Tips for viewing a rental property

When your looking for a new home to rent, making the most of a viewing is crucial, use our top tips to help.

1. Act Quickly

The rental market is a lot faster than than buying and demand for good rental properties is high. So that you don't miss out try to be the first to view and make sure you have the cost of administration fees ready in your account. Sign up to email alerts to keep ahead.

2. Be prepared

Know exactly what is important to you in a property and be willing to compromise on some things? Have a list of questions ready for the agent and if available on the viewing the current occupier.  It can be really easy to forget during the viewing itself.

3. Don't view alone

Never go alone.Take someone with you or attend the viewing with a letting agent. Safety must come first and you will have another pair of eyes to help.

4. Know the housemates first

If you are renting with others as a house share, make sure you meet all of your potential new housemates before committing. Living with others, especially if you don't know there quirky ways takes a lot of patience. It can be a lot of fun but it can also end in disaster.

5. Know the costs.

If you can, request to see the utility and council tax bills so you know what to expect. Ask if anything is included in the rent? If sharing, discuss and agree how the bills are split.

6. What’s included?

If the rental property is advertised as furnished, ask exactly what is included.  You want significant additional costs that you may not have budgeted for.

7. It’s all in the details.

Don’t forget to look at the finer details too. It is so easy to miss the little things when you are viewing a property for the first time and are focused on the big thing