Tenants have specific rights under the law that protect them from rogue landlords, unsafe fixtures and fittings and rental fraud. Before you sign a contract with a rental agent or a landlord, make sure you know what you're entitled to, how much deposit you have to pay and what conditions are attached to your rental agreement.
2. Set a budget
Make sure that you only look at rental properties that you can afford, and remember to include all the additional payments you will need to make, such as:
? Water rates/meter ? Electricity and Gas bills ? Council tax ? Phone and broadband connections ? Parking
Ask your agent about all the additional costs associated with the properties you are viewing so that you're not taken by surprise when the bills start coming in.
3. Ask the right questions
It is important that you're fully aware of the landlord and agent's responsibilities and that you know what procedure to follow when something goes wrong at your rental property. Make sure you have a range of contact details and that you know who to call first. Check what, if any, responsibilities you have for general maintenance of the property and its gardens, whether you're allowed to paint the property and whether the landlord allows things like pets or smoking. These are all important questions and you should know that answers to them before you sign up.
4. Have a checklist
When you view a property, take a checklist of the things that are important to you so that you can note the pros and cons of each place that you view. This will help you to distinguish one property from another later on, but also ensures that you don't forget to note any of the things that could make the difference between a great rental property and a flop. Questions could include:
? What are the parking arrangements? ? Is it noisy at night? ? Is it close to public transport links? ? Is it close to schools? ? Does the heating work properly?
These may seem like basic questions, but it's often the basic things that annoy us most when they go wrong.
5. Agents and contracts
Make sure that you choose a reputable agent who is experienced and affiliated to a recognised professional body. Then check out the contract and make sure that it includes everything you need and that there are no vague clauses that you don't understand. If there's something in the contract that you're not sure about, ask your agent to clarify it. If it makes you feel more comfortable, get a solicitor to check out your contract or take it to a consumer advice centre.
Painting walls, replacing flooring or redoing the interior decor is generally not permitted with an apartment rental. Renting a home affords more opportunity to change the interior decor, depending on the personality and preferences of the homeowner. There may still be restrictions on what you can do with the home's interior if the landlord does not want to see major modifications of the home. On the other hand, some homeowners would like to see the property improved and that is why they are renting it in the first place. The latter type of owner may allow the renter a significant latitude in their decorating options.
As a Renter, How Much is Too Much?
As a renter, your first consideration should be your budget. Since the rental home is not your property, how much money are you willing to spend for someone else's benefit?
Some homeowners may allow the renter to make minor decorating changes such as hanging pictures, painting the walls or installing shelving. Extensive decorating work like putting in new carpet, installing more windows or taking down walls might not be considered acceptable by some landlords. Some homeowners might approve of this type of extensive work so long as the work is to be done by a a licensed professional. Think about it ... why on earth should you pay a lot of money in making major improvements to someone else's property when you receive no tax or other benefit? You are better off compromising your tastes with minor interior decorations and improvements and saving the money you would spend on interior renovations for a down payment on your own home.
Before Redecorating, Check with the Homeowner
The first thing to do is to read your lease. The landlord may have specifically prohibited certain interior decorating activities, such as replacing carpet or doors. It is unlikely that the lease will spell out each and every possible type of improvement or redecorating activity, so check with the owner before making modifications to the rental house. It is wise to get a written approval by the homeowner of your interior design plans.
Not Sure What Is Allowed? Then Do Nothing
As a renter, if you're not sure whether you can perform a specific decorating activity and you are unable to reach the landlord, it's best to not make any changes. This will save you a lot of time and money in the long run, particularly if the homeowner demands that you to undo the changes.
Some Inexpensive Decorating Tips
Regardless of whether you are renting a home from a landlord who permits a lot of changes or is very restrictive, there are some quick things that you can do to upgrade the interior of your rental house. Best yet, you can keep these improvements and use them in your next home (preferably, the one you buy) instead of spending a lot of money that you will not be able to recoup.
RUGS - If the tile or carpet in the rental home is stained or just plain ugly, cover it up with attractive area rugs or throw rugs.
ART AND PLANTS - If the paint job is hideous and you're not allowed to repaint or change the wallpaper, hide it with some nice artwork. Large, leafy houseplants like Ficus trees add a touch of class to a home and can cover otherwise ugly spaces.
DECORATIVE FURNITURE - Attractive furnishings can change the look of a rental home. Futons offer an affordable decorating option. Cheap futon covers are available in a variety of colors and patterns that can change the look of a room. Spice your futons up with some colorful throw pillows and the room will look better. Futons are excellent furnishings for small, cramped rooms. Use them as a couch or chair by day and a bed at night.
LIGHTING - Play with light to create a sense of ambiance and draw the eye toward art or other features in the room instead of the defects. Traditional lamps, canister lamps or tree lamps can be used to direct light. Just plug them in and don't worry about having to change the light fixtures or having to install dimmer switches.
Both Scott Pinkham & Urbain Beck are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Scott Pinkham has sinced written about articles on various topics from Real Estate. Scott Pinkham is an established letting agent, based in Northampton, UK. For more information, visit our website on >Northampton Letting Agent. Scott Pinkham's top article generates over 6600 views. to your Favourites.
Urbain Beck has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home Management, Self Improvement and Motivation and How to Train a Puppy. Urbain Beck loves to write ... and also loves the versatility and economy of futons. Begin your rental home redecoration by taking a look at the incredible futon designs that are available nowadays at. Urbain Beck's top article generates over 33100 views. to your Favourites.