Moving out... Any tips?

[SAS]

I'm currently flat hunting, but I've not got much experience in running my own place, so I was wondering if there are any pit falls to watch out for? Stuff I should ask e.t.c when looking around.

I'll also have to house share or something along those lines .

And before anyone makes the comment... No there won't be a SAS's Guide to Flat Hunting

 

[dysfunction]

Ask if the rent incl bills....like electric, water, gas, TV license, Council tax etc. (phone wont be though)

I would look for a place that is all incl as its much less hassle.

Also make sure the landlord gets to pay for all repairs and perhaps ask if he's got arrangements to fix things like the boiler and that so you dont have to wait ages for it to be fixed!!

Also it may be best to have a written contract which is usually a standard thing. It helps protect you and him from being shafted later on...

Get a receipt/proof for any deposit that you give the landlord

 

[WPKenny]

I'm sure Damini will come along and give you some tips in a little while. She's keen to write a book on this sort of thing.

Personally I'd just try and choose your neighbours wisely. No point paying the bargain price of 50p a week if your neighbours/housemates are utter shits and make your life a living hell.

Could you live in your room if they take over the lounge? How sound proof is your room (for shagging and for when you want to sleep and they want to party).

What's the local area like? Is your car likely to get stolen or trashed? Could you walk/cycle home through the neighbourhood late at night without fearing for your life?

Public transport any good?

Think about how your current furniture will fit into whereever you're moving into.

Is the room above a busy road? Does the sun come in the window in the morning or the evening?

Does the kitchen look like new forms of life are waiting to be discovered?

Ooooh lots and lots of things to look out for. But think carefully about your own standards and how far you're willing to lower them for the sake of peace and harmony with your housemates.

 

[Testin da Cable]

um, try to make all payments automatic ones -and- clean the place at least once a month.
if you have to front cash in any way make damn sure you get a receipt, and never accept the "I'll give you a receipt tomorrow" thing.
find out what your landlord will do and what you have to do in event of emergency (ie the plumbing packs up or summin). ideally that should all go in your contract.

 

[mookie]

you've all forgot the most important thing.

will the landlord let you install cable and sky digi?!
tsk, you lot have no priorities

 

[dysfunction]

Originally posted by mookie
you've all forgot the most important thing.

will the landlord let you install cable and sky digi?!
tsk, you lot have no priorities

I wouldnt go into a flat if it wasnt incl in my rent tbh

 

[cjravey]

All landlords are scum?

 

[Meatballs]

ADSL installation?

 

[kameleon]

A: is the off licence within 100 yards
B: does it stay open till 11 pm

 

[Maljonic]

I wouldn't rent any flat if it had pitfalls dug in it; you'll come home drunk one night and forget all about it and wind up a bloody mangled mess impaled on wooden stakes...

 

[old.Fweddy]

The size of the swimming pool is important, and I dont know how I'd manage without the helipad on the roof.

Make sure there's plenty of room around the snooker table too.

 

[.Cask]

If you are paying the bills yourself then get the water meter/electricity meter read as soon as you move in. And keep checking the estimated reading on the bills you get. Hopefully won't get an electricity bill for £318 like me :/

 

[Wilier]

From my own personal experience, make sure that the farm next door dont herd cows down the lane at 4 o'clock in the fecking morning.
And....that you have no neighbours.

 

[old.RedVenom]

Move in with friends......





















Ahahaha. I crack me up.

 

[Tom]

Put it off for a year, and with the money you save, use it for a deposit to buy a house.

 

[Scouse]

Wise words there m8

Don't bother renting if you can afford not to. I could have bought the flat I rented outright in cash this year......

Mortgages are cheaper and as long as you know you can get a shelf-stacking job or better then you know that you can always afford it



Same property:

Rent = 550/month or mortgage = £380 month...

you do the maths

 

[Cdr]

Is it a test or can I use a calculator?

