1. Neighbourhood
When renting a house or flat, the neighbourhood is a crucial factor to consider. If you work in the office, opt for a place close enough to commute to work quickly. If you have children of school-going age, you may want to live near schools or colleges. Other amenities such as shopping centres, parks, and hospitals should also be located nearby. Please make sure there are no highways, bars, hospitals, clubs, and public offices too close to where you live. This is because the possible disruptions and noise that could come from these places can make it hard for you to sleep. The crime rate in the neighbourhood is also something to look into before moving to avoid moving to a high crime area. Read this if you are thinking of relocating to a new city. Also, if possible, find out who your neighbours are. Some neighbours can be impossible to live next to because they could have off-putting personalities. Some people like to pick a fight over minor issues, have a dangerous pet or listen to loud music when you are trying to sleep.
2. Condition of the house
During a viewing, pay attention to all the details in the house. Before signing a lease, you and your landlord should document the state of the rental flat using a rental inspection report. If this doesn’t happen, your landlord won’t recall what damages the previous tenant made on the rental unit before you moved in. Thus, you might end up being forced to pay for the damages that someone else caused, and the landlord could also keep a fraction of your security deposit to cover the cost of repairs. Therefore, you must ensure this report is filled out in the initial stages of the renting process. Some of the problems that you need to check before moving in are;
- Whether carpets, walls, and floors have stains or damages
- Whether the HVAC and thermostat are in good working conditions
- Whether light switches, lights, and windows function
- Whether the sink, stove, and refrigerator work
- Whether bathroom faucets and toilets function
- Whether safety systems like smoke detectors or alarms work. If there’s an emergency exit in the house?
- Whether the house has a pest infestation, such as cockroaches, spiders, or bedbugs.
- Do the windows show signs of condensation? This problem could indicate cracking sealant or inadequate insulation.
- Are the work surfaces and kitchen cupboards in good condition?
It would be prudent to find out if the landlord can fix some issues for you before moving in. If there are no issues, check out the storage space. Is it enough to fit all your things, or will you need to bring a stand-alone wardrobe?
3. Amenities
Amenities are the luxuries that the landlord provides on top of the rental. Some of them can be paid for, free, or communal. Communal amenities may include parking, laundry hookups, and a laundry room. You might have to pay for amenities such as security, recycling, gardening, and parking. Additional amenities are security, gardening, a fitness room, air conditioning, internet, a pool, and a dishwasher. Nowadays, the internet is an essential consideration for most people. If you plan to stream TV often, work from home or play online games, ensure internet speeds are sufficient to comfortably meet your needs. Ask what suppliers are accessible and the highest speed the property can provide.
4. Terms and conditions
Find out about the policies the landlord has put in place to ensure the smooth running of things in the property. If you own a car, inquire about the parking. The management or landlord may give you a designated space, or you may be required to go to the council to acquire a permit at an extra fee. Establish what you need to do in case of a plumbing emergency. Do they have a number you can call during an emergency? What is the policy about decoration? Can you repaint the house? What are the pet policies? The landlord might not allow pets, or you might need to pay an extra fee to keep them on the property. What about smoking areas? The landlord might give you a list containing their obligations and yours. Decide if you are comfortable with them or not.
5. Budget
Are there other extra costs besides the rent? Find out what the deposit is, what bills are part of the rent and the amount of deposit the landlord requires you to pay beforehand. Once you know these figures, you will check your finances and determine if you can afford to pay and decide whether the house or flat is worth the amount. Remember to find out energy ratings and Council Tax Bands. If the property has a rating of A or B, it could enable you to save all year around. Lower ratings could mean less energy savings.
6. Landlord or property management
Find out who is in charge of the property. If the landlord or property management agent is hard to get along with, you may consider viewing another property.
Renting a new home is an arduous process that you might dread, but sometimes, you have no choice but to live in a rental. There is no point in spending your hard-earned money on an unworthy rental house or flat when you can live in pure bliss if you do your due diligence and rent a great place. Consider all these factors above to avoid living in an unhappy or uncomfortable place.
Once you a ready to move consider choosing Local Removals London Ltd. Read Why Choose Us
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