During a rental viewing, you shouldn’t expect the owner to provide you with all of the information right away. It’s a good idea to do some research and create a checklist to assist you in your selection. It might be difficult to know what questions to ask when touring a house, especially for first-time tenants.
Before you start looking around, consider these inquiries from estate agents in Charlton Kings.
The monthly rent and expenses:
Although the amount of the rent is likely already known to you, there may also be other charges. You’ll need to be aware of the deposit amount, the amount of rent due in advance, and the expenses that are covered by the rent. After that, you’ll be able to assess your financial situation and know the feasibility of the property. Make sure you look at the energy ratings and council tax bands. A home with an A or B rating might cost you significantly less over the year than one with a D or E rating.
The neighbours:
Although your landlord or rental agency may be unaware of them, you can still inquire about the neighbours’ peculiarities, such as if they are young or old, noisy or quiet, a family or students. Do they own animals? Have they ever had any disputes with previous tenants? Do you think their lifestyle will fit in with yours?
It’s important to know how your neighbours’ living habits may affect you. This is especially true if the home you’re planning to rent is a flat or linked to a neighbouring house, such as a terraced or semi-detached one.
The transport options:
Be mindful to inquire about parking if you own a car. You could be given a designated spot or you would need to apply for council permission, which would likely cost extra money.
The last thing you want is to fight for a parking spot if other people are moving in with you. Does the parking have any restrictions and is it assigned or shared? Ask if there may be a driveway, a shared driveway, etc. Ask about available local public transportation if you don’t own a car. How far is it? Is it pretty standard? You don’t want to walk miles to work and wish you had inquired before moving in.
Fixing and repairing:
Before you decide to move, make sure you carefully inspect the area for any broken or damaged things. Make it a point to raise the issue as soon as possible. Your landlord will most likely be willing to remedy them before you shift, which will save you trouble later if the problems worsen.
If the landlord can’t or won’t address anything before you move, take a photograph or video of the problem on moving day and make sure it’s recorded in your inventory.
Redecoration policy
Many lease agreements prohibit you from changing the décor, erecting bookcases, hanging photos, or painting the walls. Asking to have this term removed from your contract is always worthwhile if it worries you.
For instance, numerous excellent alternatives let you hang photos without harming the wall. It’s worthwhile to look into what’s available in your neighbourhood hardware shop.
The internet connection:
In the modern day, this can be among the most essential aspects of a house. Will you be playing online games, watching a lot of TV, and working from home? If so, you must make sure that your internet connection has sufficient speed to support it. Learn about the property’s max speeds and the available vendors. You may need to know if your landlord has a TV. It’s doubtful if the apartment is unfurnished, but even if it is, your landlord might not think a TV is something they ought to give.
How you pick up the signal is another thing to think about. Again, you could be aiming to only use internet-based TV services, but if you occasionally enjoy some terrestrial or satellite-based programming, you’ll also need to be aware of the condition of your antenna and satellite dish.
Detectors for carbon monoxide:
At the moment, only rooms with fuel-burning equipment are required by law to have carbon monoxide detectors. Ask whether there is one on the property; if not, you might wish to make a request or purchase one on your own. A required gas safety certificate must be given to you after every 12 months of gas safety tests. Additionally, it is mandated by law that every floor have a smoke alarm.
