Top tips for new tenants

Whether you have lived in rented accommodation for a long period of time or you are thinking about making the S107 RC helicopter leap, there are a few golden rules that you should follow to make your time as a tenant a happy one.For new tenants, even before signing angry bird the lease or moving in, ask the landlord for a copy of the property’s energy performance certificate. These are required under new government rules, effective from 1st October 2008 and list the energy rating of the property, giving an indication of how much gas and electricity bills will cost. With energy costs seemingly escalating on a monthly basis, making sure you are moving into an energy-efficient environment should be top of your list.Once everything is to your satisfaction and you have signed the lease, make sure that you complete an inspection of the property on moving in, accompanied by the landlord or his agent. Note the meter readings, highlight any deficiencies and make sure that any damaged fixtures or fittings are noted. Whilst this may seem like an obvious task to perform, it is also one that can easily be forgotten. Doing this, however, is likely to prevent you from being charged for any damages caused by the previous tenant.In addition, it is a good idea to test that everything works while the landlord or their representative is in the property. Check all the taps, the heating, the lighting and anything else for which the landlord is responsible are all in full working order and if not, ask that they are repaired. flying shark Now you are happy to move in, it is then time to bring in your possessions. And if you do not already possess contents insurance, now would be a good time to buy it. However, it is important to understand that whilst the landlord will be responsible for buildings insurance, any personal possessions cover will invariably be your responsibility. Therefore, whilst it is considered good practice to check what insurance cover the landlord has, you will need to take out your own insurance to cover your own possessions. Of course, buying contents insurance is not obligatory for a tenant, it is a personal choice. But, do think about it carefully; could you afford to replace your entire contents in the case of a disaster such as fire or theft?After you have moved into the property, any or all deficiencies have been noted, the property has been snagged and your personal possessions are moved in, it’s then time to celebrate and open a bottle of bubbly and invite your friends round to your new home.