Renting FAQs

Before you commit to becoming a tenant, it is important to look over a draft contract first. Looking over this draft contract will help you to understand what the landlord expects from you, as well as what your rights and responsibilities are. If anything is unclear or requires clarification, you should then ask the necessary questions to find out the information you need – it’s important that you are fully informed. For example, your contract should clarify your deposit, the cost to rent, any non-refundable fees, the cost of the utilities, the lease duration and other details about the bills you or your landlord have responsibility for. If anything is unclear or you’d like to further your understanding, you must ask.

Again, before committing to renting the property, you should ask any safety-related questions if the relevant information has not already been provided. Some of this information can be provided when viewing the property. For example, you should check that the necessary alarms, such as carbon monoxide alarms, are fitted, that gas safety certificates and boiler service details are provided, that gas and electrical safety is explained, and that an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) is available. This information ensures that the property you will be living in is safe and meets all the necessary standards.

You should also ask questions about the insurance your landlord already has, and the insurance you will need to protect your personal property on the premises. Contents insurance will allow you to do this. Your landlord may already have cover, but this will only protect the items that they own, such as appliances and furniture. You should also ask your landlord about the insurance they have, such as accidental damage cover and alternative accommodation cover, in the unfortunate event that the house becomes uninhabitable. Asking questions about the insurance your landlord has is crucial – you’ll know what you’re protected for, and which insurance you should invest in.

We also advise having a copy of the Government’s How to Rent Guide for more information about rules and rights. This will help you to determine the questions you need to ask and the information you need to find out. We understand that asking the right questions and obtaining the right information can be stressful. If you’re looking to rent in Bury, Radcliffe, Ramsbottom or Burnley, the estate agents at JonSimon will help you to find the information that you need so that you can make the right decisions. A rented property is still your home, and you deserve to be safe, secure and happy there.

Renting a property has many advantages that are often overshadowed by the prospect of buying your own home. Whilst buying a house is a goal for many people, there are times when renting can be the right choice for many, depending on their personal or family circumstances. When finding a property, if you’re looking for an option that offers flexibility, renting might be the right choice for you. For example, if you’re moving for a new job and don’t want to commit to buying a property before you’ve settled in and you know you like your place of work, renting would be a sensible option. Similarly, if you’re somebody that moves around a lot due to work, travel, or even just for the curiosity of trying new places and different properties, then renting is certainly an option to consider.

From a money and savings perspective, renting a property allows you to budget more efficiently than when you’re a homeowner, in most cases. It allows for consistent spending – you know the cost of your rent each month and when it is due, and if your bills are included in this cost then you don’t have to worry about additional fees. Tenants that rent on a longer fixed-term tenancy agreement, such as a 3-year tenancy, know that their spending will be consistent over that period of time. This consistent spending allows you to budget effectively month on month, knowing how much money you have left over to spend on yourself and your lifestyle.

Becoming a tenant rather than a homeowner can also be a better option than buying if saving for mortgage deposits, or even getting a mortgage, is a difficulty. For many, renting is a much easier option than getting on the property ladder through buying. This is particularly true for sole buyers that are using only one income to save for a deposit or mortgage. It also allows many people to live in a nicer, and more expensive property than they would be able to afford to buy, meaning they live in a better property than they would if they opted to buy one.

If you need any assistance in discussing your options and choosing the right one for you, our team would be happy to help you understand the benefits of renting and buying so then you can make an informed decision. Simply get in touch with one of our estate agencies in Radcliffe, Ramsbottom and Burnley, and a member of the team will be happy to help.

Some prospective tenants will need a guarantor to allow them to rent a property. A guarantor is a person that agrees to pay your rent if you fail to do so. You may need a guarantor if there is little information about your ability to pay your rent. For instance, students and recent graduates will more than likely need a guarantor as their financial history is limited. By taking on this responsibility, a guarantor can potentially be taken to court by the landlord if they refuse or fail to pay the rent in a situation where they are required to do so. All guarantee agreements must be in writing and must set out the legal obligations of the chosen guarantor. This ensures the nominated guarantor knows their responsibilities, and that the landlord knows what to expect from them.

Quite often, a guarantor is a parent or a close relative, but this isn’t always the case. Whilst a guarantor cannot be financially attached to you – for example, as a spouse – as long as the person accepts their responsibility and their commitments and has the ability to fulfil them, then they will be a suitable guarantor. To check that they can fulfil their duties, the landlord may want to carry out checks, such as a credit check, in the same way they do with tenants, to determine their suitability. Besides these checks, the other requirements must be met, but these differ depending on the landlord or the estate agent managing the property. However, it is a general requirement that the guarantor must be based in the UK to minimise the risk of legal complications and that the guarantor earns an amount of money that would allow them to pay the rent.

We know that finding a guarantor can be difficult, and one of the many processes that takes place when renting a property. Our expert property agents will be on hand to ask any questions you may have about finding a suitable guarantor, if required, for the property you would like to rent.

Whilst it can feel like there’s a lot of information to take in, navigating the processes involved with renting doesn’t have to be stressful – our team are always happy to help regardless of what stage in the process you are up to. From your initial enquiry, to guiding you through the legal processes or to supporting you after you’ve officially become a tenant, we can give you reliable advice and support whenever you need it. If you would like to find out more about becoming a tenant or putting your property up to rent with Jon Simon,  get in touch with your local estate agents in Radcliffe, Ramsbottom and Burnley for more information.