As someone who has been travelling my entire life, I've been consistently moving house to make once harder to reach areas much more accessible with my recent move from Southern England to Hull to better explore regions such as the northern cities and Scotland. Renting is a great way to trial your options without ever being locked down in one place for long if you decide it's not for you and really mix and match all the variables in a home until you find the right one for you. Here are a few things I recommend looking into and considering when looking at a rental property.
1. Rent Pricing
Likely the most obvious thing to look for on a listing is the price. When looking to pay for anything, it's smart to set a budget for yourself ahead of time. In most cities you are not likely to find many single-family/person apartments for rent under £600 a month which can be a quite steep low-point for some looking for some financial flexibility beyond having a home. Consider HMOs or Houses of Multiple Occupation. These are often full size terrace homes or large family detached houses that have multiple occupants each living in their own bedrooms and sharing common areas such as a kitchen, living room, and bathroom (unless you have an en-suite) and will split the bills between everyone living in the home resulting in a much more affordable living situation. It isn't uncommon to find an HMO at half the price of renting your own place.
2. Are bills included?
Often times in renting, you might be able to find a listing that states "Bills included". While few listing websites seem to list the question in their listing info boxes, landlords and agencies tend to list this information in their descriptions for the home. If they don't, I'd advise getting in contact with them and asking. Bills will generally include water, electricity, heating, internet, and council tax, though some might specifically state they exclude the latter. Being aware of whether or not these bills are factored into the price can save you a LOT of money each month.
3. Is it furnished?
Many properties will be listed as being furnished meaning when you arrive at your new home, there will be some furniture waiting for you already. In a fully furnished property, you can generally expect a cooker, fridge freezer, washing machine, and basic furniture such as a sofa, dining table, a bed in each bedroom, and wardrobes among other things. This furniture is owned by the landlord and is expected to stay in good shape like the rest of the home over the period. Any damages could be taken out of your deposit as per your tenancy agreement.
4. Location & Accessibility
In the UK, public transportation is widely accessible. Busses and trains come around throughout the days in cities, and rideshare services exist nearly everywhere nowadays. However, if you do not drive, it is important that you consider your access to a nearby bus stop or train station. If you are moving with the intention of quickly finding your job, you may want to consider finding a home that is closer to a high street where you might be able to grab employment without having to travel too far to work every day. If you have kids, maybe you want to live within a safe walking distance to a park or school. Where you decide to settle down for a bit is important.
Did I miss anything? Let me know in the comments. We have some properties I recommend checking out on our Booking page if you're looking to come to Hull, and I will see you back here with another post on Thursday.
- Dakota Morrill
Padoo Homes
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