When a landlord is looking to let their property, they will always try to sell it in the best way possible, but sometimes they won’t give you all the answers upfront. So you will have to do a bit of digging.
If you are looking at a property, there are a number of things to ask before renting. These renting questions will give you a clearer understanding of the property and an indication as to whether you see yourself living there. Whether you’re attending multiple flat viewings or narrowing down to one property, knowing the right questions to ask a landlord can save you a lot of hassle down the road.
1. How long has the property been on the market?
The answer to this isn’t necessarily a key indicator, but it can be aligned with the truth. If a property has been on the market for a long time but no one has taken up the option of living there, then it is likely that there are some key factors putting people off it. Ask questions about property specificities to uncover what may be the problem. There might not be any problems with the property, but in this day in age, a rental property being on the market for a long time isn’t a great sign.
2. Who is responsible for what?
Make sure you know what you are responsible for within the property. Are you responsible for the cleaning of windows for example or does the landlord have a service that they consistently use? The key thing to ask before renting is who handles maintenance and repairs. You should understand whether that’s your responsibility or theirs to deal with. More often than not, if it’s anything to do with the structure of the property then it should be the landlord’s responsibility to deal with it on your behalf.
3. What furniture is included?
When you are viewing a property or attending flat viewings, it is possible that you will be seeing a property currently inhabited by others, and although it might look nice, you may be surprised at how much it actually belongs to the tenant. One of the often overlooked questions to ask a landlord is a detailed list of what stays and what goes. This is also so you can prepare and consider what essentials you may have to purchase ahead of the move.
4. What are the included services like? (TV/Internet/water/heating/)
A follow on question to the previous one, make sure you know what you’re getting. Internet may be provided by the landlord, but if it is completely unusable then it may put you off, or it could be something where you can enquire about getting an upgrade. This is the same with water, heating, TV and any other appliances that you’ll need every day. Having a list of things to ask beforehand helps ensure you don’t miss any service-related details that could impact your comfort.
5. What are the neighbours like?
This is dependent on the particular property, but there are several scenarios in which you might ask this question. The property might be a semi-detached or a terraced house where you’d share a wall or a fence with a neighbour, and it’s always worth asking how your potential neighbours behave.
If you’re renting a room with shared living areas, this becomes one of the most important renting questions. Ask during your flat viewings if you can meet current occupants to get a feel for the social dynamic.
6. How much can I decorate?
You’ll want to have some sort of licence to do what you like with your place. However, it is well within the landlord’s right to restrict elements of the property you can play with. It’s one of those crucial questions to ask a landlord before you commit, so you don’t end up breaching the contract by personalising too much.
7. When is the rent due and how do I pay it?
Perhaps an obvious one, but it could be easy to assume certain things in this regard. For example you may assume that rent would be due at the start of the month, when in fact the landlord might have other days which they go with instead. Add this to your list of things to ask before renting, especially if you’re working to a tight budget or pay schedule.
8. What should I do in an emergency?
One of the most important renting questions to ask is “what should I do in an emergency?”. The answer is hopefully something you’ll never have to act on, but you need to know how to deal with a variety of situations or who to contact to resolve them.
9. Can you fix this before I move in?
Follow up any concerns you might have about any of the previous renting questions with this one. It’s unlikely that a rental property will be perfect, but there might be something you or the landlord can do about these concerns. Generally it is just a bit of wear and tear and more than likely it can be fixed, so it is always worth asking the landlord if they can do anything about it. They might be willing to comply to get you in their property and pay rent.
10. Is there anything else you have noticed?
The final question is actually for you, what else should you be asking before renting a house? Each property is unique, and during flat viewings, there may be specific details that prompt more questions to ask a landlord. Be observant and make notes so you don’t forget something important later. The last thing you want is to move into a rental property and remember one of your queries a bit too late.
How Aspire to Move can help
We’re here to make your renting experience as smooth and stress free as possible. Whether you’re a first-time renter or relocating to a new area, we’ll guide you through every stage, from arranging flat viewings to highlighting key things to ask before renting.
Our team is always on hand to answer your renting questions, provide advice, and make sure you’re fully informed before renting a house or a flat. Contact us today to find out more.
