It seems as though, for Generation Rent, buying a house isn’t going to be on an anyone’s to-do list for some years to come and, as such, understanding how to meet the demands – and make the most of – life in a rented property will be key. However, from inventories to deposit schemes, it can be easy to feel a little overwhelmed, especially for first-time renters. So, to help help guide you through this phase of your life, the team at Barnes of Lincoln are on hand to offer some useful tips.
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Sort a budget
Firstly, before you go surfing through Rightmove, you’ll want to establish how much you can reasonably afford to pay in rent each month. And that’s not just rent: you need to take into account your general costs of living, council tax, utility bills, broadband – the list goes on.
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Find a property to rent
Once you’ve got a rough figure in your head, you can then get on the internet to see what sort of properties match your budget. There are a few real estate portals out there, but Rightmove is the most popular. You can filter the results by location, price and type of accommodation, so you’ll quickly get an idea of what properties you can get on your shortlist.
Once you’ve found a property you like – don’t hesitate; the chances are, if you like it, someone else does too.
When viewing the property, don’t be afraid to ask the estate agent as much as you can. The likelihood is, if you found the property on a real estate portal, there wasn’t a great deal of information about the property, so make the most of this face time.
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The deposit
Once you’ve passed the checks and referencing process, you will need to pay a security deposit that will be held by the agent on behalf of the landlord. This is ultimately to provide the landlord with compensation if you damage the property. Your deposit must also be registered with a deposit scheme such as DPS, ensuring that, if at the end of your tenancy you can’t come to an agreement, the deposit scheme will provide a resolution service.
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Your rented property inventory
Once you’ve paid your deposit, you should be provided with a full inventory when you enter the property which is signed by the tenant and landlord. This should list all existing faults with the property such as damaged fittings and marks on the carpet ensuring that, at the end of the tenancy, you will not be charged for them. Make sure you look at this document carefully, and notify the agent if there are any existing faults not on there.
With nearly 50 years worth of experience under our belts, you can rest assured that Barnes of Lincoln’s family-run service will make your moving experience. We are a comprehensive service provider, meaning we provide quotes free of charge; we will pack, prepare and transport your belongings; then help with the moving in at the other end. Moving abroad? That’s no sweat either. We offer an international moving package that is equally good value as our UK moves. Contact our team today, to discover what we can do for you.
