Top tips to help you rent with confidence

Looking for a new place to rent is, let’s face it, stressful. Horribly stressful in fact.

It’s one of those awful things in life that just has to be done and, even though you know it will be amazing on the other side once you’re all moved in, you can usually guarantee that something, no matter how benign, will go awry or be remembered last minute.

“Whose responsibility was it to notify the water company?”

“I thought you were in charge of buying enough cleaning products for us to start our own cleaning army?”

Not to mention the pained cries of “MY DEPOSIT!!” that one can only associate with a sofa being moved for the first time in 12 months, only to reveal a nasty stain embedded into the carpet.

Ahh… the fun and wonder of being a house-sharer.

But it needn’t be all doom and gloom as a renter, especially when there is a really simple way to help alleviate part of the stress and worry associated with renting: use an agent!

And don’t just use any old agent… use an agent that CAREs. Let us explain…

Confidence

An agent that CAREs will be a member of one of the three government-approved letting agent redress schemes.

There to protect you, the tenant, a redress scheme ensures you have someone to go to in the event of a dispute, plus it’s a criminal offence for a letting agent not to be a member of one.

Familiarize yourself with their names and logos and never rent through an agent that’s not a member of at least one of these schemes – they’re there to protect you and will give you confidence that you’re dealing with a reputable firm.

These are the three government-approved letting agent redress schemes:

Assistance

They can help you with not only finding the right property but they’ll also, as local experts, be on hand to answer any questions you have about the area. This is especially useful if you’re new to the area and unfamiliar with where you can find the nearest amenities and transport links because, lets face it, there’s nothing worse than moving into a new property only to discover the journey into work is a complete nightmare.

Reassurance

Not only do agents have feelings too, they also understand the importance of maintaining a good reputation and as such many can now be found on ratings websites. As a bona fide agent and business, you can be sure that they’ll be following the rules regarding holding tenant deposits in official deposit scheme for the duration of your tenancy, ensuring it’s kept safe and sound.

Having your deposit in one of these schemes will not cost you, the tenant, a penny, but acts as reassurance should a dispute ever arise between you and the landlord regarding deductions they want to make at the end of your tenancy. This is because, through a deposit scheme, they are unable to make deductions from your deposit without your consent. Phew!

Expertise

Are you up to speed with the latest legislation around your rights as a renter and landlord responsibilities? No, we thought not.

For the same reason you call a locksmith when you get locked out, or employ a solicitor to deal with a legal issue, by renting through an agent you gain access to their expertise on all things property.

Not only will a good agent be on top of all the latest legal requirements, they will also ensure that all legal responsibilities are met by both you and the landlord. This includes ensuring that the correct tenancy agreements have been signed.

So the next time you’re looking for a new rental, make sure you look for, and rent through, an agent that CAREs.