Renting a property in itself can be quite costly with rent costs and the cost of living at an all-time high. But factoring in deposits, new furniture and removal costs can make the prospect of rental even more daunting.
When moving into a new rental home, the last thing you want is to be hit with unexpected and unnecessary costs emptying your pocket. Therefore it's important to know your rights as a tenant and what you should and shouldn't be paying for in your rented property.
Personal finance expert Dan Whittaker from CashLady.com has issued some useful words of warning to renters when moving into their new home. The expert has shared his top five tips to help tenants understand their rights in order to avoid unnecessary additional costs, reports the Echo.
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Dan said: "There are costs that may be thrown your way which are not your responsibility to pay, and elements of your contract which may lead to excess spending."
Here are his five key pieces of advices:
Get your landlord to replace sub-par furniture
Rented homes can either come fully-furnished, part-furnished or empty. If it is any of the former then the furniture will be provided by your landlord - but it must meet certain standards.
"This is often the case, particularly for young people who have yet to build up furniture staples and are looking to save by renting a furnished home," Dan explained.
"However, most renters may not be aware that all furniture and upholstery within a property provided by a landlord must meet certain standards and, if not, it’s the landlord's duty to replace them - not the tenant's.
"If the furniture that comes with the property is broken and unusable, be sure to question your landlord rather than splash out on new furniture that you may not be able to move to your next home."
Fire-safe furniture
As well as meeting a certain standard, Dan said that furniture provided should also meet fire safety standards.
"Not only is there a clear safety risk if these standards are not met, but it gives tenants more grounds to demand that furniture is replaced by the landlord, and the tenant does not have to spend excess cash," Dan said.
Fire-safe furniture could include couches, armchairs, futons and sofa beds, nursery furniture, beds, garden furniture and even scatter cushions.
Create an inventory
Dan says that it is important to keep a log of everything included in your property - and the condition of it - when moving in.
"When you first move into your rented property, your landlord should provide you with an inventory of the property. An inventory should list all of the furniture and appliances within the property with notes on the condition," he said.
Dan added that it's important to note everything down, even if the damage is small.
"If you fail to highlight these at the start of your tenancy, your landlord can charge you for the damages when you move out because there will be no proof the damage was there before you moved in," he explained.
Understand your rights with energy suppliers
As a tenant, it's your right to choose your energy supplier.
"In a time where energy costs are through the roof, it’s important that the decision is yours and not that of the landlord, allowing you to negotiate the best price," Dan said.
"There have been occasions where landlords have specified the energy provider that the tenants must use in their contract. Unless the landlord is paying for the gas and electricity, which is quite rare, this is illegal."
Don’t pay for something that isn’t your responsibility
Many renters, especially those living alone and renting for the first time, are unaware of where their responsibilities lie if they appliances break.
"If your washing machines, boiler or any kitchen appliances break, should you pay for someone to fix it yourself? The answer in each of these cases is no," Dan said.
"As a general rule of thumb, your landlord is responsible for repairing most appliances that come with a property, as well as permanent elements of the property."
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