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If the landlord says so and so will be fixed/cleaned by time they move in it won't be.
G_M's guide for England and Wales
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=5180214&highlight=0 -
Agree with the above.
She would also do well to be able to recognise the smell of damp (a great hazard in basement flats)
I like to ask a couple of questions on a viewing to test the landlord's knowledge of housing law - casual questions about whether or not the deposit will be protected and which scheme they will use (a legal requirement) and how much notice they will give prior to an inspection (24 hours is the legal requirement). If the LL looks flustered or confused, it's a good sign you should run away.
Other things to ask
- is the heating gas or electric - electric will cost her more money to run
- how much is the council tax (though she can find it out herself)
- when is the property available from (if there are currently tenants there)
- if she wants to have a bike, can she park it indoors, and if she has a car is there parking?
And always ask to see a copy of the tenancy agreement prior to signing, and negotiate with the landlord to amend it as necessary. I've seen some bizarre clauses that would have left me liable for clearing the gutters 3 floors up in a block of flats with no equipment provided, for instance)0 -
Your daughter has Zero credit history well maybe a mobile phone contact this year.
Is she working ? Can you and your husband at as guarantors ?
Does she have any idea of how much it costs to set up home ?
Paying for council tax, rent, gas electric cable and water ?
Contents insurance ?
Ground rent or management charges.
Deposit, tenancy set up fees, holding fee ? Any other fees the letting agents can make up.0 -
I'd ask how long the previous tenant was there for: it can be a good indicator of what the place is like. Also, if it appears the tenant is still in residence and you/she/her Dad is cheeky enough, call around early evening when there is a chance they'll be in and talk to them.
SPCome on people, it's not difficult: lose means to be unable to find, loose means not being fixed in place. So if you have a hole in your pocket you might lose your loose change.0 -
Is it going to be managed by the landlord directly or by a letting agent. If an agent how much are each of their fees? Typically admin, drawing up tenancy agreement, referencing including gurantor, check in, check out, renewal etc.
How long is the property available for? What will be on offer after the fixed term, another fixed term or periodic. Check tenancy agreement including for break clauses.
If white goods provided who pays to maintain the them such as washing machine. If they are not provided then note what space is available and budget to buy your own.
Probably better for the settee/bed to go so daughter can get her own but as you say you need to check if that's the case.
You should get any promises made confirmed in writing as agents can so easily "forget" what they offered.0 -
thanks for all your further tips and advice. Apparently the place is lovely and she is keen to move in. My last question, and I have emailed the rental agency and am awaiting a reply, is how people in rented flats go about getting internet connection if it's not there already. Would a landlord normally allow a broadband company to be drilling into their walls for cables? Obviously the tenant would be paying for this.
thanks0 -
*Usually* there's already a phone socket and line in place and you just order a package from your provider of choice. They would send you a router in the post which would give you wifi.
You can check the address using an ISP website (others available!) e.g.
https://www.productsandservices.bt.com/broadband/availability/0 -
You cant get cable if youre not in a cable area but if cables already installed in the area you just open an account online with Virgin, otherwise it'll be through the BT line. Usually the box is already in so often free reconnection & go on a comparison site to get the best deal, talk talk, plus net, BT, whoever, it all comes down the BT box & you pay whoever you go with as provider.0
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Check who owns it for £3 from land registry - see if landlord name matches. If it doesn't, walk.
WiFi may be provided - I do for one property -100 mbos0 -
theartfullodger wrote: »WiFi may be provided - I do for one property -100 mbos
You may provide 100mbit WiFi but do you also provide an internet connection?
You could advertise you have 100 mbit WiFi included in your property and simply have a router with no access to the internet. So many people just assume if it's WiFi then it provides a connection to the internet. I'm surprised i have never heard of anyone taking advantage of that.0
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