Renting might be dead money, but it still serves a purpose. House prices are skyrocketing and show no signs of stopping so buying may not be in your budget and gives you a chance to scope out an area before committing. Plus, it offers a different kind of lifestyle, one that might suit your needs. Owning a home is fulfilling and yet getting the landlord round to fix the leaky roof is so much easier than negotiating the fix yourself!

To ensure everything goes to plan there are a few things to take care of first. It’s all about freedom – you want to make sure there is plenty of it during your stay. That’s why you’ve come to A Daisy Chain Dream– for the tips below.

Discuss The Dos & Don’ts

You’re basically living in someone else’s house, therefore there is a line you really shouldn’t cross. However, you do want to make the property feel like a home. Forget living in a cold, bare space for twelve months; the key is to discuss the dos and don’ts in advance and try and get them in writing. The last thing anyone wants to do is order a wheelbarrow full of gear off of the James Oliver home page only to find out the landlord is vetoing the idea. That’s a nasty, expensive surprise. Usually minor alternations like painting are allowed but you should always double-check first.

With A Special Focus On Pets

Having an animal is where the process gets tricky. Are they a fervent dog-hater? Can they not stand cats? Does the idea of a hamster make them squeamish? If it’s a yes to all three of these then there’s a high probability that your pet won’t be welcome. Okay, no worries because you’ll move to a different flat or house and bring him/her along for the ride. The problem is that people take the risk and sign on the dotted line. Some even think they can twist their arm after the fact. Always ask about pets beforehand or else face being evicted and/or landing yourself a massive fine. I’ve been lucky with pet-friendly landlords so it definitely pays to ask up front- and offer to pay an additional deposit against potential damages.

Look Into The Small Print

Everything has been hashed out and the contract is perfect, or so you think. Landlords can be sneaky and will include “traditional” clauses that aren’t broached in the negotiations. One such example is a release clause; in a perfect world you’d give notice and tell the landlord when you’re going to leave. However some stipulations provide this power to the landlord and it’s perfectly legal. Or, your clause may say that you have to pay a fee to terminate the agreement and find another tenant. Wow, that’s a lot of responsibility for one person.

Do An Inventory

It’s not fair to say that all landlords are untrustworthy as (some) mechanics or politicians. They aren’t that bad – they merely need proof. If they don’t get it they will leave the bill at your door. With this in mind, please don’t forget to do an inventory before moving in and after moving out. Write down what works and doesn’t work and take pictures as evidence. Also make a copy and give it to the landlord or letting agent so there is written proof.

You don’t want to be the person that loses out in the exchange, do you?