Tenants Guide for Renting

Open House has let over 15,000 properties across the UK, and we have combined some of our top help and advice tips on how to find a rental property that ticks all your boxes!

Whether you’re looking to rent for the first time, or you’re already renting and need some advice, our guide below should bring some value to your journey.

Targeting an area

First and foremost, it is critical for you to do some research on locations. Choosing where you want to live shouldn’t be taken lightly, and you need to factor in the following considerations.

Transport links

How can you get from A to B? If you’re moving to an area that has poor transport links then you may end up worse off than your current location. By transport links we don’t just mean public transport such as buses, trains and trams, but also the roads. Some areas have narrow lanes which can get congested, and it takes far longer than the newer motorways and wider roads.

Amenities

What else is around you? If you’re moving from a busy, densely-populated area with services such as a grocery store or supermarket that are within walking distance, to an area with not so much around, you should take into consideration the travel time involved.

If you don’t drive, you should look into how much public transport would cost i.e. buses, taxis and mini cabs. Also look into things like access to doctors’ surgeries, dentists, chemists etc. Some areas with less doctor surgeries and more patients have a longer waiting lists. It’s always better to know these things before settling for an area.

Education

You may want to be close to a library where you can access books and resources of information. Or you may have children who you want to send to well reputable schools. If you want to continue sending them to the same school then you need to factor in the distance and travel time. Or if you want to send them to another school you should research schools within the area, and also their OFSTED ratings to see what sort of attendance, quality of education and behaviour is reported.

Book a viewing

Once you find a property you like, try to book a viewing as fast as possible. The rental market is very fast moving, some properties can be rented out the same day they come onto the market!

Open House Cambridgeshire property consultants are ready to help you find the property that works for you. We can arrange a time that is mutually convenient for you to view the property, and we will meet you to answer any queries or concerns you might have.

Because Open House Cambridgeshire agents are local, we understand the area like the back of our hands, and if you want to know a bit more, feel free to ask – we’re always more than happy to help you wherever possible.

Submitting an offer

After you have decided on which property suits you, it’s time to give the landlord your best offer. Once this is accepted, and our team have done our checks to confirm you’re a suitable tenant, your deposit will be lodged in an approved tenancy deposit scheme.

The purpose of the deposit scheme is to ensure that your initial deposit remains secure during your tenancy period, we will make you aware of where it is held.

Understanding Responsibilities

After you settle into your new home, it is always wise to understand your responsibilities as a tenant, and what you should expect from your landlord. Below you’ll find some guidance on what falls under the tenant’s responsibility, and what falls under the landlord’s responsibility.

Rent: This is one of the tenant’s main responsibilities. As part of your tenancy agreement, you agree to pay your rent on time each month. Defaulting in rental payments could damage your deposit, reputation, credit worthiness and future tenancies.

Right to rent: It is either the landlord or managing agent’s responsibility to conduct a check to ensure every tenant has the right to rent in England. This check is also carried out on anyone over the age of 18 that will be living with you.

Bills: Unless otherwise specified, it is the tenant’s responsibility to pay the bills. These include water, gas, electricity and all other things like broadband, telephone etc. A tenant must also pay their Council Tax unless this is specifically agreed by the landlord. It is also important that a tenant checks their tenancy agreement to ensure they don’t have to pay any additional charges such as service charges, ground rents etc.

Taking care of the property: It is the tenant’s responsibility to look after the home on a everyday basis. This includes ensuring there is no damage to the furnishings if the property came furnished, reporting any repairs to the landlord or managing agent, changing light bulbs if required, and ensuring smoke and burglar alarms are fully functional. Other responsibilities include responsibly disposing of rubbish and keeping to the terms of the agreement in regards to smoking, parking, keeping the garden tidy, making modifications, and having pets.

Maintenance: It is the landlord’s responsibility to ensure that any maintenance issues that have been reported by the tenant are taken seriously and are fixed within a reasonable timeframe. A landlord must also ensure their property meets all of the correct gas and electrical safety regulations.

Responsibility over visitors: It is a tenant’s responsibility to ensure that visitors to the property behave in a respectful manner. Antisocial behaviour could lead to eviction of the tenant.

Seek permission: It is important that the tenant gets proper permission and approval before making any changes to the property. This is also required if a tenant wants to run a business from a rented property.

Access: A landlord must leave a tenant to live in their home without interference or interruption. A landlord also must seek permission to enter the property, and may not enter the property without giving the tenant prior notice, and arranging a mutually agreeable time.

Vacating the property: It is the tenant’s responsibility to ensure that the property is returned to its original state. We always recommend having the property professionally cleaned upon exit to ensure that the deposit is returned in full.

All the tenant’s belongings should be removed from the property, and all that should remain are fixtures and furnishings that were in the property when the tenant originally moved in.

Give us a call

If you want to discuss anything about renting properties in Cambridge, Peterborough or indeed anywhere in the Cambridgeshire villages, simply give us a call on 03330 112 470 today!

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