What To Look For When Renting A Property In St Albans: Checklist & Advice

by

25 August 2021

Real Estate

Renting A Property In St Albans

St. Albans, a city with a 2000-year history, is just an 18-minute rail trip from London. It is home to the country’s longest nave cathedral, the UK’s only fully excavated Roman amphitheater, England’s oldest tavern, magnificent coaching Inns, and much more.

For commuters, living in St Albans is an excellent option. The town has strong London commuter connections. The region also provides the luxury of more affordable housing than many parts of the city.

Renting a home in St. Albans as a family is a great idea as it has plenty of amenities for easy and comfortable living. St Albans neighborhood is filled with excellent healthcare facilities, schools, and entertainment options. You can find the best property that suits your needs with the help of letting agents in St Albans who can make the letting process easier.

On the other hand, if you are on a property UK hunt and you have shortlisted a few properties, we have prepared a list of things that you need to look for while renting a home in St. Albans.

1. Look for damage or stains on the floors, walls, and carpets

1. Look for damage or stains on the floors, walls, and carpets

The flooring, walls, and carpets are usually the first things you notice when entering a residential rental home. While it’s normal for the walls to have a few small holes from the previous tenant’s pictures or art (provided the landlord didn’t repaint or repair the walls after the previous tenant moved out), and the hardwood floors to have a few small scuffs, you’ll want to make sure that more obvious damage (like large holes in the walls or noticeable stains on the carpets) is noted in the inspection report.

Usually, landlords take pictures of the damages. If not, you can photograph them for reference so that it does not affect your deposit in the future.

2. Make sure that the windows, lights, and light switches all work

If you’re looking at the rental apartment during the day and there’s plenty of natural light, you might forget to turn on the lights in every room to make sure they’re working. Remember to switch on and off all lights and switches, and also, it’s a good opportunity to check with the landlord to see if you’ll be liable for replacing light switches or bulbs in light fixtures if they don’t seem to work.

3. Examine the thermostat as well as the HVAC (Heating,            Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) system

In a rented unit, the thermostat should display a temperature that corresponds to what you believe the temperature should be. So, for example, if an apartment you wish to rent is clearly cold yet the thermostat display indicates that it is at room temperature, it’s a good idea to check with your landlord to see if the air conditioning is working properly.

4. Check to see whether any safety equipment, such as smoke alarms, is operational

If you live in a rental home and there is an emergency, you want to know that the safety devices, such as smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors, are functioning properly so that you can be notified of the danger. If you discover a smoke detector that isn’t lit up (the light or lights on the device aren’t on), you should ask your landlord to make sure these devices are operational before you move in.

5. Make sure the toilet and faucets in the bathroom are working

5. Make sure the toilet and faucets in the bathroom are working

When you’re completing a tour with the landlord of a rental suite, you might not think about flushing the toilet or turning on the bathroom faucets. Even if there are no obvious problems (such as cracks in the toilet or a missing handle on the faucet), it’s a good idea to examine them just to be sure the plumbing is in good operating order.

6. Inspect the kitchen, refrigerator, stove, and sink

You might not think to turn on the oven and check the temperature of the fridge in the kitchen, just as you might not think to check the toilet and sink in the bathroom. The fridge, stove, oven, and sink in the kitchen are all examples of how appearances may be deceiving: just because there is no visible physical damage does not mean that everything is in working order.

7. Check if there are pests

7. Check if there are pests

You don’t want to move into a new apartment only to discover that there’s a pest problem, such as bed bugs or cockroaches, so make sure you’re on the lookout for signs of pests during your walkthrough of the rental property. When cockroaches are an issue, for example, sticky traps are commonly used, so if you find them about the premises, you should absolutely inquire as to why they are there.

8. Things to do as a tenant

Before you decide to rent a residential property, make sure you consider not just what’s around the property, such as public transportation, parks, and schools, but also what’s inside the rental property. It’s never joy moving into a new place only to discover a slew of minor flaws that you’ll have to bug your new landlord to repair. Keep eyes on basic rights you can have as a tenant, and you may easily avoid taking responsibility for most faults in your rental by bringing them up during your move-in walkthrough with your landlord.

