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12 QUESTIONS TO ASK A LANDLORD BEFORE RENTING A PROPERTY

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12 QUESTIONS TO ASK A LANDLORD BEFORE RENTING A PROPERTY

We know what it’s like, once you’ve spotted your ideal flat or house you love and can afford, it’s easy to get carried away in excitement when you are viewing it.

The market moves fast and you want to be sure you secure it. But wait just a moment, it’s only after you’ve moved in that you may realize things aren’t quite what they seem and start to wish you had asked more questions.

We are here to help you get the questions you need, so you can then focus on securing that space!

Primarily, start by making a list of features which you would consider as ‘must haves’, these are going to be the absolute essentials that you can’t live without, for example the location, commutes to work or schools, number of rooms, access to public transport, a secure garden, a dog friendly landlord or agent etc.

Then think about the ‘would likes’, these are the things you would prefer, but if push came to shove, you would compromise on.

Such as parking, yes you would ideally like a drive or garage but if the property was perfect in all other aspects, would you consider parking on road, or would you prefer to compromise on the kitchen or garden?

Once you have put your lists together, it’s time to think about the questions you may forget to ask.  Below are key examples of questions to ask:

Who is responsible for what?

If you are in a flat, there could be common areas, such as kitchens, gardens, courtyards or hallways. If you are in a shared house this is even more important.

We have all heard those stories of housemates who make Monica from Friends look like a slob, cleaning everything that doesn’t move, or hoovering until 3am in the morning or perhaps the opposite and housemates who simply have no interest in hygiene.

Understanding who is responsible for what, and when is key to handling any future conversations you may have with your housemates.  We are sure it will be fine, but it’s always a good idea to be prepared.

If you are in a house or a ground floor flat, you might also have a garden to enjoy.

However, it’s worth asking whose responsibility these areas are to maintain and whether the upkeep will cost you any extra money.

Does your tenancy agreement commit you to maintaining the garden, by cutting the grass, the plants and how frequently (or perhaps your landlord simply asks you to allow a gardener to attend) either way, you need to know what’s what.

Who lives next door?

Although your landlord or letting agent might not know, it’s still a good idea to ask if they have any idea of who the neighbours are, are they noisy, quiet, a family, young or elderly? Do they have pets? Have past tenants had any run-ins with them?  Do you feel they will be compatible with your lifestyle?

Particularly if the property you are preparing to rent is a flat or attached to the neighbouring property, say a terraced or semi-detached, it’s key to understand how the lifestyle habits of your closest humans could impact on you.  For example, do they work unsociable hours?

What’s it like at night?

Find out if the area is well lit at night and whether you would feel safe walking around alone. Are there any popular bars, pubs or clubs nearby and can you hear the resulting noise from the property?

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If the area is well lit, this is great for safety, but it can be a nightmare if your blinds aren’t good quality.

There’s nothing like a brightly lit bedroom to ruin a night’s sleep, ask whether you will receive black-out blinds or, if not, whether you can put some up yourself.

Sick and tired black woman lying in the bed

What’s public transport like at night?  What time does it stop for example? You may have a car but on those occasions when you don’t, it’s being repaired or you’ve fancied popping out for a drink or two, it’s good to know whether you’ll be able to get home or not have to face a $ 50 taxi ride (if it’s particularly rural you may even struggle to get taxis, it’s always best to check).

What’s included?

Whether your potential new place is furnished or unfurnished, what you see on a viewing may not be what you get.

Furniture may belong to the previous tenant who is in the process or moving out for example.  Make sure you ask what’s included, so you know what you’ll need to bring with you.

This doesn’t just include furniture; make sure to ask about washing machines, fridges, curtains, light fittings, shower curtains and blinds.

If you already own something that’s included with the property, ask if you can replace theirs with your own.

Most landlords won’t have a problem with you using your own stuff, but they will have a problem if you throw out anything that belongs to them, so it’s always best to check.

Can I decorate?

Many tenancy agreements state that you can’t paint the walls, erect shelves, put up pictures or change any of the decor.

If this bothers you, it’s always worth asking if there’s a possibility it won’t be included in your contract.

If the landlord won’t agree to you decorating, ask them if they can put some picture hooks up for you or check out our blog post to get some ideas around what you can do to make it feel more like home.

For example there’s many great solutions that allow you to hang pictures without actually damaging the wall.

It’s worth investigating your local DIY store to find out what’s available.  Another great idea if your landlord isn’t into the idea of you redecorating is ‘wallpaper pictures’.

Simply create large ‘canvases’ with your favourite wallpaper and hang (with the aforementioned no nail solution) onto your walls, and hey presto, you’ve stamped your personality into your surroundings without saying goodbye to part of your deposit.

What’s the TV & internet like?

Possibly one of the most important considerations, in a survey of students, internet speed rated higher in their considerations than the price of rent. Let’s consider that for a moment. But their logic does make sense.

