Renting a home Viewing rental property - 10 top questions
Get all the facts when viewing a rental property
It’s easy to fall in love with a property and rush to move in a matter of days, only then to realise you should have asked lots more questions about the landlord and the property before you started renting it.
Once you know what you want to rent and for how long, take your time to ask all the right questions before you reserve the property and move in.
Top 10 questions for the landlord or letting agent
1. How much is the rent on a monthly basis?
2. What is included in the rent?
3. What additional bills do you have to pay and how much are they likely to be?
4. How much deposit is required? Which tenancy deposit protection scheme do you protect the deposit in?
5. What type of tenancy is used? Is it a licence or an assured shorthold tenancy agreement?
6. What notice period to quit is required?
7. Can you view a copy of the property certificates? These include the energy performance certificate (EPC) and gas and electrical safety certificates.
Whether you're looking at a property to rent privately from a landlord or through a letting agent, they must produce an EPC for your inspection on request. The better rating the EPC gives the property, the lower your utility bills are likely to be. This could save you hundreds of pounds a year. For more on energy performance certificates visit our guide.
Landlords must also comply with fire safety regulations.
8. Are any smoke alarms fitted? If so, are they connected to the mains or will you have to replace the batteries?
9. Who should you contact in an emergency, such as a flood or fire?
10. What insurance does the landlord have to cover the property? What do you need to insure yourself? Visit our guide to home insurance for Which? Recommended Providers.
If you are looking for shared accommodation, check whether the property should have a licence by the local authority for a ‘house in multiple occupation’ (HMO).
This is typically a property that is three or more storeys, occupied by five or more people who are not in the same family. If it is a licensed HMO, the property should have more safeguards for the tenants, such as fire doors.
Other rental property considerations
Consider how long you want to rent the property for (most agreements require a minimum six-month let), whether you want to furnish the property yourself or rent a home that is already furnished, what telephone and internet services you need and whether the landlord allows children or pets to live in the property.
For more advice, see our book Renting & Letting which contains everything you need to know to navigate the rental market.
