Top tips for renting

1 Make sure your deposit is protected
Tenancy deposit law was introduced on 6 April 2007 and provides protection for tenants by preventing landlords and letting agents from unfairly withholding a deposit. The scheme protects all Assured Shorthold Tenancies in England and Wales. Ensuring your deposit is protected allows you extra comfort for when your tenancy ends and you want to move on. As long as rent and services are paid up to date and the property is in the same condition as when you moved in (allowing for wear and tear) your landlord is obliged to give back your deposit, this is usually within ten working days of moving out.

2 Speak up – if you don’t ask you won’t get
Remember to communicate with your landlord or managing agent – don’t be shy in reporting any difficulties in your rental property. Landlords are obliged to fix these problems at no cost to you as one of the privileges of being a tenant. A good landlord will also appreciate knowing if something needs doing – after all, it is their investment you live in.

3 Check out the hidden agency costs
Letting agents will charge you certain costs before you move into a property. These costs include charges for checking your references, preparation of inventory, drawing up tenancy agreements, administration costs, etc. They can amount to £200-£500, depending on the area, agency and property. Be aware that agents should not charge you for looking at properties or holding your details.

4 Location, location, location
Ensure that your rental property is commutable to work, close to friends and places where you socialize. You may find the perfect property but it could be a long walk from the tube station – fine in the summer, but no so nice on a wet, dark evening – leaving some with the added expense of taxis. There will be compromises with any property rental so you need to ensure that the ones that you make are right for you long term.

5 Check out the living costs
Remember that rent is not your only outgoing so it is sensible to put together a budget to ensure that your rental is affordable. In most properties you will be responsible for water rates, gas central heating, electricity, contents insurance, television license and of course council tax. Ask the lettings agent or landlord for an estimated cost of these bills so that you can ensure that they are affordable. For council tax costs you can visit www.voa.gov.uk to find out what banding your property will be in.

6 Check if parking is available
If you have a car in London you know the difficulties of parking. If a private parking space comes with the property that’s all well and good, but if it doesn’t, remember to ask about the opportunities to get residents parking. The majority of properties allow you to apply for a residents parking permit for a small charge by visiting the local council offices with a copy of your tenancy agreement and your vehicle registration details. However, be careful, as some newly built properties only have permission for the council to offer less parking permits than there are units in the property – it is worth checking this with the landlord or agent before moving in.

7 Ensure the landlord has the correct documents before you move in
Not only is the Tenancy Deposit Scheme essential but there are also further legal requirements that your landlord must meet. Your landlord must obtain and show you a Gas Safety Certificate and an Energy Performance Certificate. Building Insurance is also obligatory and this should be mentioned in your tenancy agreement. It is advisable that you take out your own contents insurance as your landlord will not be obliged to provide this for you.

8 Carefully comb through the tenancy agreement and inventory
You are responsible for looking through the tenancy agreement and inventory before you sign. Make sure you understand each clause and that the inventory is accurate. It is wise to have a third party look at it too, so ask a friend or family member to read through it and let you know if they have any queries. It is also important that a third party witnesses the tenancy agreement when you come to sign.

9 Be careful of false adverts on the internet
We have all heard about the terrible situations where people are falsely rented properties over the internet only to find out when arriving to view or even move in that not only is the property not available but that they have lost their deposit. To combat this, ensure that you use a reputable agent or landlord who have established offices – do not agree to send money anywhere without meeting someone and viewing the property. Also, remember that if something seems too good to be true, it usually is.

Fulham lettings agents: Lettings in London SW6

Fulham is adjacent to Chelsea and extremely popular with young professional singles and families. Originally, the area was a market garden and the architecture is mostly Victorian offering a range of family houses and converted flats. Fulham is in high demand with its direct links into the City and offers easy access to West London (i.e. Hammersmith, the M4, Heathrow Airport) and to the South West via the A3.

The abundance of Montessori Schools, nurseries and Prep schools make Fulham a popular choice for many young families, add to this the fact that the area has four parks, all with children’s facilities and tennis courts. The local Hurlingham Club and Harbour Club serve more sporty residents.

Lettings in Earls Court SW5

Earls Court was at one point known as Kangaroo Alley due to the vast number of antipodeans who stayed there, however this doesn’t apply as much anymore. It still has the reputation of an area where people stay – not where they live.

In addition to this, in the late 70′s and early 80′s it became the gay centre of London. Once again, this no longer applies although the area retains a large gay presence. Overall, Earl’s Court is a somewhat seedy, fairly uninspiring place – but it does have its moments.

