Going to view a room tomorrow. Advice needed

Something Else · 2 Jul 2013 at 18:47

Ok so I'm moving out this month, parents divorced and have sold the house and will be out by end of the month.

Ive arranged a viewing for a single room, something to get me through this apprenticeship.

Is there any questions I should ask? The bills are inc of the rent, I don't smoke, don't drink much as in couple pints a week at most.

Im very nervous and don't want to come across wrong.

weringo · 2 Jul 2013 at 19:02

Are the bills inclusive of the rent (ask about all - council tax, gas, leccy, tv licence, internet)? If not, who's name name will the bills be in (ie yours, or the landlord's who will then recharge the cost to you)?
What's the minimum notice term?
Will there be a written contract in place?

Can't think of any more at the moment, I'm sure there's loads.

starfighter · 2 Jul 2013 at 19:05

Ask how much the deposit is, ask if you get Internet included. Alos check there is a socket for your TV. One house I rented had no conection for the TV and they wouldn't aloow me to put up a dish, had to use internet TV for 12 months.

NoodleKing · 2 Jul 2013 at 19:06

There's a very good post on the MSE forums on renting here:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=937335

Bit of a read, but all good info.

Something Else · 2 Jul 2013 at 19:08

The ad states that all bills, wifi, gas elec etc are included in the rent.

The deposit is £100

I want to view it in person so I can ask the landlord all the little details and just have them confirmed. I will ask about a contract too if he has one but I don't think there will be. He is a live in landlord.

NoodleKing said:
There's a very good post on the MSE forums on renting here:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=937335

Bit of a read, but all good info.

cheers Ill give it a read

fastwunz · 2 Jul 2013 at 19:18

Your deposit needs to go into a tenancy deposit scheme

Kosmiche · 2 Jul 2013 at 20:36

Use your eyes.

jamesblade · 2 Jul 2013 at 20:46

Check it's clean and try to get a feel for (not of) the other house share people. Partying all the time or quite etc. Oh and do you have an en-suit bathroom or do you all just share the one..

I was looking a while ago and tried to target rooms with own bathrooms. makes house sharing that much more private

Meridian · 2 Jul 2013 at 22:01

Is this lodging with the landlord, or are all of you tenants? The former never quite seems like home, but at least will be organised. The latter will seem freer, but conflict with another tenant can quickly escalate. If it is the latter, make sure you know what happens if one tenant skips, or doesn't pay the rent: "Jointly and Severally Liable" is a sharp sword.

arknor · 2 Jul 2013 at 22:05

ask if your allowed a friend to stay over at the weekend

qqg3 · 2 Jul 2013 at 22:05

Depending on where you are planing on living you can ask about the area (safety, shops, nightlife, transport) if you don't know it too well.

Also, are curtains included? (This is from a weird personal experience.)

Something Else · 2 Jul 2013 at 22:13

The area isn't great but it will have to do for the time being.

the guy is a live in landlord. I imagine it will be awkard for a while. im an easy going guy though. The bathroom will be shared.

Gonna be a system shock tbh, Im quite the manchild, have gotten used to my life so far at home, meals cooked for me, my own ensuite and a decent sized room, big family around me.

Ill have to learn how to iron haha

Cheers for the suggestions.

jamesblade · 2 Jul 2013 at 22:19

Always set the iron on low unless ironing jeans

Good luck fella hope it all works out well for you..

Mathius · 3 Jul 2013 at 00:58

jamesblade said:
Always set the iron on low unless ironing jeans Good luck fella hope it all works out well for you..

You should be able to get away without an Iron, unless you wear suit and shirt often.....

There's 5 in my household (me, wife + 3 kids) and we haven't had the need for an iron for the last 5 1/2 years.
As long as you remeber to hang washing and fold it nicely when dried, you'll be fine.

On Holiday · 3 Jul 2013 at 01:01

Mathius said:
You should be able to get away without an Iron, unless you wear suit and shirt often.....

What

[FnG]magnolia · 3 Jul 2013 at 01:07

Mathius said:
You should be able to get away without an Iron if you're unemployed

Corrected that for you.

Shelster · 3 Jul 2013 at 08:12

Mathius said:
You should be able to get away without an Iron, unless you wear suit and shirt often.....

There's 5 in my household (me, wife + 3 kids) and we haven't had the need for an iron for the last 5 1/2 years.
.

Hippy hemp clothing alert......

Back to OP though, just follow all the sage advise that has been given so far, the best gauge will be what you can see and the feel you get for the place when you are in there.

Ironing is easy...just remember to get a board to go with the iron too....table and towel or floor are not acceptable

knip · 3 Jul 2013 at 08:21

Mathius said:
You should be able to get away without an Iron, unless you wear suit and shirt often.....

There's 5 in my household (me, wife + 3 kids) and we haven't had the need for an iron for the last 5 1/2 years.
As long as you remeber to hang washing and fold it nicely when dried, you'll be fine.

Completely off topic to the OP but I haven't used an iron for years either. It's all in the hanging

RoyMi6 · 3 Jul 2013 at 08:33

fastwunz said:
Your deposit needs to go into a tenancy deposit scheme

There are exceptions to this rule - one is live in landlords.

At least in Scotland anyway. Happy to be proved wrong but once I get to a computer i'll find the link that backs me up.

Roy

EDIT: Here you go - http://www.safedepositsscotland.com/information "Landlords of the following types of property are not required to register: Resident landlords"

arknor · 3 Jul 2013 at 12:33

[FnG]magnolia;24552222 said:
Corrected that for you.

many people are employed in high skilled high paying jobs and don't wear a suit