First Time Renter Guide?

SwissLe

Claremac wrote: »

Wow SwissLe thanks for all that! I'm not a typical first-time renter as we are selling our house and going in to rented as we can't find anywhere suitable to buy. So the first 3 points you make weren't applicable to me (although they brought back memories!!!) but there is some very useful info in the other 2 points. My main worry is that I have to have exchanged contracts BEFORE I sign up to a rental agreement which feels a bit like stepping off a cliff with no safety net especially as we have 2 kids! Thanks again for your help.

No problem. If you were accepted for a mortgage and have been fairly tidy with the borrowing ever since then being approved for a rental property will not be an issue. If a property is vacant and the agents are good you could fill in an application and be handed the keys the very same day so don't panic about the contact exchange on your previous abode.

ginvzt

Sorry to revive this thread (well, it might be useful for others as well).

We are selling our house at the moment and we know we won't be able to sell it before we need to move, as I am starting a new job in 5-6 weeks. We will need to rent for a while in the new area we are condsidering to buy something.

Now, there are plenty of rental properties, mainly apartaments (don't mind, it is temporary) and some houses.

Can we negotiate on the length of the contract? We are not sure if we want to stay in the rental for 6 months, but we have to depending on the sale of our house and the purchase of the new one.

We can offer 3 months of rent upfront - would that help in negotiations for both rental term and rental price? (considering there is plenty of choice - newly build complete vilalge)

When is the latest we have to start looking - should we give ourselves 2-3 weeks to get all the documents sorted? We are going on holiday for a week before I start new job.