Trailing through the property pages and endlessly surfing the web for the right place can be time consuming, unpractical and often soul destroying. Once you've called up to inquire about the perfect flat for the hundredth time, only to be told it's taken, and you can't take another rejection, why not leave the hard work to a letting agent?
Of course, the easy route comes at an extra price. Letting agents usually charge a fee from between £25 and £150 for their services i.e. the general administration involved in finding the property, taking up references and returning the deposit at the end of the tenancy. Often they also require a holding deposit of £50 to £200, which usually goes to the first month's rent, unless you pull out in which case you lose it all together.
With this kind of money involved and considering you'll be dealing with these people throughout your tenancy it's important that they are reputable.
Association of Residential Letting Agents (ARLA)
www.arla.co.uk
National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA)
www.naea.co.uk
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
www.rics.org
So you've found the perfect dwelling for you, and you're ready to sign on the dotted line. Whoah there! Before you enter into a legally binding tenancy agreement there are some essential things you need to check for.
Once again, a tenancy agreement is a legally-binding document between you and the landlord. Make sure you get an agreement in writing. If the landlord does not provide this information within 28 days of your asking, he or she is committing a criminal offence and could be fined. The tenancy agreement should state:
If you are in any doubt about the tenancy agreement, consult a Citizens Advice Bureau, Housing Advice Centre or a solicitor.
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