Ds moving into private rented accommodation, has anyone got any tips to look out for?

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He's sharing a rented flat with a friend. Both never rented before. I've not rented for 30 years!!

Has anyone got any tips or advice what to look out for? His deposit has been paid.
Will they get an inventory when they move in? I really have no ideas what would be helpful for them to know.

Thanks in advance.

I didn't say he couldn't read a meter. He's not daft by any stage.
I just don't think he's done this before. It's all new to him and us. But he's a clever boy, he'll be fine. I just want to cover our backs in case of any unintended issues due to being unexperienced in the rental market.

most (all) of the problems on here are from clueless tenants being shafted by dodgy agents, and occasionally dodgy landlords. Get a clue and you wouldn't be in the place to start with.

hence the how to rent guide - stuffed up legislation means it is given at tenancy signing (or invalidates possible eviction) so even the best landlord/agent won't make work by handing it out before. It is updated regularly, e.g. it now includes info on the tenant fee ban which another poster didn't know about.

top tips:

• don't rent a chilly house expecting it to get better. Read the EPC and have a good look.
• don't rent a shithole expecting it to improve, it won't. Even in London there is no need to rent a shithole. If it is filthy on viewing, that shouts 'bad landlord'. (and it has also had scum tenants so don't move in)
• landlords have rules to follow, agents do not. But there's almost no enforcement (no money) so again, don't rent a dump from a crook.

bad landlord threads on here usually result in me asking if the tenant was given the EPC, the how to rent guide, deposit protection info, if the place has smoke alarms tested on arrival, if there is gas safe etc. There's never an answer which means that people walked cluelessly into a dump rented out by a crook and then wondered why it hasn't got better.

knowledge is power.

I'm looking at renting again after years of owning. I too wanted top tips. MSE website was useful
www.moneysavingexpert.com/mortgages/rent-a-property/

Take pictures of any damage that they could try and use to dock the deposit with - that has helped me before

may loose some deposit if put pictures up etc as damaging paint work.

cobblers. Putting up pictures is 'tenant-like' behaviour as long as you don't bash a big hole out of the wall or go through a pipe or cable.

most hooks can be removed at the end of the tenancy without trace, or made good with a tiny bit of filler. In the real world (as opposed to Guardian/Shelter babble) UK tenants are not expected to return the property redecorated as that is betterment. This is not the case in some other countries.

a landlord claiming for this would get the value of the decoration of the whole wall, divided by the time since it was decorated (Decoration in rentals is given a life of around 5 years) divided by the area affected. About 10p if it wasn't laughed out.

Great info, thanks

What I understand happens is on the day they get the keys they get the full inventory made up that morning by the agent, also they get pictures of the place sent to then. The inventory comes with up to date boiler, smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms, not sure what else. I'm not sure what info they have re the deposit, should they get more info other than them being told where its stored? Also the inventory comes with recorded meter readings and utility info. Rental agency is a big one so hopefully doing everything by the book.

fair enough.

a clause saying 'redecorate on leaving' is unenforceable in England, with the possible exception if the tenant has painted the place purple with permission and a deal to put it back before departure. Landlords cannot insist on betterment.

It was when we rented (I showed a property lawyer at work). You live and learn!

no idea when betterment went out, if it was ever there - but you should have just refused (unless of course you did paint the place purple!)

unenforceable clauses can be ignored, let the landlord take you to court. And I say that as a landlord. But then after a kicking by a tenant I'm happy if the rent is paid, the neighbours aren't upset and the place isn't destroyed. All beyond that is a bonus.

Establish boundaries with whoever is going to be managing the property. If they are comfortable with the agent or landlord popping in at less than 24 hours notice, or letting themselves in when your son and his flat mate aren’t in, then fine. But they don’t have to allow this if not. In my experience agents will often try it on with a breezy “we’re coming round in the morning and have a key if you’re not going to be in” email, so son and flat mate will need to be polite but firm.

Gather instruction manuals for all the appliances together in one place. If they are supplied, download and print out so they have them to hand when the washing machine conks-out mid-cycle / boiler dies or whatever.

Re pictures use command strips!

Also haggle on the price if you haven't already. I did this and looked at a house at £700 and leased it at £625