SamUK

iTrader: (1)

Hi,

Me, my wife and 2 kids are looking to rent a flat \ house...just started looking, and someone told me in some cases some bills are also included in the price?

Is this true?

Also any other usefull advise would be great...

worley

I've rented 15 places since the age of 18 and for me the following applies:


Rent through an agency - there's someone to fall back to if the landlord is difficult
Make sure that the inventory is done properly
Make sure that there are no service charges
If someone pays the bills it will be included at a higher rate in the rental
Never accept pre-agreements with utility suppliers
Best to have bills in own name if looking for a good credit rating
Ask about annual rent increases - always refuse when they arrive

Positives:

When white goods already installed
Garage and shed
Garden done by gardener at landlords cost
Windows cleaned as part of deal
Good neighbours (preferably old and part of neighbourhood watch)


Nik

nik52wrx

My family have several rental appartments in London and although i can agree with most of what has been advised i might have problems with the refusal of anual increases when they arrive.
Bills are not included because it would be difficult to quantify another individuals energy consumption etc.
Nik.

worley

From an investor's point of view I concur, but would you rather have a good tenant or lose one months rent while trying to find another? All for the sake of 30 GPB per month?

Nik

nik52wrx

Our properties are all prime location and tennants know this therefore never had a problem with reasonable increases.
Our tennants tend to be long term, therefore the 30quid amounts to a significant amount over ten years which can't be ignored.
Nik.

SamUK

iTrader: (1)

Thanks guys..

I am trying to weigh up the options open to me..

Either rent for near £800 per month or get a £180k morgage and buy a house..

SamUK

iTrader: (1)

I guess the other issue with renting is that you cant really make any personal touches to the place...or change things..

nik52wrx

Depends what you mean. No problem in a lick of paint here and there but the downside is that not only are you buying a property for a landlord you are also maintaining it for him too.

salsa-king

i always use it as sweetner when I tell our tennants that they won't have a yearly rent increase (as long as they're not there for years and years, as most ony stay 12-18month).

our longest tenants now have been in 3yrs last month, still both on the same rents.

Normally the rents gets increased slightly (if the climate allows) every year or so when tenants mover out and a new one moves in.





If you rent from private landlord or agent, ask about the TDS (tenancy depoist scheme)
Some private landlords now don't take deposits now (we don't) but just ask for advance rent instead.

Kieran_Burns

iTrader: (1)

Nice to read this (and thanks for the information) as I'm about to move into rented myself. Just looking for the right place and am only looking through agencies.

How to know if the invntory is done properly? What does it involve?

Luminous

iTrader: (3)

The inventroy lists all the stuff in the house and its condition. So, if there is anything listed on the inventroy that is not in good condition make sure that its marked as such. Otherwise, when you come to move out the landlord can make a deduction from your bond stating that you damaged it. Personally, I'd take pictures of stuff. Digital images are free, so just photograph the rooms as a whole from a couple of angles, plus any items that belong to the landlord. Don't tell them. If they try to screw you when you move out, just make them look stupid.

Kieran_Burns

iTrader: (1)

Cheers Luminous. I'll make sure my batteries are charged

Steve vRS

We're moving into a rented house next Sunday.

I'll make sure I take lots of pics, especially of carpets and walls!

Steve

worley

Pay attention to the following in no particular order:

State of curtains
Cleanliness of oven (should be pristine if installed)
Stains on carpets
Seals around baths, showers and sinks
Waste pipework under bath and sinks
Condition of fridge and compressor noise
Washing machine filter etc
Oil on driveway


Nik