Viewing an appartment to rent: Questions to ask?

mrsnow101

Myself and the lady will be viewing our first appartment tomorrow evening, with a view to renting for a 6/12 month period (obviously depending upon circumstances).

It is the first time for us both, so we are probably a bit naieve to the things we should look for/ask about.

So with this in mind - what questions should I be armed with prior to the viewing?? There is a lot of scope here - but I am genuinly interested in everything anyone may have to suggest!

Thanks in advance.

RHemmings

Any problems with the neighbours.

Last time drains where checked out by a professional.

Same for the electrics.

Age of boiler. Energy efficiency of boiler.

Not that I know what I'm doing but this is the internet

I misread the question, I thought you were buying.

For renting, the state of the electrics and if they have been checked is a good question.

Asking if the hot water has ever broken down.

Ask the landlord about past tenants. If the landlord rants about bad things these tenants have done, beware. There may be two sides to the story.

Ask for the brand and colour of paint used for internal surfaces. So that you can repair simple problems yourself.

Ask about how the deposit will be protected.

Tricky one, but if you could get a written assurance that the mortgage lender (if any) knows that the property is being rented. Either that it has a BTL mortgage or that the lender has given permission.

PROFESSIONAL_LANDLORD

Do I get a ' after hours' phone no: for little emergencies like,

No Heating/HW.

No electrics.

Burst pipes. ....................etc, etc,

mrsnow101

Forgot to mention - its a new (or relatively new) build - ie less than a 12 month old.

Thanks for everything so far.

PROFESSIONAL_LANDLORD

Ask them, if I take the lease on for 6 months and, I want to extend the lease will I have to pay similar fees again, OR will the lease continue on a month to month basis.;)

CYBERCIDERSAVER

I'd also do a search on rightmove. a number of rental properties around my way are also up for sale. Guess the landlords are geting a little worried about the market.

Lavendyr

Find out the landlord's plans and see whether they coincide with yours. Is it a long-term let or is there a risk of being turfed out again 6 months down the line?

barnaby-bear

mrsnow101 wrote: »

Forgot to mention - its a new (or relatively new) build - ie less than a 12 month old.

Thanks for everything so far.

Check whether they have a buy-to-let mortgage if they don't and mortgage company don't know you are there you can be thrown out in event of reposession instantaneously as the AST won't be valid. Beware of highly-geared new entrants to BTL in new builds - their yields make no sense and a potential house of cards.... but you may well get a good deal.
Check for a washing machine / space for one. BTLers with only one flat are a pain-in-the-bum they will obsesss about their "asset" endlessly

pinkshoes

Average cost of electricity/gas/water bill?

Council tax band? (you can look this up online)

Are the neighbours quiet/friendly/have kids?

You can look up the postcode on "Upmystreet.com" and it'll tell you a bit about the area... it's usually quite accurate!

Emergency evening numbers to phone? (i.e if boiler dies on a friday night, are you going to be left all weekend before you can even contact someone?)

Ask if it's ok to put picture hooks up! Some landlords can be a bit anal about this!

Ask if it's a rolling contract after 6 months, or whether you have to re-sign and pay another fee.

subjecttocontract

Doesn't anyone want to do any checks on the landlord ?

DGJsaver

What about if the landlord does not have a mortgage on it anymore ?