Moving into a new place can be an exciting yet expensive decision as you can fork out more money than expected. Having gone through the experience, here's what I wish I knew before renting.
Sections
What you have to pay upfront when renting
How much rent is too much?
It can be difficult to know whether you are getting a great price for your new digs as this depends on several factors such as the location, size and quality of the property.
You can look at the latest rental figures in April from the HomeLet Rental Index as it breaks down the average rent for different regions.
With tools like Zoopla’s area guide, you can search for specific areas and it will tell you the average rent, breaking it helpfully down into different sized houses and flats.
If you think your rent is too high when you start a tenancy, you could apply to a tribunal, but it must be within six weeks of moving in.
For further advice on these matters, you could contact Citizens Advice.
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Viewings are key
Moving on out – for how much?
In the past, I have been so excited to move that I have overlooked the cost of physically moving my stuff in – and how I was going to achieve this.
Personally, my family and friends have been a fantastic help, whether it’s been driving to the new place or helping to shift boxes.
Moving can be physically exhausting, but doubly so if you’re moving in with a partner or friend so any extra help is always a good thing.
Moving can also be expensive as you may need to buy packaging materials (that could be pricey if you have lots of stuff). Using old newspaper can help cut costs and protect any fragile items.
You can book large vans from as little as £34 a day if you’re choosing to do the move independently, but you also need to take petrol costs into account.
Something I have overlooked in the past is planning the moving day, particularly if you’re moving very far away, to ensure enough breaks to rest and grab a bite.
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Getting your deposit back
What can be deducted by landlords?
In some cases, I have felt that some deduction from my security deposit was justified, but in other situations, it has felt unfair.
My biggest bugbear is with letting agents often demand professional cleaning services, which come at a premium.
According to SYK Cleaning, an end of tenancy cleaning agency, it costs around £150 to clean a one-bedroom property. Ouch.
In the past, while I have struggled to get my full security deposit back, I have gotten into the habit of photographing everything when I moved in.
When I was a university student, I queried why so much money was taken from my deposit (considering I had photographic proof of how the flat originally looked) and was offered a partial refund.
While this is not a guaranteed fix, taking pictures can help contest any damage or cleaning claims (if the property was not professionally cleaned before moving in) and possibly help you wrangle some money back.
Your rights as a tenant
Disputing rent hikes
Landlords can increase the rent but normally not more than once a year without your agreement if your tenancy is on a rolling weekly or monthly basis.
For a fixed-term tenancy, you must agree to any rent increases. If you don’t, the rent can only rise when the fixed term ends.
An exception may apply if the tenancy agreement already includes a procedure for rent increases.
If you’re worried about sudden rent hikes, you may be relieved that landlords must give at least one month’s notice if you pay monthly or weekly. For a yearly tenancy, six months’ notice applies.
For any rent disputes, you can apply to a tribunal to settle any disagreements, although there are some conditions you need to meet.
If you have a regulated or protected tenancy, you should contact the Valuation Office Agency.
Getting help if you're struggling to pay rent
Unfortunately, you can be evicted if you fall behind on your rent, but you can get advice from Money Advice Service, Shelter and Citizens Advice.
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