Property in Ealing

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Lettings in Docklands: London E1, E14 & E16

Over the past 20 years, the population of the Docklands has more than doubled and the area has become both a major business centre and an increasingly acceptable area to live. Transport links have improved significantly, with the Isle of Dogs gaining a tube connection via the Jubilee Line and the Docklands Light Railway being extended to Beckton, Lewisham, London City Airport and North Woolwich. Canary Wharf has become one of Europe’s biggest clusters of skyscrapers and direct challenge to the financial dominance of the City. Further east, the Royal Docks are finally being regenerated most prominently symbolised the ExCeL Exhibition Centre.

Although most of the old Dockland wharves and warehouses have been demolished, some have been restored and converted into flats. Most of the docks themselves have survived and are now used as marinas or watersports centres. Although large ships can – and occasionally still do – visit the old docks, all of the commercial traffic has moved down-river.

The revival of the Docklands has had major effects in run-down surrounding areas. Greenwich and Deptford are undergoing major redevelopment, chiefly as a result of the improved transport links making them more attractive to commuters.

The Docklands’ redevelopment has, however, had some less beneficial aspects. The massive property boom and consequent rise in house prices has led to friction between the new arrivals and the old Docklands communities, who have complained of being squeezed out. It has also made for some of the most striking disparities to be seen anywhere in Britain: luxury executive flats constructed alongside run-down public housing estates.

Lettings Agents in Docklands, London E1, E14 & SE16

The London Docklands was once a major port with docks, wharfs and jetties bustling with clippers, barges and steamships loading and unloading their cargo. In past centuries there was a great sense of community amongst the dockers and East End labouers living here. Major residential development began in the 1980s and many of the warehouses have been converted into modern apartments and penthouses. Family houses are still rare in this part of London, but for young professionals working in “The City” on the north side of the river, it has become a convenient, cost effective and increasingly fashionable place to live.

Lettings Agents in Clapham: Lettings in London SW4

Clapham was originally a small hamlet in the early 19th Century. The area now has two main assets: Clapham Common and excellent transport links into Central London and the City from Clapham Junction. Properties in this area range from splendid Georgian and Regency homes surrounding the Common to Victorian terraced houses and conversion apartments. Shops and restaurants can be found on Abbeville Village and Clapham Old Town.

Lettings agents in Chelsea: Lettings in London SW3 & SW10

Chelsea is a district of London, loosely defined by the area around the King’s Road, beginning at Sloane Square at one end, and the “World’s End” public house at the other, the River Thames and the Victorian artists’ district to the south, and some parts between the King’s Road and the Fulham Road. The eastern boundary is defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above Sloane Square Underground and Counter’s Creek provided the original western boundary. The district is part of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

Although the heady days of the Sixties are long gone the King’s Road still retains its charm and character and is an excellent street for shopping. As a residential area Chelsea has a reputation for elegance and is therefore home to many a celebrity. The properties are smart and can command high rental figures.

Notting Hill Lettings Agents: Lettings in London W11

Many of the grand refinements of Holland Park are also apparent in Notting Hill, but the neighbourhood has a younger, more bohemian feel to it. There is a variety of restaurants to suit all tastes and budgets, lively pubs, trendy bars and two local cinemas. The area is perhaps most famous for the Portobello Road with its busting markets and the annual Notting Hill Carnival. The vast majority of the large terraced houses have been converted into one, two and three bedroom apartments. There are also smaller houses and mews cottages. Hyde Park is a short walk away.

Lettings in Fulham SW6

Fulham grew up, like many other parts of London, as a little riverside settlement out of London proper sometime in the 14th century. It wasn’t until the 1840′s that it was finally swallowed by the city – and this explains (to an extent) how it retains its “village” charm.

Nowadays it’s the area to live in if you can’t afford Chelsea or Kensington. However, Fulham is far from cheap though! Fulham is characterised by shockingly expensive terraced houses and quiet evenings.

As you’d expect from an area like this the bars and restaurants aren’t the cheapest – but they do tend to be of a rather high standard. Additionally, since the surroundings are pleasant, Fulham is an excellent place to go for a stroll.

Before you head towards the pub or a restaurant have a look at Fulham Palace (Bishop’s Avenue). This was the summer residence of the Bishop of London from 704 until 1973. It’s not really a palace – more of a Tudor manor, but don’t let that stop you. The grounds themselves are very nice to look at and include a bunch of curiosities – so it’s well the visit.