Looking to Rent? Keep an Eye Out for These Warning Signs During Viewings
When viewing properties to rent you are likely to encounter a few red herrings when looking for a potential home but what signs should ring alarm bells? Whether you are looking for student accommodation or your first home as a professional, the property market does throw unsuspecting tenants a few duds, make sure you don't fall for the wrong property with our top tips and be clued up on the warning signs of a property from hell! Damp is a common problem, especially in older homes, but despite it being commonplace it still makes properties an unpleasant and uncomfortable place to live, and there are a number of health concerns linked with damp properties.
For people that are new to viewing, damp may not be something they have encountered before but it is easy to spot with the right know-how.
Damp will show itself on walls and ceilings as water marks or stains, and in serious cases, areas of mould growth will be visible.
Another tell-tale sign of damp is a musty, pungent odour so take a deep breath and judge for yourself.
Keep in mind that a number of landlords may try to hide the signs of damp so look out for freshly painted areas on walls and ceiling (particularly in the corners of rooms) and the use of heavily fragranced products that may have been used to cover the musty smell.
In your second or even first viewing take the time to test the home's fittings and fixtures, an unkempt property may need a lot of repairs and says a lot about prospective landlords who may have left DIY jobs unfinished.
Open and close cupboards, doors and drawers, look out for rusty piping and radiators, take note of exposed wiring and look in the loft to see if timber beams are rotten as this may be an indication of dangerous structural damage.
Keep an ear out for noisy neighbours too when looking for properties to rent as this can quickly turn a dream rental into a real nightmare.
Visit the property in the evening to gauge whether noise from neighbours will be a problem.
The same applies when surveying the area surrounding the property, visit at different times of the day to view busy roads.
Conclusion Taking some time to get clued up on the warning signs of rental properties will save you a lot of time and money and get you one step closer to moving into a property that safely suits everyone involved.
For people that are new to viewing, damp may not be something they have encountered before but it is easy to spot with the right know-how.
Damp will show itself on walls and ceilings as water marks or stains, and in serious cases, areas of mould growth will be visible.
Another tell-tale sign of damp is a musty, pungent odour so take a deep breath and judge for yourself.
Keep in mind that a number of landlords may try to hide the signs of damp so look out for freshly painted areas on walls and ceiling (particularly in the corners of rooms) and the use of heavily fragranced products that may have been used to cover the musty smell.
In your second or even first viewing take the time to test the home's fittings and fixtures, an unkempt property may need a lot of repairs and says a lot about prospective landlords who may have left DIY jobs unfinished.
Open and close cupboards, doors and drawers, look out for rusty piping and radiators, take note of exposed wiring and look in the loft to see if timber beams are rotten as this may be an indication of dangerous structural damage.
Keep an ear out for noisy neighbours too when looking for properties to rent as this can quickly turn a dream rental into a real nightmare.
Visit the property in the evening to gauge whether noise from neighbours will be a problem.
The same applies when surveying the area surrounding the property, visit at different times of the day to view busy roads.
Conclusion Taking some time to get clued up on the warning signs of rental properties will save you a lot of time and money and get you one step closer to moving into a property that safely suits everyone involved.