Read Also:

I enjoy writing and I write quality guest posts on topics of my interest and passion. I have been doing this since my college days. My special interests are in health, fitness, food and following the latest trends in these areas. I am an editor at Content Rally.

View all posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related

image001

The Ultimate Moving Checklist – Things you Need to do When Moving

If you are moving to a new place, you have to wind up a long list of things. To do all the jobs peacefully and make your move flawless it is better you create a moving checklist. Making a checklist, sticking it in a place of your frequent visits to give you timely reminders, and doing the tasks defined in the list one by one will not make you feel burdened.But what should be there is the checklist? If it is your first time everything must be haphazard for you. You might be completely clueless about where to begin. Well, there is nothing to panic about. The blog below is a complete guide for you. If you follow the things in the blog you will move with ease. Effective Checklist for Smooth Relocation: The checklist can be referred to as a schedule for different things to be done while moving. You can also write when to begin a particular time and in what duration it should be complete.The first thing to be done for moving is to divide the things at your home into four parts. The first list of what you will carry with you, the second list must contain what you want to donate, the third list must be things to be sold and last but not least things to be recycled. Get rid of the list second, third and fourth. Your home must now contain the things you want to carry along. The second thing to do is to hire movers. To hire moving companies you must know the best company in your locality You can know about it either by carrying out a ground survey or online. Make sure to contact previous customers in case of the ground survey and read the reviews in case of online inspection. Compare the cost between your preferred choices along with a comparison of the services offered by them. Now check the availability of the moving company on your desired date and time. Finalize the moving company by completing the documentation. Now, comes the packing part. Decide if you want to do it yourself or hire packers. Start with the packing process at least a month before your move or you can decide it based on the size of your home. If you are going for a long-distance move you must pack the things much before in comparison to a local move. Begin with packing starting from a single room. Once you complete with a place, then shift to another. Label each box that is packed and keep it in a single place. All the packed things must be locked in one place. Make sure you pack the most used place in the last. The kitchen would be last in the series. Change your address at all the important places like shopping websites, with friends and acquaintances on your important documents, and wherever you feel it's necessary. Put all your important documents and bills intact in a file. The file should be kept along with you in your car and not the loading truck. You might require any document anytime, so make sure you do not miss out on anything. Load the trucks, clean your home, lock, and move. It is advised that you must reach your new place prior to your luggage so that you can arrange the things instantly.Conclusion: Moving can be as easy as you feel while reading the blog if all the things are carried out in a specific order. With all the above tips you will never be in a situation of panic, not even for a single moment.Read also: The Five Most Important Things to Know Before Moving

READ MOREDetails
living in Seattle

Cost of living in Seattle

Seattle is considered to be one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States. It has been estimated that the population will grow with more than 200000 people over the next 20 years. This has strongly been attributed to the tech scene as well as its vibrant culture. This collectively causes the city to become expensive. Studies by the Council on Economic and Community Relations have pointed out that Seattle is 24% more expensive than any normal city in the United States. This means that someone earning an annual salary of $40000 will have to earn $49600 to maintain the standard way of living in Seattle. These costs have been attributed to factors such as home prices, cost of transport and other essential costs. Housing in Seattle:The prices of homes in Seattle have shown to be one of the most expensive in the United States and do not seem to be coming down anytime soon. This may seem like good news to citizens who already own houses in Seattle, but it is a nightmare to those who don't own one and want to own one. Prices of houses according to a 2010 survey indicate the price ranges between $216000 and $440000 depending on the number of bedrooms. It has also been indicated that if these prices keep growing at the rate of 20%, the prices will surpass the $1 million mark in the next 25 years.Read more: Buying Or Selling A Home In Seattle? Average rent in Seattle: Renting has been discovered to be more favorable compared to buying. However, it is not a cheap venture. The average rent in Seattle has been estimated to be $2109 which is roughly 80% higher than the national average. Some neighborhoods in Seattle have shown to be more expensive than the others. For instance, a neighborhood like South Lake Union, a one-bedroom is rented at $1900 per month. Cost of food:Seattle is known for its exquisite seafood which is sold at the Pike Place Market. However, if you earn little income and survive on a tight budget, then you may not be able to enjoy the cuisines. It has been estimated that the average cost of dining in a typical Seattle restaurant will cost you $30 which is 30% higher than the average or typical price range countrywide. This goes for groceries too where it has been estimated the cost of acquiring groceries in Seattle is 11% more than the average cost of the same products. Transportation cost: Most people who live in Seattle rely on road transport to facilitate their movements. It comprises of car owners, public bus transport and even cyclists. The price range of a single bus ticket ranges between $2.50-$3.25. This is more convenient because it has been proven that Seattle traffic is one of the worst in the country. Its fuel prices are also said to be 10% more than the national average price. Other costs: According to digitalexits.com internet service providers offer options to ensure proper communication which is essential nowadays. This costs can rise to $75 per month which contribute to the monthly costs you may incur while living in Seattle.Read Also:What Are The Costs Of Our Aging Infrastructure? 5 Awesome Advantages Of Buying A Smaller House

