Tenants guide to renting a property.

Step 1: Decide on the basics

The more you know about what you want, the easier your search will be. Before you even start looking, make a list of what’s important to you. Consider whether you want a house or flat in Leicester and what neighbourhoods appeal to you.

Of course, you’ll sometimes have to trade off one good thing against another. It’s a good idea to divide your wish list into “essential” and “nice to have”, to make these decisions easier. Area Probably the most important question. Do you want to live near your work? In a leafy neighbourhood or somewhere in central Leicester? Take some time at a weekend to walk around and get a feel for the areas you’re considering.

Size and type

A few things to consider:

House or flat?
How many bedrooms? Do you need a spare room?
Do you want outside space like a driveway or garden?

Budget

Ah! The big question. Set yourself a price range, and work it out by week and by month (Remember there are more than 4 weeks in a calendar month – about 4.3, in fact). Be prepared to make adjustments if there are other benefits: a more expensive house or flat might be in an area of Leicester with lower council tax, for instance.

Step 2: Start looking

Once you know what you’re after, it’s time to start looking for houses or flats in Leicester that measure up. Bear in mind that most landlords are looking for tenants who can move in within 2-4 weeks. If you won’t be ready to move by then, it might be worth waiting.

Step 3: Look around the places you like

Once you’ve found a house or flat in Leicester that you like the look of, we can make a viewing appointment so you can get a real feel for the place.

Step 4: Agree to rent

Once you’ve decided on a particular home, we move into the letting agreed stage. You tell us you want to go ahead, and we’ll tell the landlord the good news.

Step 5: Sign the tenancy agreement

We’ll handle the paperwork and provide a tenancy agreement for you and your landlord to sign. It’s legally binding, so make sure you read it carefully. We’re happy to answer any questions you have. Among other things, it will tell you:

The duration of tenancy – the minimum length of time you agree to rent for
How much rent you will pay, and how often
Your responsibilities regarding bills and maintenance
Your rights as a tenant
Your landlord’s responsibilities

Step 6: Move in!

When the paperwork’s done and your deposit and first month’s rent are paid, the only thing left is to move into your flat or house.

We’ll arrange for you to pick up the keys. You’ll usually get them from the inventory clerk, who’ll do the inspection at the same time. The inventory lists every item in each room of the property, so it can be checked for losses or damage when you move out.