What to ask when viewing a property for rent

Published: 27/06/2022 By

When viewing a property for rent, it pays to be prepared and organised and ready to submit your application. There are many potential questions from renters and you will no doubt have your own list of queries at the ready. We have out together a few important questions that may not be on your radar:  

What’s the area like? Have in mind the sort of area you are hoping for - perhaps lively and close to lots of amenities, or quiet and rural. You may want to check out if the area is well-lit, especially if you’ll be living alone, or on a quiet road so do make sure you visit at different times of the day.

Who do I contact if there is a problem? Check who will be managing the property day-to-day. This could be a letting agent, the landlord or someone else. Make sure you are clear who you need to call in the event of a problem.

Is anything else included? What you see in the property during a viewing may not be what’s included with the property. Ensure you are clear on exactly what is included in terms of furniture and appliances so you will know if you need to provide anything else. Some lets may also include utilities but, if not, make sure you factor in these additional costs when making your decision.

Who is responsible for that? Always refer to your tenancy agreement if you are unsure if something is your responsibility as the tenant. You can also call your agent for advice if you are unsure. If you are looking at a room within a shared property make sure you know who is responsible for common areas such as the kitchen or garden.

What references are required? There can be a broad range of differences when it comes to providing references, with some landlords and agents being less stringent than others. As a general rule, you will need to show that you can afford the asking rent so make sure you have recent income information to hand and, if necessary, a guarantor on standby. In most instances you will also need to prove your current address and show some ID. You will also need to prove your ‘Right to Rent’ in the UK and you can see more information about this here

Who holds my deposit? If you are signing an Assured Shorthold Tenancy, landlords and letting agents are require by law to protect your deposit in a government approved deposit scheme. The deposit itself is held by either the landlord, the agent or the scheme itself. You should receive a certificate of protection giving full details of where it is held.
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