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Right now it’s tough for tenants in the rental market, and you may wonder what you need to do to get a decent flat. The answer is pretty much the same as you would in easier times, the problem is the same and the answer is the same. Over the last 2 years we’ve published a number of articles aimed at helping tenants get the right flat at the right price. Today I’m going to summarise the whole challenge of renting a London Flat, linking you to the detailed advice for each stage.
Perhaps the single most important point to make, is that desperate people make easy targets for scammers. I’ve written a whole range of articles describing all the scams in operation. Read all my articles about scams, and don’t be taken in, you can use the tag cloud to identify scam articles .
Undertake a thorough search, there are lots of different ways that flats find their way to market, and the more of them that you try, and the more skillfully you filter the results, the quicker you will be at seeing the right property. Our article on searching for a London Flat to Rent , and a discussion on finding that flat of exceptional value.
When you visit a flat that you don’t rule it out on sight, then give it a good going over, upstairs, downstairs in the ladies chamber. Recently a study revealed that the average house purchaser only spent 42 mins examining the house they were going to buy! So look in the loft, check all storage cupboards, make sure taps, radiators and the boiler all work, check the pressure on the shower, open and close windows, look underneath and behind the furniture and turn off the lights to see how much natural light there is. Check services, telephone, broadband and wireless internet. Talk to any neighbours to see if you will get on with them, and if they are tenants of the same landlord find out whether they would recommend the landlord.
Finally when you are sure that this is the flat for you it’s time to negotiate. Negotiating isn’t haggling and we spell out how to get the best deal for your flat in our 10 Steps to a Lower Rent for your London Flat
Good luck!
