When searching for shared housing with other students, you will probably find yourself dealing with lettings and estates agencies. It’s important to remember that estate agents are good at doing their job. They will be trying to get the best deal for their client (your potential landlord) while also providing competitive offers that won’t severely impact your student current account. In order to effectively communicate your wants and needs so that you end up with a house you are happy with, it’s important you remember to do the following things:
Ask the right questions
Make sure that you ask for everything to be explained in clear and simple terms. In particular, ask for any industry jargon you don’t understand to be clarified, and make sure you get proper answers to all of your questions. You should ask about whether you’ll need to pay rent all year, including during the long summer holiday, or whether you can rent for just the academic year from September to July. This is very important, particularly as students who want to house share together may clash in terms of their summer plans; some return to live back with their parents whereas others are entirely independent and intend on living there throughout the year. Always enquire about the deposit you will have to pay, and clarify exactly how much rent is needed upfront before you move in. Remember your deposit must be protected by a deposit protection scheme – this protects you as much as it protects the landlord.
Read your tenancy agreement
It may seem obvious, but people often neglect to do this. It’s important to read everything that your estate agent gives you. Your tenancy agreement is a document that should be read by everybody that is going to be living in your house. You need to understand very clearly the contract you are entering into – never sign anything without being absolutely certain you have every aspect of the deal cleared up. Insist that everything be confirmed in writing; it’s startling just how indefensible you are if you’re relying on a verbal agreement or a hunch that your trust is well placed.
Get to know your neighbours
It’s worth asking others living in the same area and in similar properties how much they are paying, and investigate what arrangements they have made in regards to maintenance costs and other responsibilities. This gives you some leverage for negotiating the best deal. If you think the rent being asked is too high, you can quote examples you have gathered from elsewhere.
Check everything works
If you are renting a furnished property – as most student lets are – then make sure you take a good look at the furnishings as well as the property itself. Insist on a viewing before you move in. If you do sign a lease, take time-stamped pictures of any existing damage. You can do this with your mobile phone. You should check everything functions correctly, including any TVs, fridges, and the plugs that you put your electrical gadgets into. You should also check the toilet (by giving it a flush), the shower, and the radiators.
Negotiate
Your estate agent will want the best deal for their client, while you want the best deal for yourself. If you are less than happy with the property, then don’t be afraid to negotiate. And if that doesn’t work, look elsewhere. There are always student properties looking for tenants in the major university towns and cities, and it’s a boom time for buy to let. Having said that, the best properties will always be the first to be snapped up at the start of a new academic year, so make sure you sort out your accommodation as soon as you can.
Have a chat with the current tenants
This tip should not be underestimated, as the current tenants are the best point of reference for both the estate agent and the landlord. They are leaving the property, so they will likely have absolutely no qualms with giving you a blunt testimony as to the qualities they possess, or do not possess as the case may be. You may well meet the current tenants (soon to be the previous tenants) in passing when the estate agent provides you with a tour. No harm in just calling back to the house when the tour is over.