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My 21yr old nephew has only been in UK for 10 months and is looking for a flat to rent now we have got him settled with a job, bank account etc
I haven't rented anywhere for nigh on 25yrs so am pretty clueless about the whole process 🤔
Rightmove
Speak to agent
View properties
Request to rent property / make rental offer
Pass checks
Pay monies
Move in
Be prepared
6 weeks rent about standard deposit now
Fee's to move in up to 6 weeks rent in some places
Have all your docs ready, visa, proof of residency, employment contract, employer ready to give letter confirming it all
Check all details and photograph everything on move in
Deposit through a Deposit Protection scheme
Watch out of dodgy landlords
Check for gas safety certs if applicable
Renting after being out the country for 6 years here.
Landlord is required to verify right to reside in uk so be prepared for that. Depending on where you are and how much money you have the scrutiny is different.
i once had to get certificate of employment to rent once....
I would avoid agents like the plague, we had lots of nightmares with them. Try and find owner managed properties.
Gumtree, local paper etc.
However avoid the scams, the standard gumtree scam is a flat exactly like your ideal, great photos etc. "Oh we need money upfront" ..
He has UK passport and working full-time for 6 months paying us minimal keep so should have enough for deposit, but I'd better ask him 🤔
Cheers so far ☺️
He's not particularly worldly wise so I'll need to be on alert for scammers, I think he was 2000 dollars out of pocket due to "flat mate" when in Oz...
In addition to all the above ...
Check for potential troubles/crimes in the areas by avoiding them.
https://www.streetcheck.co.uk/
Check internet speed as some flat have very slow internet speed so no use paying for max speed if you cannot get them.
If I were to rent I would check or use this ISP.
View the property at different time of the day and during weekend.
Check if they provide parking space or allocated parking space. Check if there are enough off street parking space for permit holders.
Find out who the neighbours are in case you get a neighbour from hell. (I have seen a neighbourhood getting so much trouble from just one family)
Property agent fees alone will be half month plus plenty of other "checks" that when add up will be equivalent if not more than a month's rent if not careful.
Single occupant should be able to get I think 20% or 30% discount on council tax.(please double check on the rate).
Openrent looks good there but mostly not enough properties and a lot of hard to sell ones round my way 🙁
Agents are scammers but at least they tell you how they are screwing you....
If he isn't worldly wise and from Oz then prepare him for the full costs
Council tax, water were all included down in Oz not here, agents will probably want proof of insurance before giving you the keys too.
Where is he looking?
Thanks for the advice about internet speed - he's a gamer so this will be most important. Mike - he's actually from Zambia but went to college in Oz for a couple of years & yes won't understand the likely differences...
Looking in Aylesbury, so not far from us, but we were just giving him a foothold - the spare bedroom he is in is also my office!
Thanks for the advice about internet speed – he’s a gamer so this will be most important. Mike – he’s actually from Zambia but went to college in Oz for a couple of years & yes won’t understand the likely differences…
When check on properly websites scroll down the page to see average broadband speed for that address. They will indicate who the ISP is for that area but you can switch to other ISP if you wish but do double check carefully. Then give the ISP a call. For gamers the above ISP is popular but it all depends on which bandwidth you have in your area or that flat.
Also for the above ISP if you subscribe for a certain package including the phone line you are entitled Free 20hrs international call per month. Don't go over it as they will charge you normal international rate.
I have seen flat with 20mb speed and area with 8mb speed ... 😀
Never ever ever hand over money before you visit the property, sounds obvious but these scammers are very very good. Don't send emails of your ID.
If he goes the house share route make sure he knows the council tax cost. Don't take on all the bills himself.
Costs can soon mount on your own. Don't stay on energy firms standard tariff.
Renting a place on your own is expensive, the forms/reference payments have doubled if not tripled since I rented ten years back, although where I am in the South East the actual rent payment hasn't gone up much.
If he open to sharing then the SpareRooms website is good.
Also if the flat is electrically heated then expect huge bills.
Go for gas heating if possible.
Renting a place on your own is expensive, the forms/reference payments have doubled if not tripled since I rented ten years back, although where I am in the South East the actual rent payment hasn’t gone up much.
The reference check/payment is about the same now in the North East as property agents monopolised all the rented properties. £90 just for a reference check!!
Total living cost per year if you are renting a one/two bed flat with a car in the UK is average or approximately around £14K to £16K per year.
What sort of reference checks will he need? He's only worked briefly for temp agency and then at permanent job for last 6 months and only been in UK for less than a year...
Refs - Employment - they will contact his employer, credit check via the normal ways
If he doesn't pass you can guarantee him (more fees)
What sort of reference checks will he need? He’s only worked briefly for temp agency and then at permanent job for last 6 months and only been in UK for less than a year…
The reference check is performed by the property agent so I don't know what they are checking at all. I know criminal record checks only cost around £25 or £35 (cannot remember actual amount now) but I think they are also checking credit records or whatever ... really vague as far as I know.
If he doesn’t pass you can guarantee him (more fees)
Which means you are also liable if there is a monetary dispute etc.
Okay, so he should have everything he needs, just the limited history may work against him. Good point about electric heating! I'll make a checklist for him & make sure he doesn't sign anything or pay any money over unless I've checked it over, not a lot on Rightmove or Openrent by the looks of things 🤔
Try to avoid agencies they are a total rip off. Try spare room.com. I find all my tenants that way and they have all been great.
One other thing to do is to check the trip to the local market/station etc from the property. Especially if not a driver as a long walk with shopping or to get something quick can be a right pain
Someone mentioned spareroom.com.
Might be an idea to use that and move into somewhere that is essentially settled and get a bit of experience and in my experience meet alot of weirdos but in a good way.
Nice bit of social interaction etc.