READ MOREDetails
new house

Things to know before buying a new house

Buying a house is not a small thing. It needs a huge amount of investment. No matter how good the builder is or how new the building is there is no such thing as a perfect house. There are defects in each and everything. We should not assume that the house is perfect as it is a new house. It is truly said that precaution is better than cure. We should be aware before investing in a big property. Problems always pump up without an invitation.New home buyers should have a good relationship with the builder no matter how worst the things turn up. They make the biggest mistake by not getting into laws and depending solely upon the builders. They blindly trust the builders and believe that they are doing work ethically but that is not the case in every situation. Mistakes to be avoided by new home buyers: These things need to be taken care of before buying a new house: 1. Deciding the property be taken before getting a loan approval New house buyer gets attracted to the model houses without even knowing how much they have to pay for it. The builder seduces the new house buyers by showing them the model house. The model house has beautiful rooms that may not exist in reality. The buyer gives the commitment of buying the house before even thinking about their budget.The builder promises about attractive financial schemes that attract the buyers. The buyers should talk to at least 4-5 lenders about the mortgage loan and then take a decision. They can talk to the credit union, bank, or builders about various mortgage programs and then arrive at a conclusion. 2. Details about the builder Many times we fail to check the background of the builder. Whether he has a good reputation in the market or not. The inquiry can be done by asking the neighbors. Consulting few past customers before purchasing the property is always helpful. 3. Ignoring the upcoming issues The new buyers usually fail to ask about the prevailing problems in the house. We can't be assured that all the problems will be solved easily; we need to have a clear picture of the issues before getting further. We need to ask about the punch list of problems from the builder. 4. Inspection before buying the new house Generally, we don't feel to get the new house inspected by a professional. We feel that everything is right as it the new house. But this is the mistake that is done by most of the new buyers that they regret later on. Seeing the interior of the house the buyers think that there can be no issues in the house but the inspectors find problems most of the time. The charges of the inspector are very nominal. 5. Bad negotiation skills The new home buyer fails to negotiate and accept the terms and conditions of the builders without even questioning them. If negotiation is done with proper technique ten it works on the side of the buyers. It should be done professionally and equitably so as to close the best possible deal. Buyers are no more victims. They rule the real estate industry by taking control in their hands. 6. Failing to get the real estimates in good faith Mortgage lenders don't always provide the real estimates to new house buyers in good faith. They need to provide the estimate to the buyers within three days of the loan processing application. The documents need to be clear as per the annual income of the buyer. The loan needs to be compared before applying for it. The buyers need to visit more lenders to get a good estimate and then select the best price as per his negotiation skills which are in his good faith.The new house buyers should take care of all these things before buying a house. If a person is doing such a huge investment in the property then he needs to be careful and take utmost precautions for it. The most important thing is to take considerable time in doing the research before selecting anything.Buyers should consult the new building company and clear the above things and match the criteria before purchasing the house. The best solutions can be provided by them as they have the knowledge about the local trend and culture prevailing. The buyers will also have satisfaction after consulting the local building company as it is from his own locality. They will have accurate information about the company and it will be easy for them to do research about the company. This is the benefit of consulting the local company instead of a company from other states.Read Also:How To Sell Your House Fast?! Five Must-Know Tips To Move Your Property! We Buy Houses: Don’t Build Without Permits

READ MOREDetails