Before you start renting a property, it’s really important to do some research and ensure that all bases are covered. By making sure everything is in order before you begin the rental process, you can promote a stress-free experience. In this blog, we’re letting you know common renting mistakes and how to avoid them in the private rented sector.
Renting should be a positive experience, and we understand that a lot of that comes from the letting agent or landlord you have. At Intus Lettings, we aim to put the enjoyment into lettings, ensuring that you have all the benefits you are promised as a tenant, including flexibility and modern facilities.
Ignoring hidden costs
One of the most common renting mistakes we come across is people not considering all of their bills fully. Maybe you didn’t realise that gas and electricity weren’t included in rent payments or perhaps the WiFi costs more than you anticipated.
It’s really important to sit down and make a list of these costs before moving in so that you can prepare and spend some time looking at whether any deals are available.
The last thing you want is to fall into rent arrears just because you weren’t prepared for unexpected costs. It’s always recommended to spend some time on this before moving in. Read our blog on how to budget for renting a home.
Not completing the inventory for the rental property
The inventory is a really important element of renting a home. It contains photographs of the property when you first moved in and will be updated throughout the tenancy through regular inspections.
By failing to complete the inventory, you could end up paying for damage that wasn’t your fault at the end of the tenancy. Not only is this frustrating, but it’s also very easy to avoid.
Before you move any of your own items into the home, walk around and take photos of the rooms and any damage you notice. The letting agent may have already documented it, but if they’ve missed it, you put yourself at risk of disputes. You should be able to view the inventory through property management software.
Relying on verbal agreements
While there are no fixed term tenancy contracts in place now, tenants are still required to sign a tenancy agreement. It’s important that you read this and get the information in writing rather than relying solely on verbal agreements.
All landlords and property management companies must ensure they maintain accurate records for legal compliance. Read our blog on tenancy application tips.
Ignoring maintenance issues
As letting agents, we understand that sometimes appliances can break or other issues can occur. As a tenant, a big mistake would be to leave maintenance issues unresolved rather than correctly reporting them to the landlord or agent.
Leaving items broken in the home is irritating for you as you have to live with it, but it can also lead to higher maintenance costs and repairs for the landlord. Poor communication can cause issues for all parties involved.
When you start renting a property, you must ensure that you know how to correctly report any maintenance issues or damage so that it can be rectified promptly. This helps your landlord ensure they keep up with their legal obligations.
Managing renters’ responsibilities
Landlords are required to ensure their tenants understand their legal responsibilities while renting. Landlords should also ensure they are collecting rent fairly, have buildings insurance, ensure they charge appropriate rent in line with the local market, continue paying mortgage payments, ensure regular maintenance, protect your deposit with an approved scheme and keep up with all compliance requirements.
As we said earlier in the blog, renting should be a positive experience and by following our guidance on how to avoid these common mistakes, you can enjoy renting instead of it being a challenge.
At Intus Lettings, we ensure that all tenants have access to all information in writing and let them know how to report any issues quickly. We maintain open communication with tenants and landlords to make the renting process as seamless as possible for everyone involved.
If you’re looking for your next rental home, contact our friendly team. We’ll chat with you about your preferences and suggest suitable properties.
