Renting a Property

Thinking of renting a property whilst you save up to buy a house? The world of renting can be confusing and you could lose money if you don't know what you're doing. At DOM UK Properties we are always happy to help you to make a right decision .Follow our basic guide to help you get off to the best start.

What do you want?

Don't waste your time looking at properties that you wouldn't really want to live in. Make a list of the things that are important to you, so that you can compare one rental property with another. Your list might include access to public transport, distance to schools, a garden or off-street parking. You might also want to decide whether you're looking for a furnished or unfurnished house to rent and if you want to be close to local amenities, your workplace or your family.

What can you afford?

Work out how much you can afford to pay out each month. Remember that you don't just have to pay rent, you'll have bills and other expenses to meet. If you're struggling financially, or trying to save money, think about renting a room in a shared house rather than having a rented house or flat all to yourself.

What should you remember?

There are several things you need to think about before you commit to renting a house, flat or room:

Finding properties Look at a range of property portals as well as private adverts.

Alternatively, why not try our new relocation service to make sure you are getting the best on the market. You could be certain that we'll show you several rental properties before making a decision, so that you have the chance to compare what's available. See the list of rental properties on our lettings page.

Landlords have a lot of legal responsibilities, but not all landlords take those responsibilities seriously. From providing a fire extinguisher in the kitchen to giving you a detailed inventory of furnishings, fixtures and fittings, you need to know that your landlord is complying with their obligations. You could also try your local council, who may be able to tell you if they have had any complaints about your landlord. Using our company, you could be sure that your deposit is covered by a tenancy deposit scheme, which makes the rules of the deposit clear and fair, and helps tenants to get all or part of the deposit back at the end of the rental period.

Your tenancy agreement The agreement you sign when renting a house is a binding contract between you and the landlord or agency. Your landlord will probably have a standard tenancy agreement, which you should read and understand before you sign. If you need to, you can agree additional provisions with your landlord and these can be added to your agreement as long as they are within the law.

Assured shorthold tenancy If you rent a house or other property through a landlord or letting agent, you will probably take out an Assured Shorthold Tenancy. This tenancy typically lasts for an initial period of 12 months and you will then be able to renew the tenancy. This is the most common form of tenancy agreement and gives both you and the landlord some flexibility and guarantees. If you're looking for a longer tenancy period, you must make it clear when you enquire about the rental.

Protecting your deposit Make sure that you go through the inventory as soon as you move in, marking areas that you think have been missed, or where you feel the description isn't clear. Keep a copy and send the marked-up version back to your landlord or letting agent within 7 days of moving in. Ask for a written receipt. This will help you to accurately inspect the property before you leave, preferably in the company of your landlord.

Until now there have been no official schemes to support tenants who have had their deposits unfairly withheld. If a landlord persisted in refusing to return a deposit, the main option was to use the small claims procedure in the county court to try and get it back. However, the government came to the aid of tenants when they introduced The Housing (Tenancy DepositSchemes) Order2007, which was an amendment to Schedule 10 of the Housing Act 2004.

Sub-letting You must never sub-let your rental home without getting your landlord's permission. If you are leaving the property for a period - to travel, for work or to look after a relative - you can sub-let, but you must talk it through with your landlord first. You will still be responsible for the property even ifsomeone else is living there, because the tenancy agreement will remain in your name.

Sharing your property If you're moving into a room in a shared house, or you're thinking of renting a house with friends, you need to be sure that you setoutclear ground rules. Each person living in the rental property needs to be responsible for their share of the rent and all the bills, and also needs to takeresponsibility for keeping the property in good condition. Check out potential new house-mates carefully to make sure they can afford their share and get references from previous landlords if you can.

Help and advice If you are having trouble with your existing landlord, or you are worried about finding a property to rent, you can visit letting section, which has lots of properties, otherwise contact us. You can also talk to your local Citizens Advice Bureau, where trained advisers can help you to find the information you need.

The Landlord's Right of Entry

Your landlord has a right to reasonable access to carry out repairs. What 'reasonable access' means depends on the reason why they need to get access. For example your landlord is entitled to immediate access to carry out any necessary work in an emergency.

Under any other circumstances they should always ask for your permission and should give you at least 24 hours notice, unless they have a court order.