Private flat rental

[trem1]

I'm sure some of you must live in privately rented flats/houses etc so i'm after advice/comments for my eldest son who's thinking of moving out and into a flat.
What should he be looking for to get a good deal and what should be avoided??

Can you let long-term or are they normally just short term lets ?

which is best furnished/unfurnished ??...he's got nowt

what are you normally allowed to do in respects of sheds/etc

Do agents do credit checks.......hes screwed if they do

[richiepearce]

When my eldest moved out they went through a letting agency and they did a credit search.

[john_h]

my dad has done private rent in the past and ive been there when there has been any dealings with the landlord....

the best advice is to look around and find what he is exactly looking for and for a price he can afford...ie in total with council tax/water/electricity and the rest of it.

when he walks around with the landlord, look for the legallity of things such as smoke alarms (by law they have to be fitted). the last time the gas works and boiler were last serviced and by a qualified GAS SAFE (corgi) techy. the same for electricity...Gas is annual and electricity is 10 year. the landlord has to pay for this. also point out any damages to anything so they dont deduct the deposit when he finally moves out.

as for going unfurnished/furnished. with unfurnished he will obviously have to buy everything. as for furnished, he can make do with what is there and some landlords let you buy something and stick their stuff in storage. ie your son buys a new sofa, he can put the one already in the flat into storage...best to check with the landlord. going fully furnished can bump the deposit and rent up though.

as for sheds etc, again best to speak to the landlord about that and get permission in writing first. for record ect. most dont like pets either, but some will give permission and warn you about any damages made by them.

private landlords who do everything dont do credit check but those who go through agencies such as swiftlets will....if they require a credit check you could help and say you will be guarentor, but you will need lots of trust for your son for that, as if he doesnt pay the rent you get chased by them...if that makes sense.

my dad says best bet to find landlords is in shops like morrisons and news agents to find the private, no agencies guys.

terms are typically 6-months to annual...but read the contract in that regards

and as i said read and read and then re-read the contract so your son knows where he stands in regards to repairs etc. it will make sense when you read them...any doubt just ring them and get it in writing...that way you have record and you protect your own arse.

hope this helps

[chopper1192]

Credit checks and and references up the ying yang. They might want a guarantor if he's lucky.

[elmafudd]

just tell him to do what half of britain does and get his missus pregnant....they will throw a cheap house at him then....the council that is....

[Gibbo]

I get bored easily and like to see new places, so go for furnished private lets and never had a problem. I can't be doing with having loads of furniture to cart around.

Agencies are loaded to favour the house owner, there are loads of hidden and extra costs.

I don't know if he'd like it but lodging is a good cheap option - spareroom.co.uk

when I split from the missus I went here and got a 4 bedroom detached house all to myself for just £80 a week, bills included!

[jmkent]

Most agencies now use a pre-forma rental agreement downloaded off the net... either way, agency or private, just make sure you have a decent endorsed agreement - for both parties sake. I can email you a copy of mine for you to get a feel if you like?

If you did go agency route, he is bound to have a credit search done - mainly just to check he is working and can actually afford the rent. I personally prefer the agency route - doesn't cost anymore than private, but as it is a business managing it, they treat it just like that, and don't get personal. Our last place was like this, and had no problems whatsoever.... now majority of ours now is private, and it is not the easiest to work with - they still look at it as they are living in the house, and we can't do b****r all without asking first!