daughter renting

Saint_Chris

Hi

daughter told me last week that her and her boyfriend have decided to rent a house.
They both have decent jobs, so i asked them why not buy, to which she said we would rather rent, for 12 months to see how we get on living together. (suppose that makes sense)

well they have been looking at houses, and have decided on a nice little terrace house.

It is being dealt with by the estate agent, who took them round the house last week they liked it, and have filled in all the forms for credit check and are just waiting for a phone call.

Well now i know i've just looked on here, and to me it seems that they have not asked many questions.

The wooden floor is chipped infront of the fireplace, which they pointed out, and the lady has said she will fix it.

They have also asked could they give the living room a coat of paint, at our cost, which she has agreed to.

Now they are waiting for the estate agent to get back to them, what should i be advising them to do. Do we go round the house again and give it a through check.

I just wish they had asked me 1st then i could have done my homework 1st.

thanks

Idiophreak

With renting I wouldn't imagine it's a big deal, really - if there is anything badly wrong with the house, the LLs going to have to get it sorted, not your daughter...When I rented places at uni we pretty much walked around them, worked out if the were big enough and if they looked in good nick we went for them - think the only questions we ever asked were "when can we move in...how much does it cost" etc.

Saint_Chris

Hi

Yes i think that is what they have done.

it does seem a nice house, only managed to look through the window though.

daughter said it just needs a scrub (bathroom tiles etc) and she wouldn't mind giving the living room a coat of paint

Debt_Free_Chick

They should insist on an inventory, which states every tiny defect. This is the condition in which the property is to be returned to the LL, with an allowance for "fair wear & tear" for the duration of their tenancy.

Without an inventory, at the end of the tenancy, there is no proof of any defects/damage that existed before they occupied the property.

Get everything in writing - including the agreement to paint the living room INCLUDING the colour e.g. magnolia, black, purple .... whatever

Soubrette

Take pictures of the house on the day they move in. One of my friends is a neat freak and cleaned her rented flat from top to bottom but had some of her 'deposit' docked as she had not cleaned the cooker filter (little could the LL have guessed that she was the 1 in a million who does!!) and she'd not cleaned the bathroom properly (she even bleached the shower curtain). She swears it was much cleaner than when they moved in and knowing her, I believe her

Of course it was unfortunately her word against theirs although she did manage to get more of her deposit back than originally offered.

Sou

tbs624

Hopefully they'll have a trouble-free tenancy: it's worth remembering that some people do, especially if both sides communicate wll with one another

Agree with inventory/photos.

If there any issues at all , suggest to them that they always deal with it *in writing* (keeping a copy safely with their Tenancy Agreement) and that they don't just take the LA's word for things.( LAs don't need to have any training, particular expertise or qualifications and some seem to operate under a very quirky interpretation of LL & T law.) Also tell them to make sure that they also get the LLs name & address:they're entitled to this info whilst Tenants, but once they've moved out there is no obligation for them to be told, which can hamper them if there is any dispute over the state in which the property is returned or if they are having any difficulty with the LAs.

You could suggest that they read up on tenancy deposit rules here:http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TenancyDeposit/DG_066373, and that they ask to see the current gas safety certificate & take a copy of the Tenancy Agreement away with them before they sign it so they can check it through properly: if there are any clauses that they do not like they can always negotiate with the LA/LL or get the Agreement checked over by an advisor at a CAB or at the Council's Housing Dep - Private Sector Team (both free)

LillyJ

Soubrette wrote: »

Take pictures of the house on the day they move in. One of my friends is a neat freak and cleaned her rented flat from top to bottom but had some of her 'deposit' docked as she had not cleaned the cooker filter (little could the LL have guessed that she was the 1 in a million who does!!) and she'd not cleaned the bathroom properly (she even bleached the shower curtain). She swears it was much cleaner than when they moved in and knowing her, I believe her

Of course it was unfortunately her word against theirs although she did manage to get more of her deposit back than originally offered.

Sou

That happened to me I also keep my house very clean, and would be embarased to leave it at the end of a tenancy dirty. I got money taken off deposit for not changing hoover filter (which I had) and not hoovering under sofa cushions (which I also had). I suspect they just have things that they charge everyone for and assume most people won't do those things. My house was also a lot cleaner when I left it.

The worst was my sister who after leaving her student house got no deposit back. They stated there were cigarette burns in the living room carpet. No one in the house smoked, and.......the living room had laminate. What a cheek. They charged her and her housemates for new carpeting throughout because of this, they charged for a new cooker and washing machine as they said they were broken (they weren't when they left).
The inventory didn't mention what the floor coverings were, so she didn't have a leg to stand on. She was going to take them to the small claims court but in the end her housemates couldn't be bothered. The multiple letters and phone calls to the landlord went unanswered.

I have taken to walking round the house with the landlord at the end of a tenancy and getting him to agree there and then to any deductions, so I can agree/argue them and take a camera with me at the time. I don't leave until I am happy. I also point out any improvements I have made since I have been there.

Moral of the story get everything in writing and take pictures!

Saint_Chris

Right Thanks for all of those replies.

They should insist on an inventory

i kind of guessed this, but

i'm sorry for sounding thick, who does this, is it us, and we then pass it on to the estate agent, to pass on to the landlord.

And when do we do this, there just waiting for there credit checks to be done.
Yeah i will take photos of everything when they move in.

tbs624

You don't sound thick - asking questions on things unknown is to be recommended

An example can be found here: http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/pdf/inventory.pdf

It is the LLs responsibility to organise it but, if he or his agent don't, then by all means get your daughter to do her own. There should be 2 copies - one for the LL and one for the T - and both should be signed on all pages by both the LL/LA & the T.

With the photos - put that day's newspaper with the date clearly visible in shot, as well as using the camera's date facility.:D

jimc_2

OP - You should check out this very useful thread about renting (and then add your own experiences to it later!)

Saint_Chris

thanks for that, off to make a cuppa and have a read.

you have all been very helpful.