Renting for the 1st time.

Rbdkce

Hi, I am after some advice. I am recently divorced and my ex is buying me out - giving me a lump sum of £35,000. I ideally would like to buy a home for my children but they are so expensive in the area, so I am going to be renting.
Is there anything I need to look out for when renting?
There are not many help to buyschemes in the area either.
Any advice would be very much appreciated.
Bex

csgohan4

avoid gum tree and ensure your deposit is protected and ensure the inventory you agree with which documents any current damage or issues with the property before you moved in

Never transfer your deposit by bank transfer or cash to avoid scams

D_M_E

Read all meters - gas, electricity and water - as soon as you move in and decline any offers by the agents or anyone else to set you up with accounts for same, do it yourself and the same for the council tax.

Have you considered moving somewhere else and buying instead of renting?

EDIT - if you do go with renting, as well as above take dated photos of the place on move in and preferably before you move your stuff in and make sure the inventory agrees with your pics.

Same for the meters - photo the readings if possible.

Marvel1

If they say so and so will be clean/fixed by the time you move in or shortly after - it won't be so keep looking.

dimbo61

I have just rented out a house on gumtree
Just be Very careful and take a friend to any viewings.
Check out the council tax, EPC will give energy rating.
Never Ever pay any money upfront until you know your dealing with the Landlord or his agent ( In the nice shinny office )
Why are you leaving the family home with the kids ?
Have you spoken to a family solicitor ?

pinkteapot

You can either rent through a lettings agents (most of your local estate agents will have lettings businesses too), or direct through a landlord.

Downside of an agent is the crazy number of fees (application, credit/reference checks, the list goes on). Upside is they're pretty reliable for fixing problems, etc. Downside of going direct to a landlord is there are some dodgy ones out there (though the majority are decent).

Are you working? To rent through an agent you'll generally need to be as they have 'computer says no' credit referencing and won't usually be happy with a lack of income, even if you have cash in the bank.

Viewing a house to rent is different to viewing a house to buy - you won't generally be able to do it up so it needs to in a condition you're happy to live in. I find it's much more objective and less emotional than buying - is it the right size, is it in the right location, is it fairly clean? Pretty much all I'm interested in.

Whether with an agent or a landlord direct, ask them to run through all their fees, and especially in the case of application fees, whether they're refundable if they decide to let to someone else (we encountered agents who would accept applications from multiple people then let the landlord pick who they wanted).

Ring round agents to find properties - especially if you're in an area where properties rent easily, they won't all get listed on Rightmove and you may find few of them are.

Hutch100uk

Follow all this advice already given. Definitely ensure you agree with any check in/inventories. If you notice anything wrong, take photos.
For example, I moved into a rental last Sept. Place was FILTHY, holes and candle wax all over carpets, horrendous scuffing to walls and inside of the oven.... I should have complained but didn't. I did take photos of EVERYTHING and emailed them straight to the agent! So, no comeback on any of that when I move out.

G_M

There is advice for tenants looking for a reputable letting agent here:

BBC: (how to protect yourself from 'cowboys')

Shelter: (complaints about letting agents)

See also 'How To Rent' (gov advice).