Most properties will have something wrong with them. It is the landlord’s (or in some cases, the agent’s) responsibility to ensure a property is up to a decent standard of living. However, student tenants should not get complacent and assume that a property is 100%. As most students don’t shop around and tend to sign a contract for the first place they view, they most probably do not go in with a view to inspection. Here are some tips on things to look for.
Helps You Find Signs of Pests
While mice and rats are the most obvious, there are other pests such as silverfish, slugs, fleas and even pigeons in the roof or chimney. Look through the kitchen units for signs of rodent droppings, recent signs of rat poison and slug trails. Rats are common in urban areas, so make sure you look in the garden or yard for signs of rats. Certainly, ask about pests, check with the property owner or the agent. It may be a good idea to talk to present student occupiers too.
Helps You Find Damp Areas
Check every room, but particularly the bedrooms and the bathroom. Damp can lead to health problems and breed silverfish. Although these are harmless and live on cellulose, it can be quite disconcerting to see one scuttling across the floor. Damp can be indicative of other problems such a rot, but this is usually superficial. Nevertheless, it’s important to draw attention to these issues and consider them when making your decision.
Helps You to See Damage
Specifically, you are looking for stains on the carpet, scuff marks on laminate flooring, cracked windows and so on. Although you should log all signs of damage when you move in to avoid being blamed for them, you should think about wider implications. A cracked window in one bedroom will mean freezing temperatures in the winter if not fixed – and higher heating bills because of it. If there are leaking taps, this will cost you unnecessarily in water bills.
Helps Work Out Energy Consumption and Cost
While a property owner or their agent is obliged to provide a copy of the EPC (Energy Performance Certificate), look for things that might increase the cost of bills before you get that far. Double glazed windows will keep more heat in that single glazed. Secure PVC doors will also keep costs down.
Final Note: Always Take Photographs
The use of photographic records is two-fold. Firstly, it will help you and your friends decide on the right property. In some cases, it may help you spot problems you might have missed at the time of viewing. Secondly, you have photographic proof of these problems to send to the property owner or their agent when asking them questions about the property. They are your safeguard and a useful decision-making.