Flat rental viewings questions AIBU

[NameChangeTimeNow]

Going to some rental flat viewings this week, and have prepared some questions to ask the landlord/estate agent.

AIBU to ask you if there are any other questions I should ask the landlord or estate agent?

Thanks :)

Here are the questions I’ve got so far:

What’s the general security of the flats like?

Can I meet the flatmates?

Who do I contact if there is a problem with the flat?

How long have the flatmates been there?

How long are the flatmates staying?

Am I responsible for finding new flatmates?

How much notice do I have to give if I want to leave?

Ask to see copy of contract.

Is there a deposit?

Can I have a receipt for the deposit?

Is there a tenancy deposit scheme?

Deffo re finding out if you're on individual license (renting a room rather than whole flat!)

I once was told I was renting room... Then all the students moved out and I was told I then had to find 700 £ per week... Or find new flat mates.... I protested... I moved out...

Managed to find several potential people (friends of mine) but all declined when they found out we were liable for any empty rooms...
I moved out within the week.

Justmyownself

This happens all the time. Unless you've been actually living in the area and have a whole host of friends who are wanting to move in together.

I've moved into loads of places where I've visited a place then have to be ' interviewed' to see if other flatmates want to live with you!

The agent probably won't know the answers to most of your questions beyond (hopefully) whether you have a joint contract or indirectly individual one and potentially what bills are included.

Flat sharing here in London is totally normal - I did for a decade then bought a flat and got a lodger for the spare room.
But I would never have gone through an agent. You'll be looking at big HMOs (house of multiple occupation) and the agents don't care and aren't going to intervene over cleaning, noise, irritating new residents or anything else.

Are you in a city? Have you looked at spareroom and gumtree where the flat mates themselves are looking for a new flat mate? You meet the people who live there, they meet you, there is a mutual decision on whether it is the right place for you to live or not.

I think the key things are:

Is it an individual tenancy or a group tenancy. You do not want a group tenancy as this will make you responsible for other people's rent.

Are the bills inclusive, dealt with by the landlord or dealt with by the tenants. Again avoid if dealt with by the tenants as you will be liable for the shortfall if someone doesn't pay.

Things like gas safety etc should be in place.

Check your bedroom door has a good quality lock.

Ask whether it is a managed property or whether the landlord deals with repairs.

Ask what elements your deposit covers. You don't want to be responsible if your housemate breaks their bed.

Ask about share facilities.

Ask what insurance is in place.

Check they have a HMO licence and that they are abiding to the occupancy levels.

Tbh I would get this all in writing and not rely on the spoken word.

We rented our current property because the letting agent said we could have pets. We turned down nicer non pet properties because getting a pet was important to us. In the contract it says pets with permission of the landlord - I was assured by another letting agent that this was just standard wording. We call the Landlord who said sorry but I made is explicitly clear to the agents that no pets in the property. I will never trust anything a letting agent says again.