23 Tips for Rental Viewings
So, you’re going to rent. You’ve found your ideal location. You’ve set your budget. You’ve narrowed down the properties that fit your criteria. But there’s only so much information that can be gleaned online. It’s time to get a real feel for the place. Time to extract all the hidden information from the property agent. To be thorough, but act quickly. It’s time to get viewing…
Ahead of the Viewing
1. Make a list of all your must haves - the things you simply cannot live without (a short commute, great public transport, a certain number of rooms). Then write a list of nice to haves - the things that you’re prepared to sacrifice, if need be (like a gym nearby, some outside space, a pub that will become your local). These lists will help you determine if a property is really right for you.
Upon Arrival
2. Get there with plenty of spare time.
What amenities are about? Is there a shop for necessities? A doctors or dentists? What’s important for you? Get that list out!
Keep in mind the time of day – sure, the area might be serene at 1pm, but is there a school nearby that would be busy just as you’re leaving for work, or a club that stays open to 3am, making sleep near impossible? It might be worth getting another viewing in the diary to check this.
Similarly, how would you feel at night? Is the area well lit? And if so, are there blackout blinds on the property?
3. Grill the neighbours.
Chat to them about their properties. Have they had any issues? Their problems can soon become yours…
Here, you should think about what sort of a household yours will be. Will your lifestyle work well with theirs? Or will you be faced with noise complaints further down the line, which are far from ideal when you’re hosting your infamous pre drinks…
What’s more, find out if they know anything about the current occupants - for example, how long have they been living there and why are they leaving.
4. Check the exterior, including walls, brickwork, window frames, guttering, piping, etc.
5. Consider parking. Are there enough spaces for the number of people you are living with? If there are no spaces, are there any restrictions on the roads? Will you need a permit? Will this be a problem?
Inside the Property
6. First things first, look out for any distractions or sneaky methods the agent or landlord is using to hide things, as suggested by Lucy Tobin and Kat Poole in their fab book, “Being an Adult”.
Is there music playing to block out the sound of transport?
Does the smell of air freshener mask something more sinister?
Is there a closed curtain hiding something dodgy behind it?
Is there any furniture in weird places or any strange looking paint jobs?
Is the heating on, but it still feels cold?
Are the lights on because the property lacks natural light?
In contrast, if the lights are off, do all the switches work?
7. Distractions out of the way, check what is really included when they say furnished/ unfurnished - things like curtains, light fittings, furniture. Is the current occupant leaving anything behind and what happens if you don’t want it?
8. Then, put the interior out of your mind and focus on the ceilings, windows and walls.
Look for any signs of damp, including peeling wallpaper, condensation, cracks, brown stains, wet spots, slow drips, leaks, a musty smell (Money Saving Expert).
Is there any evidence of pests? Check when the property was last treated for these bad boys. My friends and I overlooked this when renting in our second year of university, which meant we awoke every morning to the remnants of a slug party - lovely.
9. Consider the floor plan and the size of the rooms. Do they work for you? Will your existing furniture fit? Is there enough storage? Be realistic here - if you are an aspiring fashionista with heaps of clothes, make sure there is wardrobe space aplenty.
10. This is especially important in the kitchen. Money Saving Expert even suggest miming prepping a meal to check there is enough room. Whilst here, check what white goods are included and visually inspect them. Perhaps ask what has been replaced recently to understand the lifespan of things.
11. Think about the water.
Check the water pressure and temperature by turning on taps and flushing toilets. Inspect the plumbing (and check that cupboards under sinks are dry).
Ask how old the boiler is. Check whether it is a combi one. If so, is there a backup immersion heater for if it fails? (Zoopla).
12. Ask about the energy efficiency of the property.
Homelet suggest viewing the EPC certificate. Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards require landlords to make sure a rental property has a rating of at least ‘E’.
The newer the property, the higher rated it is likely to be - which means cheaper bills for you! But landlords can certainly take measures to improve the efficiency of older properties.
And while we’re on the topic of electricity, are there enough plug sockets?!
13. Check the safety of the property.
Are the locks up to insurance standard? According to Money Saving Expert, some policies insist that front and back doors be fitted with a five lever mortice deadlock.
Check for any signs of break-ins and ask the agent whether there has been any sort of criminal activity in the past.
Also check the smoke alarms. Are they battery powered or connected to the mains? Is there a carbon monoxide detector? Is there a sound fire escape route?
14. Check the signal on your phone and ask about the WiFi too! You can google both of these post-viewing to back up your findings.
15. Whilst your phone is out, pull up your compass (do iPhones still have them?!). Is that garden really south-facing? Does it matter to you?
16. And take photos! They’ll help you remember the property if you’re viewing more than one. They’ll also help you in the lead up to moving in, when you are considering what you’ll need to up your Feng Shui. Plus, you’ll definitely want to show your friends the flat that you just signed, right…
When You’ve Seen Enough
17. Get down to the nitty-gritty on money.
How much is the deposit? This is usually between 1 month and 5 weeks worth of rent, paid upfront. It should be protected in a government registration scheme and you should be made aware of the details of this (Homelet).
Is there a holding deposit? This is a sum of money to prove you are serious and should be around one week’s rent. Once you take up tenancy, it should be refunded or used to pay your rent (Homelet).
Are there any additional fees that you need to be made aware of, such as those from the estate agent, service charges or ground rent?
What insurance does the landlord have and what do you need to cover yourself?
What is the rough cost of running the place, including council tax (more about the different valuation bands), gas, electricity and water? As a side note, you don’t need to stick with your landlord’s current provider and it might be cheaper to shop around.
Check if you’ll need a TV license.
Ask when bills will need to be paid and through what method.
Although it seems far far away, Homelet suggest you consider what happens at the end of the contract too. Will you be able to renew the lease? Does it roll over into a periodic one?
18. Ask what the level of interest has been and if there is another agency advertising the property. As Which? note, if this is the case, just paying a holding deposit does not mean you’ve got the property.
19. Ask whether it is possible to see the contract without any payment first.
See whether there is a release clause and read the info surrounding this.
Now’s also the time to add anything that you want to be repaired or done ahead of you moving in (like repainting or carpet steaming). On top of this, as Buzzfeed state that tenants “should seek clarification in writing as to whether the landlord agrees to repair or replace […] items if they break down”.
20. Confirm the logistics.
When’s the moving in date?
Who will be your first point of contact?
What is the maintenance procedure? According to Landlordology, if there’s no definitive answer here, they probably aren’t going to be great with upkeep. Ideally, you want to rent from a proactive landlord who makes repairs in a timely manner. And if they are likely to slack, this might be a deal breaker for you.
Are pets allowed?
What about decoration? This may change throughout your tenancy, especially if you prove reliable and approach your landlord with full transparency.
Is there a guest policy?
Who takes care of the garden…
21. Finally, check whether there is anything else you need to know - let them spill the beans. And the knockout question: would they live here and why?
Phew… There are heaps of resources out there to help in your hunting. I’ve listed three great links below. Good luck!
