Some advices to rent a flat

I still remember the first time I was looking for a flat to rent. I was considerably younger and I therefore made a lot mistakes while trying to find the right flat.
Since that period, a long time has passed by, and I have now a lot of experience in renting a flat. I still live in a rental flat, as I am not interested in purchasing my own house, as well as many other people. I have then thought to share the little I have learnt with you.
The reality of flat renting may confuse you and this means that you can waste a lot of money if you are not aware of the situation you are going to face.

First, I suggest that you determine accurately the amount of money you can afford to pay for the monthly rent. I am too pragmatic maybe, but it is useless dreaming about flats that you would not be able to pay. It is cynic but in these matters you must be down to earth.
My next advice is that you should exactly know what you are looking for, not considering flats that you do not really like. A list of the key factors is strongly recommended. Key factors are the aspects that may turn your decision towards one flat rather than another one, such as the distance from your workplace, the distance from your children's school, the possibility of parking your car as well as the access to the public means of transport.

Another decision you must take is whether you want to rent an unfurnished or furnished house. Remember to consider very seriously this aspect because it would be helpful to orientate your research in the correct direction, reducing the number of flats you would check. Once you have focused your requirements, I suggest to make an accurate search, looking at private advertisements as well as estate agencies. It would be a hard work, but it is worth it because the market offers now a large number of flats that you can rent.

Next step is therefore going and seeing as many flats as you can before you take any decision. You will therefore have the opportunity of comparing between different offers, to be sure that you make the most appropriate choice.

Furthermore, I suggest that you check carefully the landlord. They have indeed a large number of legal duties, but remember that not all landlords usually do that. A landlord should provide you a fire extinguisher in the kitchen as well as a detailed list of all fittings, furnishings and fixtures of the flat you are going to rent. You can control whether the landlord is an associate of the National Landlords Association or ask to your local council if they come to know of complaints regarding your future landlord. Then, I suggest that you pay attention to the tenancy agreement you should sign. Remember that the tenancy agreement is a binding contract between the landlord of the flat and you. Usually, standard tenancy agreements are used and my advice is that you read the agreement very carefully before you sign it. If needed, you can agree with your landlord to add further conditions, provided that these conditions are within the actual law.

You will be asked to leave a deposit before moving in the flat. Ensure that your deposit is guaranteed by a tenancy deposit plan that must provide fair and clear rules, to make you sure that you will have back a part or the whole amount of the deposit when the rental period ends.

When moving into your new flat, remember to check the inventory, checking if something has been missed. If this is the case, send a marked-up version of the inventory back to your letting agent or to the landlord, requesting a written receipt that would be very helpful to control the flat's inventory before leaving it at the end of the rental period. I suggest to make this control together with your landlord. I also suggest that you ask to the landlord to release a receipt attesting that everything included in the inventory is in perfect order, to avoid any possible inconvenience.