 

[dysfunction]

Its a test.

No Calculator.

You only have 4hrs

 

[Greef]

Originally posted by old.RedVenom
Move in with friends......

Seriously, don't! Can ruin a great friendship, I should know, I nearly fell out with my best m8 that way.

Err dare I suggest:

Location, Location, Location, as in: can I get ADSL here?

I just got a new flat & I searched lots on the web & found just the right place - it's worth hanging back for the right place in a nice location. Look at lots of places, think about it, then find some more to look at!

Work out a budget, do a mini spreadshhet - include all expenses, even small ones, then look to see what you can afford. Remember council tax can be a biggy - I pay £650 a year .


Have a good look around here!

 

[Meatballs]

Originally posted by Scouse

Same property:

Rent = 550/month or mortgage = £380 month...

you do the maths

If you get a mortgage you are tied down to the area though? You might not like it after 6 months

 

[Wilier]

Originally posted by Greef
Remember council tax can be a biggy - I pay £650 a year .

I wish I payed as little as that. Ours is currently a smidge over £1200 a year.

 

[]SK[]

TIP1: Buy a house rather than going into rented.
TIP2: Dont rent buy a house.
TIP3: Make sure its broadband enabled.

 

[dysfunction]

Originally posted by Meatballs
If you get a mortgage you are tied down to the area though? You might not like it after 6 months

No...

But you can incur penalties if you settle your mortgage early

 

[Rubric]

Originally posted by Scouse
Wise words there m8

Don't bother renting if you can afford not to. I could have bought the flat I rented outright in cash this year......

Mortgages are cheaper and as long as you know you can get a shelf-stacking job or better then you know that you can always afford it



Same property:

Rent = 550/month or mortgage = £380 month...

you do the maths

Where I am rent £550 a month = Two bed flat no hassles. All repairs etc done for me.

Mortgage £380 a month = 1 bed flat/bedsit. Buildings insurance £££££, Maintenance charge £££££, Ground rent ££££ & finally any repairs etc. £££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££

 

[Greef]

Originally posted by Wilier
I wish I payed as little as that. Ours is currently a smidge over £1200 a year.

My small flat is in the lowest band and I get single occupancy discount!

Still alot to pay for my bin being emptied once a week and ermm... what else? Oh yes it pays for policemen & cameras to harass innocent motorists! And erm.... parking wardens! ffs

I suppose you pay more for your.. what ... 5 bed mansion in the country? Rightly so!

 

[Quige]

Always make sure a full inventory is done. Walk about with the Agent or Landlord at the handover ... make sure that all marks on floors and walls are listed on the inventory. Any existing damage to doors, windows, furniture, or general signs of wear and tear. Don't sign anything until the inventory is modified. Obviously make sure that all furniture and kitchen bits and bobs are listed accurately.

They then can't come along at the end of your tenancy, and start trying to charge you for any 'damage', or for redecorating or new carpets, or missing things. It seem's a common landlords ploy - and of course they've got your deposit already! The number of times I've had my deposit eaten away this way, before I wised up and starting being more hardlined. The most recent place we even got down to noting the number of cigarette burns on the carpets in each room!

There's been a lot of sensible advice given above - the "what to do in an emergancy, who to contact", etc. get the meters read immediately, all of WPKenny's advice/things to think about.

Once you done all that lot, and are happy, and have the keys, go and take pictures of the flat in the state it's in when you move in. The aim is to put together as much documentary evidence to compliment the adjusted inventory as you can bear to put together. Digital camera comes in handy here as you can just go snap happy, and it costs nothing.

The last place but one, we didn't do any of this and due to a couple of marks on the wall (after being there for 2 years) the landlord charged us for 3 decorators at £100/day for 3.5 days to redecorate a one bedroom flat! Don't let it happen to you!

 

[Rubric]

Sound advice there. Also note that when you move out no matter how much you clean the place you will be charged for cleaning by your Landlord.