Whether you have been a tenant before or you’re moving into your first rental property it stands to reason that you re going to want things to run as smoothly as possible. It isn’t just on moving day that you want things to be okay, but also throughout the duration of your tenancy. Here are 3 questions to ask your new landlord.
Property Safety
There are obligations that a landlord must carry out – a gas safety certificate for example. However, there is definitely no harm in asking your landlord what sort of fire risk assessment they have carried out on the property. Speaking to them about things like what maintenance has been carried out on the property, whether electrics have been checked recently and whether any appliances that come with the property have been checked.
What If Things Go Wrong
Although no one wants to think about things going wrong in the home, there could be times when things stop working or a similar urgent scenario happens. It is a good idea to speak to your landlord in advance about who you should contact if this happens and what their process is for carrying out repairs.
Questions about Your Agreement
It goes without saying that you should check your rental agreement before signing it & speak to your landlord with any questions or things you are unsure of. For example, how often do property inspections take place & do you get advance warning of them being booked in? You should find that most tenancy agreements cover all of this but there’s no harm in asking them to clarify anything you’re not sure of.
What Are Your Responsibilities?
Before you agree to your monthly rent amount make sure you are clear about what this covers – for example, does it cover council tax or are you expected to pay this separately? Most of the time it would be your responsibility to keep up with things like grass cutting & garden maintenance, but this is definitely something worth checking with your landlord in advance. Asking them about decor, whether you can decorate and what your responsibilities are following a time when you vacate after this is well worth doing too.
It isn’t about causing your landlord hassle, but simply about setting the scene and ensuring you’re both on the same page with regard to important issues that may arise during your tenancy. If you have any ideas for questions to ask your new landlord then feel free to share them below
*Collaborative post
About Debz Louise
Debz Louise is a UK-based lifestyle expert and the founder of several lifestyle blogs, including Wannabe Princess and Under 5s. Specializing in everything from interior design and home renovation to body-positive fashion and early years development,