids can’t be kids, as they may cause damage, but they're not trying to!
Budgeting and the cost of renting, as it sounds expensive
Not knowing my rights as a tenant - I know people that have had problems
Lack of control over what I can do to the home. I've heard stories that I can't hang pictures up!


Do I need to be worried about any of these? Has anyone had problems?
Thanks for your help.

fairy_lights

Rental_Help wrote: »

Losing my deposit
That someone else will have access to my home
Having security of a long term contract - one is only 6 months!
That my kids can’t be kids, as they may cause damage, but they're not trying to!
Budgeting and the cost of renting, as it sounds expensive
Not knowing my rights as a tenant - I know people that have had problems
Lack of control over what I can do to the home. I've heard stories that I can't hang pictures up!

Yes, all of those things are possibilities. But they are also worst case scenarios.
It's up to you to read up on your rights as a tenant, and budgeting is your responsibility - surely even living with your parents you need to manage your own finances?

MyOnlyPost

Rental_Help wrote: »

I'm currently living with my parents. But hoping to move out soon. I've heard from people I need to be concerned about:


Losing my deposit Deposits are protected so if you lose it it means you have done something wrong (you may have to fight to get it back from a bad landlord but the law is on your side)
That someone else will have access to my home legally not without giving you notice first
Having security of a long term contract - one is only 6 months! A landlord will give you 6 months to check you are a good tenant. After this they may increase the term to a max of 2yrs 11mths, or they may not
That my kids can’t be kids, as they may cause damage, but they're not trying to! If your kids damage someone elses property it os only right that you should pay for it. You should be able to insure against this for peace of mind
Budgeting and the cost of renting, as it sounds expensive It varies from area to area, but yes it can be
Not knowing my rights as a tenant - I know people that have had problems. There is lots of advice out their both online and CAB, Shelter etc.
Lack of control over what I can do to the home. I've heard stories that I can't hang pictures up! A landlord has a right to protect his property. You hang a few pictures and then move out after 6 months, landlord has holes in his wall. Most landlords will allow this kind of thing on the proviso you make good any damage when vacating, this may mean painting a whole room as unless you have the original tin of paint you won't be able to colour match. Failure to do this will result in a deduction from your deposit usually


Do I need to be worried about any of these? Has anyone had problems?
Thanks for your help.

Hope this helps

Pixie5740

Who are these people that you are hearing things from? Why listen to these people when you could easily find out your rights as a tenant on Shelter's website?

You only lose your deposit at the end of your tenancy if you cause damage/owe rent and your landlord can prove it.

Locks can be changed - easily and by yourself.

Most AST are only 6 or 12 months long. That is a downside of renting but providing you are a decent tenant why would a landlord want to get rid of you. Short contracts give you flexibility to move for work, closer to better schools, away from nuisance neighbours, etc.

Your kids can be kids. What kind of damage do you think they would cause?

As for budgeting what's your alternative? To live with your parents from the rest of your life? You seem to be old enough to be able to procreate so it's time to put your big girl (or boy) pants on and learn how to budget.

It's not just your rights you need to know but also your responsibilities. Shelter's website is a good resource as is G_M's Guide to Tenancies in England & Wales.

Heard stories from whom? Have the told you the sky is falling down as well?

AnotherJoe

Rental_Help wrote: »

I'm currently living with my parents. But hoping to move out soon. I've heard from people I need to be concerned about:


Losing my deposit
There is a scheme which protects it.

That someone else will have access to my home
Change the locks when you move in. Keep the old ones to replace when you move out.

Having security of a long term contract - one is only 6 months!
Goes with the territory unless you are in Scotland.

That my kids can’t be kids, as they may cause damage, but they're not trying to!
Unless your kids are hooligans, they are unlikely to cause any damage that a bit of cleaning and some paint cant fix.

Budgeting and the cost of renting, as it sounds expensive
If you are old enough to have kids i'd have thought you are old enough to do soem simple maths of the sort income = x, outgoings = food, rent, heating etc, take one form the other.


Not knowing my rights as a tenant - I know people that have had problems
Lots of people of all sorts have problems, Land lords can have problems. learn up about your rights.

Lack of control over what I can do to the home. I've heard stories that I can't hang pictures up!
You are reading a lot of stories. Ask the landlord. Read the contract.


Do I need to be worried about any of these? Has anyone had problems?

Thanks for your help.

You need to take action to cater for things, such as budgeting.
Of course some people have had problems.
Then again, some wont have.
And some problems will be big and some will be tiny.

MyOnlyPost

Pixie5740 wrote: »

Locks can be changed - easily and by yourself.

Not the best idea, unless as a tenant you can guarantee that you can always be in when the landlord needs to do his 6 monthly check and will always be available for emergency repairs. You can't expect your landlord to fix your leaking boiler the same day whilst you are at work if he can't gain access.

In extreme circumstances if the landlord needs emergency access for safety issues (e.g. neighbour reported gas leak) whilst you are at work or just not in then he has to break the door down which you will be charged for as you denied him access.