Often, even if you’re prepared to pay more for the subscription of your internet or TV provider, due to your location, you may not be able to get the full speed/channels promised.

So if internet speed is important to you (and if you watch smart TV, subscribe to any entertainment channels, stream music or are an avid gamer, you should be) best to be safe than sorry and check.

Not forgetting the equipment you intend to use.  Yes, you may just plan to watch your weekly TV solely on your laptop but realistically, you’ll need to know whether or not your landlord provides a TV.

If unfurnished it’s unlikely but even if you’re renting furnished, your landlord may not consider a TV part of something they should provide.

Another consideration is how you receive the signal. Again, you may be planning on entirely using internet TV services but, if like most of us you are partial to a bit of terrestrial or satellite based services once in a while, you’ll need to know the status of your aerial / satellite dish too.

For example, a new landlord may not allow you to put up a Sky dish, Virgin Media cables may not be in place or you may have to change the phone line if you want to sign up to BT (which the landlord may not be too happy about unless you ask first).  All things to check, before you sign.

How much is it going to cost?

You’ll probably already know what the rent will cost (and if not, why not), but there could be other fees too.

Rent Spelled Out in Tiles

You’ll need to know how much deposit you’ll be paying, how much rent up front, any and whether any bills are included with the rent.

You’ll then be able to decide how much you can afford and whether the property is worth the cost.

Don’t forget to check out Council Tax bands and energy ratings too!  A property rated A or B could make you considerable savings throughout the year than one rated D or E.

Money saving tip: Your tenancy agreement should detail if you or your landlord are responsible for paying for the gas or electricity. You don’t necessarily have stick with your landlord’s choice of energy supplier, as a tenant can shop around to get yourself the best deals on you.

Using a comparison tool that looks at the whole of the market could help you save money.

How’s the heating & water?

Check what kind of boiler there is and ask to see whether hot water comes out of the taps and the radiators work.

If it’s a combi boiler, great you’ll have hot water literally ‘on tap’ but if it fails for any reason, you’ll have no hot water.

Is there a back-up for example an immersion heater?  Don’t discount a property if the boiler isn’t a ‘combi’, a standard boiler will be just fine for most people provided you’ve set it up to heat up your water on a daily basis.

If there isn’t adequate heating, it’s also a good idea to ask if any space heaters are provided (but be aware these can cost more in electricity).

Does your landlord have a service agreement in place for your boiler / other services?  What happens if it breaks? How quickly can you expect it to be sorted?

Ask if there’s a 24 hour phone number you’ll be able to call in an emergency. Hopefully you’re not going to need to use it but, if a pipe bursts in the middle of the night, it’s nice to know it’ll be sorted out as soon as possible.

Look out for double glazing, which will keep the place much warmer than older style single glazed windows.  Check for any draughty places, from doors and windows, again these will increase your heating bills.

Finally, check the water pressure in the shower, you’ll be glad you did. There’s nothing worse than finding out afterwards that the water flow in your shower can’t even rinse the shampoo from your hair.

Is the shower thermostatic? (Which means it will balance out the temperature so you don’t scald/freeze yourself if someone turns on a tap elsewhere)  It’s good to know if you need to make sure someone doesn’t turn on other appliances during your shower or not.

What happens in an emergency?

Who can you call?  If your main contact is through a letting agent, what support can they offer you out of hours in case a pipe bursts, you (hopefully not) have a break in, or something else immediate and critical happens.

What are my transport options?

If you drive, make sure to ask about parking. You may be given an allocated space or you might need to get a permit from the council, which could cost you more money.

If there’s more than one of you moving in, ask how many parking spaces you’ll get – you don’t want to be fighting over one space.

Are there any conditions with the parking, is it allocated, or shared.  Is there a driveway, is it shared, and so on.

If you don’t drive, enquire into local public transport. How far away is it? Is it regular? The novelty of walking four miles to work will soon wear off and you’ll wish you’d asked before moving in.

Can you fix this?

Make sure you look carefully for any damage or broken items and raise them before you commit to moving.

Your landlord will more than likely be willing to fix them before you move in and it’ll save you any hassle later on if the problems escalate.

If they can’t or won’t fix it before you move, make sure to take a picture of the damage on moving day and ensure it’s logged in your inventory.

Where can I put my stuff?

Think realistically about how much you own and look carefully at the storage solutions in the property. If there isn’t enough, ask whether more can be provided or whether you can put up shelves or rails.

If you’re bringing your own storage, i.e. drawers or free-standing wardrobes, check they’ll fit where you’re planning to put them and don’t forget access routes such as doors, stairs or even from outside.

Are external (and internal) doors wide enough to fit through your lovely 4 seater sofa?  Can you get your wardrobe up the winding staircase.  Don’t assume.

Now you’re prepared with all the information, it’s time go forth and find your new rental place!