Tips For Tenants Before Renting

With competition fierce to secure your perfect home, it pays to move fast to make sure you don’t miss out.  Here are our top tips for a hassle-free renting process:

Find a lettings agent you can trust.
It’s well worth asking around for personal recommendations of lettings agents.  The agent you use should be governed by a recognised industry scheme: ARLA registered, for example.  You can then rest assured that your agent will follow the industry’s code of conduct and guidelines – and if for any reason you find they don’t in the future, you have an industry body to turn to for help settling any disputes.

Research location
Researching different areas is vital, so you get a feel for where you’d like to live.  That way you can focus your search, saving you time and making sure you’re ready to move quickly when opportunities arise in locations you like.

Prioritise
Decide which property attributes are ‘must haves’– for example location, or a balcony, and which ones you could forgo…maybe an ensuite bathroom…to secure the apartment of your dreams, within your price bracket.

Your tenant credentials
Bring written references - and guarantors’ references if they are required - with you, so your agent can recommend you to the landlord: being prepared and able to prove a good track record will work in your favour.   You’ll also need proof of identity, utility bills, a copy of your credit report and don’t forget to have your deposit to hand.

Ask about deposit schemes
Before you hand over your rental deposit to an agent, make sure they’re enlisted in a deposit scheme – otherwise your money isn’t protected.

Know your notice period.
If you are already renting somewhere, make sure you know how long your notice period is so that you can leave as soon as you need to.

And finally, don’t forget to review the lease before you sign on the dotted line!

The Actual Renting Process

House hunting can be a daunting process, but luckily at Key Properties we’re on hand to make your search for the perfect home is a stress-free success.  Our friendly and professional personal service takes into account everything from your ideal location to your budget and the number of bedrooms you need. 

Helping you every step of the way, our efficient and knowledgeable lettings team appreciate you lead a hectic lifestyle, so we do everything we can to fit in around you – right down to offering viewings on a Sunday or in the evening. With dedicated property managers, you’re sure to receive exceptional service from the minute you get in touch.

So, with our help, you’ve found the property you’d like to make home. What happens next? It’s simple:

-    Let us know you’d like to go ahead.
-    We will contact  the landlord for you and if they accept your offer we can secure your new home on your behalf.

You’ll just need to:

-    Pay the agency fee plus a proportion of the first months rent (the amount of rent that is paid at this time is deducted from the total of the initial rent  that will paid on move in).  Once we’ve received payment the property will be taken off the market.
-    Fill in an application form and return it to us as soon as possible.
-    We will then run some credit checks and on the condition all checks have been successfully passed we will go to the next stage
-    Arrange a move-in date. One of our property management team will give you a call about this.

The day of the move:
-    On the big move-in day, call into our nominated office , bringing along proof of ID.  Either a driver’s license, your passport or two utility bills would be ideal. 
-    Pay the remainder of the first month’s rent and your deposit.
-    Set up a standing order for your monthly rental payments.
-    Read and sign the tenancy agreement.
-    Take a look through and sign off a document we draw up about the condition of the property at the start of your tenancy and an inventory of contents.
-    Collect your keys, move in and celebrate!