Renting A Room? 20 Tips To Protect Yourself – Miss Write

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I’ve moved house in the last year more than I care to remember. Things have not gone well and I have decided to put a ‘top tips’ list as a blog to help any readers who may be on the market to rent a room. I hope you don’t fall into any traps I did!

RENT THROUGH AN AGENT

Not everyone’s as honest or human as you. Renting through an Agent protects you much more than renting privately, even if it’s through the landlord is a family member or friend. You never know, you might not end on great terms and it could cause trouble beyond imagination. It may cost more in the first instance (e.g. I had to pay £100 for a credit check and admin fee on my current place), but it’s worth it. Ask for a breakdown of any fees – in the past, friends have been caught out paying £50 for ‘miscellaneous costs’ which turned out to be paying for tea and biscuits in the Agent’s office! Private landlords could be anyone and can really take the piss.

TRY TO NEGOTIATE ON ANY CREDIT CHECK FEES

Ask if the landlord/Agent will require you to pay any fees for a credit check or similar. Ask if they would be satisfied by looking through your recent bank statements, as this could save you a packet. This hasn’t worked for me in the past, but it’s worth asking.

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE AN EMAIL ADDRESS FOR THE LANDLORD/AGENT

This is so it’s easy to record communication, to back up phone conversations, and to send photos.

ASK FOR A ‘SAMPLE CONTRACT’ TO BROWSE WHEN YOU FIRST VIEW THE PROPERTY

This shouldn’t be a big deal – you can then read at your leisure before signing anything and brood on it when you get home. Of course, you still must read your real contract through thoroughly should you agree to rent this place, as it will not be identical to the sample copy, even if it’s just the tenancy dates which differ.

ENSURE YOUR DEPOSIT IS REGISTERED WITH THE DEPOSIT PROTECTION SCHEME

Legally, landlords have to register your deposit with this national scheme. The DPS become the middle-man between landlord and tenant. No money ever goes via the landlord when you put the deposit down and when it is returned. Keep your log-in details to their online service secret.

TAKE PHOTOS OF ANY DAMAGE PRESENT WHEN YOU MOVE IN

And make sure the photos have a date stamp on them. This way the landlord cannot prove you did the damage when you arrange to leave the property. Trust me, most will try to collar you for any minimal or ‘wear and tear’ damage, even if it’s not your fault. One previous landlord of mine tried to get a new, expensive bathroom suite out of me, when there was no damage whatsoever. Photos and statements to rebuke this claim settled the matter, even though the evidence wasn’t legally binding. Ask for a receipt for any thing they want replaced so you are charged the correct amount. 

Remember to include carpets, curtains and any damage to doors/walls/windows/fittings. If the windows need to be cleaned on your exit, photograph them in the state they are in when you start your tenancy. Emailing the photos to yourself that day will time stamp it, even if you cannot get the date to appear on the photos themselves.

If a friend or you does break something, notify any irreparable damage to the landlord ASAP. An email with a photo attached is fine.  

ENSURE THE CONTRACT SPECIFIES BILL PAYING ARRANGEMENTS

“Tenant to pay gas/water/electric bills etc.” is not enough. This needs to be spelled out as to which bills you are responsible for (e.g. Council Tax, Wifi, phone, TV Licence). Don’t forget, if you have a TV and you have a lock on your room, this houseshare is classed as separate tenancies and you will each need your own licence.