How To Rent A Room: Tips For First-Time Tenants
Guides & Tips, Tenancy & Deposit, Tenant
, , , ,

How To Rent A Room: Tips For First-Time Housemates

If you’re renting for the first time, the process can be intimidating and full of uncertainties. We understand how overwhelming it can be, so we’ve created a step-by-step guide to make it easier for you.
 
This guide is designed for first-time tenants to easily follow and navigate the renting process. This how-to guide will lay out the entire process for you and ease the nervousness you probably have about renting for the first time. By breaking the process down into steps, you’ll be able to quickly move from where you are right now to where you want to be — renting your first room.

Decide on a budget

First and foremost, you must determine exactly what you can afford. Your monthly rent may only be one factor in this calculation depending on if the room is all bills, some bills or no bills included! So, there may be an addition to the rent you must pay each month, such as council tax payments, electricity bills, insurance, TV licence fees, Internet fees, and any other regular expenses you may already be paying. All must be considered because they will all impact your ability to pay. To simplify things, we opt for ‘all bills included’ rent; we find this the best way to help our housemates set an easy budget.

Getting ready for Referencing

What was formerly considered a formality has suddenly become a barrier for many would-be tenants.

Passing tenant referencing is no longer simple, largely due to the rise in the number of tenants looking for housing, which allows landlords to be more selective. Before starting their search for a place to live, tenants must ensure all the necessary boxes have been checked.

Once you’ve completed reading here, take a look at our guide 7 Tips That Will Help You Pass Referencing Quickly, to maximise your chances of successfully navigating this challenge.

Launch your search

After taking care of the aforementioned, you can start the exciting process of looking for a new room. Property portals like SpareRoom and OpenRent are excellent resources for gaining an overview of the rental market, but it’s crucial to remember how congested these platforms have grown.

If you’re looking to rent in Kent, give our helpful lettings team a call at 01233 367 367 to express your interest. When new properties that meet your search criteria are listed, we’ll ensure you’re among the first to know about them, providing you with a significant advantage over other renters in the same area.

Set up viewings

The rental market is currently highly competitive, as you have probably already guessed, so if you locate a place you like, you must act immediately. Contact the agent or landlord in question, and don’t be afraid to schedule a few viewings of various properties in the neighbourhood.

You should feel free to ask any questions about the property during the viewing. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, even if they seem silly at the time; a good letting agent will be understanding, accommodating, and eager to address any concerns you may have.

Not sure what questions you should be asking? – We’ve got you covered – 10 Things Every Tenant Should Ask Before Renting in a House Share

The application process

You’ve seen a few rooms, but one, in particular, has captured your heart. What happens next?

The letting agent should be contacted as soon as possible after that to try and secure the room. All your effort in organising your tenant references will pay off at this point because any delays here could easily result in you losing out to someone else.

The letting agent will change the room status to “Let Agreed” or “Under Offer” and give you your tenancy agreement once you have cleared all necessary checks.

Read your Tenancy Agreement… and then reread it!

Although it can seem immensely enticing, it would be foolish to accept the tenancy agreement without even giving it a quick glance. Since tenancy agreements are legally binding documents, it is imperative that you read them carefully before signing them.

Need help? This post from Citizens Advice will help guide you through the process.

Pay the deposit

Once you are satisfied with the tenancy agreement, you must pay your deposit. In most cases, this will be paid on top of your first month’s rent in advance and will equal five weeks’ worth of rent.

Since 2007, it is now mandatory for all assured shorthold tenancy rental deposits to be protected by a tenancy deposit protection scheme. These programmes exist to safeguard tenants and prevent dishonest landlords from unnecessarily keeping deposits after a tenancy ends.

If you don’t have the money for a deposit?… Don’t worry! We offer a Flatfair No Deposit Scheme on all of our rooms, helping you secure your new room for a much lower cost – Have a quick watch of this video to learn more. 

Get your stuff insured

While having your own insurance may not be required by all tenancy agreements, it is usually a good idea to have some protection. Your landlord’s insurance coverage on the home will cover structural issues, but since you are responsible for your items, buying content insurance is a good idea.

Moving Day!

Congratulations! You have reached moving day.

Your signed tenancy agreement and any ‘move-in’ money you might owe must be sent to your letting agent before you can pick up your keys. Ask before the day arrives so that you have everything you need on hand. Some agents might also need additional documentation for you to read

You will receive some very crucial paperwork with all of your move-in documents. These will consist of:

  • Your copy of the tenancy agreement
  • A copy of the government’s How to Rent Guide
  • An up-to-date copy of the property’s Gas Safety Certificate
  • An up-to-date copy of the property’s Electrical Installation Condition Report
  • An up-to-date copy of the property’s Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
  • An up-to-date copy of the property’s HMO License
  • The property’s fire evacuation & fire door policy
  • Details of the deposit protection scheme used
  • A copy of the Check-In Inventory

Throughout the tenancy

You’ve received the keys and have moved into the new room of your dreams. From this point on, all you have to do is follow the tenancy agreement and make sure you pay the rent on time.

‘Behaving in a tenant-like manner’ is one clause in the leasing agreement that frequently baffles new tenants. Although it sounds so archaic in today’s society, it’s an essential component of being a renter and something you should be knowledgeable about, so have a quick read of this – Are You Behaving In A Tenant-Like Manner?

Moving on

It’s very important to provide your landlord and/or letting agent with the proper notice as outlined in your tenancy agreement if you want to leave your rental when the rental agreement expires.

In order to avoid any uncertainty regarding what you owe when it comes time to settle up, you will also need to notify the necessary authorities and businesses that you are moving out and take final readings of any metres located on the property if your bills are not included.

You will likely have a checkout report before your agent gets in contact about how to return your deposit

That is your simple guide on renting. We truly hope that was helpful.

Give our helpful lettings team a call on 01233 367 367 to go over the options available if you’re looking to rent a bills-inclusive room in Kent. Since 2011 we have assisted housemates in finding new homes, and we would be delighted to help you as well.

by
0