Renting a property has some great advantages. People rent for many different reasons. You may be new to an area and decide to get to know your location before you buy. You may be saving for a deposit. You might have to rent because your job is not on a permanent contract, perhaps you have chosen to live away from your family for part of the week. It can be a permanent way of life, many people decide not to take out a mortgage.
If you do decide on a private tenancy you could look in the local property paper or visit a letting agency. Letting agents find tenants for landlords and manage them for a fee if the landlord doesn't want to get involved. If the landlord has chosen a fully managed service they will pay extra for the initial inventory, the collection of the rental income and take care of any repairs the property may require during the tenancy. When the tenant leaves the property checks will be made to ensure that the deposit paid by the tenant is not required for any damage or replacement of items on the original inventory.
Your contract with the landlord should tell you:
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the date the tenancy began;
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the rent and when it is payable;
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any rent review arrangements;
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the length of any fixed term
If you are paying less than £25,000 per year an do not live in the same house as the landlord, this will make yours an assured shorthold tenancy unless your landlord agrees otherwise in writing.It is up to you to agree the length of the tenancy with the landlord. It can last for a set period (known as a fixed term) usually for at least 6 months or it becomes open-ended. If you are claiming other benefits or your income is low, you may be able to get help through housing benefit. You should apply to your local authority to see if you are eligible and, if so, how much you can claim. You can apply to your local authority to find out how much rent would be covered by housing benefit before you agree to take a tenancy.
The landlord can give you notice that he or she will seek possession through the court if you are behind with rent. If you owe at least 8 weeks (if you pay rent weekly) or 2 months (if you pay monthly) rent, at the time notice is served and at the time of the court hearing, the judge must give the landlord a possession order. |
