First time newbie renter... GCH?

ShelfStacker_3

Just looking through a property listing for a rental, see GCH as something that's included... what does that mean? Gas, cooking, heating?

PasturesNew

GCH = Gas central heating.

That is, as opposed to any of: electric central heating, storage heaters, no heating, woodburner, open fires.

ShelfStacker_3

Ah, makes no warrants towards the payment of said heating then? So if I paid for the rent, it wouldn't include the gas or electric or anything?

maninthestreet

Surely it means 'Good Cat Home', i.e has cat flap, etc.

ShelfStacker_3

Well, I have a few more questions...

1) Rent is £550 a month, could I negotiate it lower? I only earn 819 a month and will need housing benefit to make up the rest; if electric and gas isn't included I can't afford it.
2) The listing mentions seperate kitchens and living rooms, I suppose this means it's a shared bathroom?
3) Is there anything else I should be wary of?

Leeds_Fella

Mate</p>
Give up, you will have council tax, water rates, elec, gas, phone, insurance etc to pay as well as the rent

NinaSwiss

The best advice is to call the LL and ask specifically what is included in the bill (gas, elctricity, water rate council tax ...etc) Its unlikely that anyone hare can tell you whats included without even looking at the advert.

Dont take this the wrong way but....you earn 815 a month and receive housing benefits?... I did not realise this was possible (assuming you have no kids). I was on less than that for 1yr up untill 6 months ago and still managed ok. At 550 if you cant afford it...then go for something cheaper...and if you are under 30 ...nothing wrong with going for houseshares.

PasturesNew

ShelfStacker wrote: »

Well, I have a few more questions...

1) Rent is £550 a month, could I negotiate it lower? I only earn 819 a month and will need housing benefit to make up the rest; if electric and gas isn't included I can't afford it.
2) The listing mentions seperate kitchens and living rooms, I suppose this means it's a shared bathroom?
3) Is there anything else I should be wary of?

There is only ONE answer for you. Stop looking at flats. Stop right now. Completely... Right. Have you put the paper down now? Closed the browser?

Some simple facts of life that will cover 99% of renting a flat.

Rent on a flat is just that. Rent. You will then have to fork out about another £200 in bills. Unless you are in some really cheap backwater of the country where it is cheap to live and there is a University then you are unlikely to find any property that is "all inclusive".

What YOU need is a house share. House shares are more likely to be "all inclusive"

Housing benefit is a problem for many landlords. Many do not like Housing Benefit people because it is YOUR responsibility to pay the rent up front, in full, monthly. Whereas Housing Benefit can take 2-3 months before it starts paying up and then it does it 4 weeks in arrears. So, as a renter you would have to be able to guarantee to pay the rent up front. Not sit there and go "well, my housing benefit is late/pays 4 weeks in arrears" because landlords don't want to hear it.

Also, if a landlord takes people on housing benefit they have to pay additional insurance in a lot of cases. So it's more expensive for them, they have to go to the effort/cost of changing their insurance ... and on top of that there's the risk you might be saying "not had my HB...." which, they don't want to hear.

Look for an all inclusive house share.

The maximum rent you should pay is 1/3 to 1/2 of your take home salary. That normally applies to people with a bit more than you have though. So for you I'd say: look for an all inclusive house share where the rent is NO more than £300/month. Strict tops there. No more.

Also, in the meantime, can you get a 2nd job? Evenings, or weekends? Start getting more money coming in because they will all want a deposit. And a deposit will be 1-1.5 months' rent up front.

And if you go through a letting agency they will additionally want about £200 from you to do a credit check on you.

Hope that helps.

Andy_Hamilton

With a flat / House share you will be able to get it for around £300 all included except for food and cleaning.
You simply don't have enough money to get passed a good credit agency check (affordablity)
My mortgage is under £450 and I probably wipe out around £900 just keeping everything ticking over and being able to live.

clutton_2

you cannot afford this

SwissLe

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showpost.html?p=8948897&postcount=4

For a 'little' first time renters guide. Some useful budget information in there, you are in dire need of this