A lot of first-time tenants tend to be young adults who have recently ‘flown the nest’ and are onto the next stage of their life which may bring feelings of both excitement and apprehension. After all, running your own household is a big responsibility and you can’t cut corners when you have bills to pay! Here at Empanda Properties, we know how daunting it can be to sign your first tenancy agreement which is why we’ve put together a few top tips to keep in mind during the journey. Read on to find out more…
Make sure you read the tenancy agreement
The legal jargon may be confusing, but it is crucial that you take the time to read it through before you sign on the dotted line. Your tenancy agreement outlines the rules of your contract, how long it is in place for (most first-time renters are tied down for 6 months), the date your rent is due and your responsibilities as a tenant. Choosing not to read it prior to signing may mean that you are agreeing to certain terms and conditions that you weren’t aware of, setting yourself up for a difficult first tenancy.
Know your rights and responsibilities
As a tenant, you have a responsibility to ensure that the property you are renting remains in a good condition throughout the length of your tenancy and this is often outlined in your letting agreement. For first-time renters, this can often be a daunting prospect so we’ve put together a list of the basics:
- You must pay the rent in full and on time
- You are expected to cover all the bills required to run the household
- The property should be regularly maintained and taken care of
- Any problems or concerns should be reported to the landlord sooner rather than later
Become familiar with the local area
Moving out of your parents home often means moving away from familiarity. It is often a good idea to spend some time in the surrounding area of the property you are hoping to rent and ask yourself whether or not you feel comfortable calling it ‘home’. In fact, this suggestion is even more essential if you are looking to move to another city or across the country. Ultimately, taking the time to become familiar with the local area and community can make a move a lot less daunting.
A lack of preparation and vigilance may land you in a troublesome tenancy agreement with an unsuitable landlord and/or property. More often than not, it is first-time tenants that find themselves in undesirable circumstances like these. The Empanda Properties team aims to make life easier for our tenants by doing things differently, and all first-time renters will be happy to know there are no hidden fees either. To find out more information, get in contact with the best letting agency Sale has to offer and ask a member of the team about our available rental properties today.