5 Questions to Ask When Renting Your First Home

Moving into your first home is an exciting time. Once you’ve found a house or flat that you can afford you need to make sure it ticks all your boxes. Not everyone wants the same thing from renting a property. Some people just want a property that’s affordable, while others want that perfect location. Whatever it is you’re looking to get out of your new home, you must remember to ask the all-important questions. 

What are you responsible for?

Before you move into your new home, it needs to be clear who is responsible for what. If your new flat or house comes with a garden area, you will need to know if it’s up to you to keep it well maintained or if your landlord/letting agency will hire someone to keep it looking fresh.

Can you decorate?

This is one of the downsides to renting a property as a lot of landlords like to keep those plain magnolia coloured walls. It’s worth checking if you are allowed to decorate, as some landlords are more than happy for their tenants to put their own twist on the place, as long as it’s nothing too wild. You may be required to repaint the infamous magnolia walls before leaving though, so it’s worth asking.

What is included in the cost?

Obviously you will know how much the rent is going to cost, but often there are other fees which are added in. You will need to find out how much the deposit will cost, whether you need to pay any rent upfront, or if there are any bills included in the rent.

Do you need home insurance?

Your landlord should have landlord insurance from places like HomeLet which protects damage to the property, emergency repairs, non-payment of rent but you should look into getting your own contents insurance which covers your belongings if they’re stolen or damaged.

Are pets allowed?

Finding a property that allows you to keep pets can be hard. Pets are a major part of people’s lives and most consider them part of the family, so it’s important that you check with your landlord if pets are allowed before moving in. As long as your pets are well behaved and won’t cause any damage to the place, most landlords are happy for your furry friends to move in with you.

These are just some of the important questions you should consider before moving into your first home. There are other things you should take into account too, so it’s best you compile a list of everything you want to ask to ensure you find the best property.

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