Tips for First Time Tenants

If you are moving into a rented property for the first time, you are probably concerned about the advantages and limitations of renting your home. Here are a few useful tips to help you settle in to your rented property worry-free.

 

Decide on your furnishing requirements

Decide whether you will be able to furnish your home yourself, or if you are going to need a place that comes with all the essentials supplied. If you don’t already have your own furniture, moving into a pre-furnished property will save you money twice; firstly you won’t need to buy any furniture, and then when you move out, you will have cheaper quotes for removals, as removal companies’ charges depend on the volume of articles to be moved.

Some landlords can offer alternate furnishing options and will supply or remove furniture if needed, so feel free to enquire to your letting agent as to whether the landlord is able to add or remove items. Remember that whether you rent the property furnished or not can affect the type of tenancy agreement you have. You can read about tenancy agreements on the Direct.gov website.

Think about safety

Your landlord is legally obliged to ensure that your home is a safe place to live, particularly concerning the gas and electrical equipment supplied with the property. Homes that use gas must come with a valid Gas Safety Record, and be checked annually by a GasSafe registered engineer. Any electrical equipment supplied with the property must also be regularly tested by a qualified electrician. If you can’t find evidence of these crucial things, raise the issue with your landlord or letting agent straight away.

If you are a residential landlord, your rented properties must meet health and safety standards designed to protect your tenants. Any good estate agent should be able to tell you a bit about these but it is up to you to make sure you follow the guidelines. You can read all about safety regulations on the Direct.gov website. It is also a good idea to make sure that there is a working smoke alarm installed at the property.

How energy-efficient is the property?

If you are house-hunting, EPCs are a useful piece of information because they will give you an indication of how much the energy bills are likely to cost for the property.

If you rent out, buy, sell or build a property, you will need to get an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). An EPC rates the energy efficiency of a property. It is based on the building's energy performance - for example, how much heat is lost through the roof.  An EPC also takes account of the property's heating and lighting. EPCs do not cover domestic appliance performance, like washing machines. An EPC is valid for ten years - even if new tenants move into your property during that time. You should give a copy of your property's current EPC to each new tenant.

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Thinking of letting your property? Get an EPC quote here

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Important – check your inventory

When you get the keys to your new home, make sure that the first thing you do when you walk through the door is check your inventory. If you don’t have an inventory, request one. Take note of any discrepancies between the items present versus the items listed, and their condition. If you discover any unlisted issues, make sure that you add them to the list and inform the letting agent and/or your landlord as soon as possible. If you don’t do this, it’s possible that the landlord was unaware of these issues before you moved in, and therefore may wish to recoup the cost of any necessary repairs from your deposit when you move out.

Think about insurance

It is sensible to consider taking out specialist home insurance for tenants, as your landlord’s contents or home insurance policies will probably not cover you. Taking out a policy like this could protect you against having to use your deposit to pay for the cost of repairs as a result of any accidental damage.

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