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What You Need to Know Before You Rent a House

By James Mellor posted 12-09-2020 00:31

  

The location of a property is just one of the things you need to consider before signing a rental agreement. You will also need to thoroughly check the house to make sure it is well maintained and is free of pests and damp. 

A written rental agreement is important to avoid any confusion about the responsibilities and rights of both parties. Learn more about what you need to know before you rent a house. 

Research the area

You will need to find out more about the area surrounding a property before you sign a lease. Is it near a noisy pub? What amenities, such as parks, public transportation and supermarkets are nearby? What are the crime rates like in the neighborhood? 

It will help to look at several houses in different locations, make comparisons and check what noise levels, traffic and security are like at different times of the day. 

Affordable Property Management (AMP) has been providing full leasing services for over 30 years in Northern Californian cities and can help you find a house to rent. Some of the benefits of renting a home through APM are timely and clear communications, quick solutions to maintenance issues and an easy rental application process. 

Carefully examine the house

When you’re doing a walkthrough of the house, don’t just look at external appearances. Flush the toilet, turn on taps etc., to make sure the plumbing is in order. Find out about the heating. Keep an eye out for pests or signs of leaks. 

It is no fun to move in and find out you will need to get the landlord to sort out a whole lot of issues, such as problems with cockroaches, leaky taps or an oven that doesn’t work. 

Check the general cleanliness and state of the house. A neat, well-maintained house usually shows that a landlord cares and won’t take long to attend to maintenance or repairs. It is also helpful to measure the space to find out whether your furniture will fit and to check the storage options to make sure you’ll have enough storage space. 

Make a snag list

A contentious issue faced by many renters is to decide who takes responsibility for what damage, especially when a deposit is being held to cover the cost of repairs. This is why it is important to take an inventory of any existing damage before moving in. 

The landlord should know about every defect, no matter how insignificant it may seem at the time. This will help you to protect yourself against any unwanted disputes or potential claims that could occur in the future. 

For example, appliances like the fridge, freezer, microwave, dishwasher and washing machine can be expensive to repair. If they are not in working order, you need to let the landlord know straight away or you may be expected to take responsibility for repairs. 

Read the lease agreement – even the fine print

A legally binding written contract between renters and landlords spells out the rights and responsibilities of both parties. Don’t just sign such an agreement before making sure that you understand all the terms and conditions fully. 

The contract should include the rental amount, when it is due, the duration of the contract, if there are any penalties for early cancellation and if the rental price will increase annually. 

There may be additional clauses that could impact your wallet or your lifestyle. These could range from policies on owning pets, altering the rooms in any way or protocols to follow when maintenance or repairs are necessary. 

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