Introduction to Renting a Home in London
Renting a house in London is not always easy. Numerous issues come into play, and most importantly, the home should be liveable for the duration of your stay. Before visiting a realtor or trying things on your own, there are few things that you need to know well.
1. Budget for Rental but Consider All Costs
If you have saved enough for a few months of stay and the first few months of rent and deposit, many factors should be considered before you are ready to move.
There may be some hidden costs and that you might not have budgeted for. Landlords and letting agents would run credit and reference check on a potential tenant.
Most likely it’s done out the pocket of the tenant moving in. If you are taking the help of an agency, there will be an admin fee and a larger deposit than you might have expected.
For instance, for a house that costs GBP 1500 per month, you might end up paying a deposit which is usually six-weeks of rent, upfront payment of first-month rent, administration fee, and referencing fee as levied by the agency.
As the administration and referencing fee vary a lot between the agencies, it’s always better to check the fee with the agent before making the payment towards the house for rent London.
2.Expenses and Overheads
Did you forget about them? As a tenant, you will have to make the payments for all the household bills which may include, gas and electricity, water bills, taxes, services charges levied on the property, license for TV if you plan to watch it live, landline phone bills, insurance of the items, subscriptions for digital TV, satellite TV, and broadband bills.
While having an arrangement with a landlord can take care of some of these bills, it’s best to check with the agent or the landlord. If there are more bedrooms in the house than people, it’s better to get a water meter to save some money.
3.Necessary Electrical Equipment
Whether you are taking a furnished or unfurnished home, you need to check which electrical appliances are included in the rent and whether they are in working condition.
If you need to buy these from your pocket in case they are not supplied, you need to consider the costs of purchasing these in the decision.
Some of this equipment would include a kettle, toaster, microwave, fridge, oven, freezer, washing machine, dishwasher, etc.
If some items on the list are not working, it is better to negotiate with the landlord to have these cleaned or replaced before moving in.
Further visit: 7 Amazing Reasons Why You Should Renovate Of Your Bathroom
4.View Things Closely
When you get the chance to view the property closely, there are many close observations that have to be made. Find about any guttering, or moss or mould.
Check for leaks under and around the taps or low water pressure. Is water pressure in the shower normal or below it? Do windows and doors operate smoothly?
What is the condition of floorboards or carpets? Are they damaged or in new condition? Check the toilet by flushing it and check the garden and the fire exit routes.
Do the locks work well? There are minor things that have to be considered when you are evaluating a house for rent.
5. Find About Market Price in the Area
It is easy to make an offer on the price asked. But before doing that, check the rental area guide price to find a reasonable price for the property in the area.
Finally,
If you consider these factors before deciding on a house to rent London, you would find one that matches your expectations.
