Questions you wished you had asked at a rental viewing?

[Lochnessgiraffe]

We are looking at moving house and are looking for a new rental property.
My mum is going to look initially as it's close to them and I'm 100 miles away.
What questions do you wish you'd asked? As my mind is blank

Around here, rentals are in really high demand, EA have waiting lists, so every available property gets snapped up really quickly,, sometimes without viewing, people will say they want it, perhaps it’s different in your area OP.

Why did the last tenants leave?

Check the type of gas/electric meter in the property. We found a that few rentals close to us were pre payment meters when we last moved which we didn’t want. Also council tax banding.

We're happy to put in an offer quickly but would like to see the property first.

What type of heating it is and the efficiency rating/cost calculator (they should put these on the details but I've found they are often out of date!)

If the heating is all electric/storage heaters...I'd avoid! Similarly, check if it is an oil tank...you will be responsible for ensuring that this is kept topped up.

Thanks I'll get her to ask about the heating. Anything else?

I don’t know about rentals but when viewing a house to buy my father would always flush the toilets, turn on the taps to see them working and ask for the heating to be turned on so he could check that the boiler was working!

How long for repairs being done...
Any issues with ndn.
Is the rent negotiable.

Not a question as such but the last couple of rentals I've asked to turn the shower on after a previous experience where the pressure was so pitiful it was nearly impossible to wash my hair!

Ive got a checklist for my next place after the state of the place were currently renting:

All doors open and close smoothly
All kitchen cubord and draws open and close smoothly
How hot does the hot tap get and how fast- it takes over 20 minutes to run a bath and i never use the cold tap as the hot tap gets warm not hot, only the bath tap does this, all other hot taps in the property get very hot
Check the window seals for gaps
Check the radiators for the dials- half the radiators in the property dont have dials so i cant just heat one room
Check the standard and question any settings on white goods- the washing machine that is provided with the rental is a very low end cheap machine and the shortest setting is 2 and a half hours
Ask to use the front door key, my front door can be a right pain to lock especially whilst holding a baby and bag!
Put the shower on and see if it holds temprature- i never use the shower as it only tollerates one tap so eather have a cold shower or a very hot shower

Things I've sworn I will always check in the future:

Check the loft for insulation (just moved somewhere that had not a SCRAP of loft insulation and didn't realise until we'd moved in)

Check inside all the cupboards for mould (kitchen, bathroom, bedrooms if there's inbuilt wardrobes)

If there's a catflap and garden, there is likely flea/s eggs about

Check the boiler and thermostat are working together

Check the shower and taps all work properly, especially important to check the water pressure if it's an electric shower

Check where the phone/master sockets are for your broadband to plug into

If it's a terrace, speak to both neighbours. Ideally you need two people to look round a terrace, so you can check how loud you can hear each other from different rooms. If you can hear each other making small noises in the house, you will probably be able to hear your neighbours making loud noises from theirs (although an autistic child that bangs their head against the adjoining bedroom wall at 3am isn't likely to be a common issue that everyone will encounter...)

Also you can check crime rates online with the postcode

Will check shower and heating. No neighbours next to us in the one we want.
It's opposite a holiday park which might put people off.

How long is the initial fixed term contract, and after that will it be a rolling shorthold or do they only do fixed terms? Pros and cons to both from the tenant's side.

Council tax banding. Monthly water rates.

@Easterbunnyiswindowshopping

How long for repairs being done... Any issues with ndn. Is the rent negotiable.

As a LL I would counsel against asking if the rent is negotiable, unless you are in an area of low demand. If I am ever asked this by tenants then I am very unlikely to pick them (I normally have a huge choice) as firstly I would worry that it's on the high side for their budget and they might struggle to pay the rent, particularly if something unexpected comes up and, secondly, I would worry that they might be likely to try to haggle about everything and generally be a bit of a pain to deal with.

Now, I fully appreciate that I could be being very unfair here however, when there is a big pool of tenants to choose from, that would be a mark against them from my point of view.

I wouldn't try and negotiate the rent as it's a set rent which is fair. I'll ask about repairs.

DS is moving into a flat next week.
Demand is so high it took him months to find somewhere.
Viewings booked up within hours of going online.
EAs not interested as they have an abundance of prospective tenants.
Viewings cancelled at short notice - after he has taken time off work and travelled there by train.
When he did manage to view the staff doing viewings know nothing about the property. They answer questions with either "don't know" or they make it up.
It doesn't seem to matter as people are so desperate they will take anything.

Some questions.
Will carpets / curtains be professionally cleaned.
Appliances - will they be cleaned (some disgusting washing machines)
Parking.
Outside space - who can use it who is responsible for upkeep.
Open every cupboard.

Depends on if you ever work from home. If you do broadband speed is key.

Check the windows have keys to lock and open them, check any blinds have safety fittings, check the scenario if you have any emergency - how long until someone comes out. Check the situation if white goods break if they will give you any money back.

Oh yes, and if there is a burglar alarm if it works / if there is a code.

Does the letting agent manage the property or the landlord? IME (well my student DC's experiences), landlords who manage their own properties do not always know the law or ignore it and are more likely to cut corners.

@pyjamas89

Not a question as such but the last couple of rentals I've asked to turn the shower on after a previous experience where the pressure was so pitiful it was nearly impossible to wash my hair!

Yes definitely this!

Nothing worse than trying to wash your hair in luke warm trickle.

Is the rent negotiable

You will be marked down as an immediate no

Some Qs I wish I'd asked over the years:

Are appliances included
Will appliances, carpets & windows be cleaned before start of tenancy
Check outside areas and if you're expected to pay for upkeep
Type of boiler / heating and whether affordable
(Avoid storage heaters, old fashioned boilers ir pre payment)
Who are the neighbours (i.e hopefully not 24 hour party people)
Broadband coverage
Phone signal
Water pressure
Chance of damp - ground floor, newly redecorated
Are pets allowed
Try and get one managed by an estate agent if poss
Try and get a tenancy longer than 12 months but with a break clause
Do your research on rents and make sure you're not being overcharged

If you drive check out the parking setup and if what they say works in practice or if there are hidden costs like permits

I’ve never been to a rental viewing where the agent would be able to answer any of these questions beyond what you could work out for yourself!