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Renting a house in the UK is not always as easy as you think. Most times, you might not find where you like and the place you get might be downright unmanageable. Besides, if you are not strategic with renting a house, you may end up spending your money on what you will regret later. To avoid that, here are tips for renting a house:
Inspect the house thoroughly
If you want to get value for your money, you have to be sure that the house you are renting is of high quality. As such, you should inspect it yourself. If you can, take along a property inspector. Check for any moss or mold anywhere, and around the taps for leaks. Also, see if the doors and windows open properly and how the water is running in the shower. Check the locks, the toilets, floorboards, carpets, etc. Ensure you check for fire exit routes as well in case of emergencies.
Another aspect of the house you should thoroughly inspect is the security of the home. You don’t want to move into a home where you will be regularly disturbed b thieves and thugs. Hence, you should first confirm that the house is in a safe environment. You should check home security gadgets to ensure they are adequate to protect you. When not adequate and you still want to take the house, you can read about home security companies on BritainReviews to know which of their services and products you will need for your home.
Ensure you are sure of the fees
In most cases, a house costs more than you think or have saved up. There might be some hidden costs you don’t know of. Besides, renting a house from the landlord directly is cheaper than renting from an agency. Agencies add their rates to the house rent and other packages you are expected to pay. Both the landlord and agencies run credit checks on potential tenants to know if they are capable of paying the house rent. Some agents may also be dubious. They may equate a healthy credit card record as a sign that the potential tenant has a lot of money and increase their rates unjustifiably. You have to be careful of the landlords or agents you want to rent a house from.
Know which bills you pay and which your landlord covers.
Besides the rent, there are lots of bills which runs through all year for you to pay. Such bills include water bills, service charge, council tax, electricity bills, broadband bills, phone bills, contents insurance, digital TV subscriptions, etc. It is advised you check with your landlord if they pay some of the bills or you are to pay all. You can also look for ways to cut down your bills, such as checking out the water meter from an unused bedroom.
Read the contract before you sign
There must be a legal contract backing up your tenancy. This is to avoid any case of manipulation. However, before you sign the contract, ensure you read it well and understand the terms of the agreement. Ask questions about anything you are unclear about before you append your signature. Also, make sure the agreements you have with your landlord are reflected in the contract. If there is anything that should be in it but it isn’t, tell the landlord or the agent to update it. To be on the safe side, you should seek a lawyer’s advice on the terms of the agreement in the contract as the landlord or agent might be untruthful