26July

Things to Ask Your Landlord Before Moving In

Landlords have a lot of say in how the property functions but if you are able to have a conversation and agree on certain subjects, it can help to make the property feel more like home. Moving into a new property can be a colossal task and finding all the things to ask your landlord can be a challenge, we’ve compiled a list of some of the questions you may need to ask your landlord before moving into a new property.

Rent

Rent is often the most divisive subject within the tenancy agreement and ensuring that you and your landlord agree on a fee which both parties feel is fair is essential. By asking the questions below, you mitigate the chances of an unexpected bill being passed through your door.

Does rent increase? If so, by how much and how regularly?
When is rent due?
How do I pay rent?
Is there a grace period for rent payment? If so, by how much?

Utilities and Security

It is common for a landlord to take a security deposit (usually no more than 5 weeks’ worth of rent) which will be returned to you on completion of the tenancy. Utilities within the home can vary based on the property and landlord, some choose to pay utility bills themselves adding the cost to the price of rent, while others have the tenant pay for them individually.

Below are some of the questions you may need to ask to gain an understanding of the ins and outs of the tenancy agreement:

How much security deposit do I need to pay?
After the end of the term, how long will it take to return the security deposit?
Are utilities included in the rent?
Can I choose to change the utility providers in the property?

Legal

A tenancy agreement serves as a legally binding document meaning that upon being signed, its rules have to be followed. This makes it important that you query any parts of the agreement which do not make sense to you or are reluctant to accept. There is no shame in this and the agreement shouldn’t be signed until both parties are satisfied.

Below are some of the questions you may need to ask:

What are the terms of the lease agreement?
What responsibilities do I have to the landlord? (And the other way around)
What is not allowed? (Changes to the property)
Can you enter the property while I live there?

Other Queries

There are some other facts that you may need to query, many of these are specific to you but below are some of the common questions that get asked:

Is there a pet policy? If there is, will I need a deposit?
Does the property have parking? If so, is there a cost for it?
How does the garbage collection and recycling work for the property?
Are there specific rules or subjects within the community I should be aware of?

The process of moving home can be stressful but with proper management and preparation that stress can be alleviated and by knowing what questions you want to ask of your landlord, you ensure that you do not get any nasty surprises down the line.