Wherever you are, renting for the first time can be a struggle, especially when you don’t know what to look for. Needless to say, choosing where you are going to live is not a decision to take lightly. That’s why I’ll share the five top things you need to know before renting for the first time.
- Get to know the area you want to live in. Do your research and make sure to visit the area you’re interested in. You’ll want to make sure you feel safe and that it is not a difficult commute to work, or too far away from your child’s school if these things are important to you. Searching for properties on the web is great; however using a letting agency to help you can really make finding a place to rent easier. Search online for Estate Agents Cheltenham if you’re looking to live in the Cheltenham area. I recommend contacting local estate agents, Me and You Estate Agents.
- Determine your budget. You want to make sure you don’t commit to paying more than you can realistically afford. If you have a tight budget, consider only looking at furnished properties as buying a new bed and furniture can be quite costly. Also, don’t forget to count in the utility bills and council tax. You can also check if you’ll need a guarantor if a property is beyond your affordability.
- Read the tenancy agreement thoroughly and check if there is a break clause. This means that if the contract is for 12 months, it might have a 6 month break clause meaning you could leave then with notice.
- When you view the property, make sure to check that there is no black mold, or take caution if there is not much ventilation. From my experience, this can become a major issue if not taken seriously from the beginning as it can lead to serious health problems.
- Lastly, check there is heating. A tell-tale sign that there isn’t, is if there are electric heaters. This can be a major issue in the cold months. Besides using up a lot of electricity, electric heaters should not be left on for long periods of time because this can potentially cause a fire. This happened in the last place I rented. My neighbour left the electric heater on for more than 48 hours and it burnt down her whole apartment.
To summarise, be careful which property you choose to rent and definitely use an estate agent to help with your search. Do not settle for a property you’re not happy with, especially if it’s because you’re being pressured into it. Finally, good luck with your search!