Renting A House In The UK: Essentials Considerations
Whether you are moving out of your home into your own house or relocating to the UK, you may consider renting a house before you find your next house on for-sale. There are over 5 million people renting houses in the UK, which has prompted the government to have set rules to protect tenants from unscrupulous agents and terrible landlords and ensure the house you choose to rent is safe to live in.
Even though that’s a vast number of people renting, you may face challenges when looking for a house to rent in the UK as a beginner. It’s easy to go for the first available house you come across that you can afford, but it is essential to take your time and consider all the requirements for the house. It’s so frustrating finding a home you think is the best for you only to find out after moving in there are some details you hadn’t noticed before. There is nothing worse than staying in a house you hate.
In this guide today, we help outline the factors to consider before renting a house in the UK to ensure you are satisfied with the house you get before moving in.
Your expenses
The first thing that you need to consider before even going out house hunting is how much money you can afford to pay for a house monthly. Imagine going house hunting then finding the perfect house only to find out you can’t afford the rent? Avoid putting yourself through unnecessary disappointments by going through your finances and working out how much you can set aside for the house.
Remember your budget for rent will also include the cost of living in that house like utility bills, gas, internet, phone bill, and maybe council tax. These are just a few of the expenses that may add up and make renting the house more expensive than expected. For example, old houses will cost more for heating than modern houses.
Ensure your rent payment is under 30 percent of your monthly income. This enables you to plan and even save for your monthly expenses.
Location
Before settling for a house to rent, ensure the house you want is in the preferred area of your choice. The location will be part of your everyday living. Where you stay will determine where you shop, where your kids go to school if you have any, if you are close to a hospital, the community you will be part of. Lastly, but most importantly, a safe area to live in.
When looking for a house to rent, consider all these factors, and select a few locations that fit your needs. Try not to go for houses outside your ideal location. Even if they seem bigger and cheaper, you will regret it later once you move in.
A house close to your workplace, school, shopping malls, and other places is beneficial because it saves you some money on transportation. You should also note that if you find a property near a tube station. It will relatively cost more though it may be convenient for you.
Size of the house
Before finding a short-term or long-term rental, you should consider the ideal size of the house you are looking for. You should ask questions such as, will the space fit your children if you have or are planning to have in the future. Are you staying with relatives or friends? Do you need a home office if you are working from home? All these questions will be answered depending on your unique situation and how many people stay with you.
Remember that a bigger house will cost more, and the monthly expenses will be relatively higher. For example, utility bills, so ensure you add this to your budget.
Consider pets
If you own pets or want to own pets in the future, this should also be considered when looking for a house. Ensure you ask if pets are allowed and which ones. Houses usually include this in the listing. If pets are allowed, they may also ask for a security deposit, so add this to your budget as well.
If pets are allowed, and you are a dog owner, do some research and check whether there is a park nearby where you can be taking the dog out sometimes.
It is essential to know that you should never try to sneak pets into houses they don’t allow. This is because if the landlord or letting agent finds out, you may be kicked out, and chances of finding another rental house will be difficult.
The viewing process
There are different websites online you can use to find houses for rent in the UK. They have pictures of the houses and also mention some of the amenities surrounding things and all. Most people would conclude their search and judge properties by what they see online. Sometimes, a house may look nice online, but it’s lower than expectations when you physically see it. While others may not be so good online but once you visit the house, you find it’s the right one for you.
What we mean is when searching for houses to rent online, don’t just conclude your search based on what you see on the website. Ensure you physically visit the property and then make your judgments about the house.
Ask if your deposit is protected.
If it’s your first time renting a property in the UK, then you may not be aware that your deposit should be protected. The Tenancy Deposit Protection (TDP) scheme protects your deposit. Your landlord is legally obligated to put your deposit with the government. Also, inform you where they have chosen to place your money within 30 days of you handing over the money.
The deposit scheme is a requirement that protects you. Therefore, you should ask your landlord about it before moving in. If your landlord is sketchy about it or refuses to place your money with a scheme. Then, count that as a red flag, and you should avoid moving into that house.
If you want to learn other ways to make your relocation stress-free, make sure to check out our post How the Weather May Influence Your Move for more great tips!
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