Adult's Guide to Surviving Renting in London

You've got this girl, you've got this. Your renting game is so strong,

landlords can't even handle. In fact, they can't handle so much, everything goes ape shit at the end of the contract and you're suddenly forced to move in two weeks. Somehow, while everything was going great, you lost lots of deposit money and forgot half your stuff in a place you can no longer go back and collect.

So, renting girl, I know it seems like it's a complicated matter and every landlord is an asshole and London is confusing and the property prices are complete bullshit. While there is some truth to each point, renting can be effortless and smooth and I'm going to walk you through it in three chapters.

Step 1: Before You Move In

Make sure you understand the basic rights and obligations of both a
tenant and a landlord. If you're going to be paying an average of 115 pounds a week for accommodation, you better know how's job it is to do what.

For example:

Adults must read boring legal stuff from time to time, sorry. (includes this article)

When you submit the security bond at the start of a tenancy, your landlord needs to protect it in a government authorised holder. This scheme is in effect to provide fair judgement over deductions and refunds from the tenancy deposit. If the landlord doesn't comply with this rule in 30 days from receiving the money, or doesn't provide you with information about the scheme he's used, you're entitled to 1-3 times the deposit money after claiming false protection in court.

Adults still have to change light bulbs, sorry.

It's your landlord's legal duty to arrange, oversee and pay for any repairs and maintenance to the property. However, it's the tenant's job to report any issues as soon as possible, so they get fixed in a timely fashion.

Adults need to math occasionally, sorry.

Make sure you know your budget and understand property prices in London. It's one of the most expensive cities in the world regarding real estate and property prices. Be sure you can actually afford what your cost of living. Here is a handy average price table. Also, make sure you notice if asking prices are per week or per month.

Conversion of price per week to price per month: (ppw * 52) / 12 = ppm

Adults should make informed decisions, sorry.

Research the area where you plan on renting. Drive around or walk around to see if it offers the commodities you're looking for - stores, schools, office buildings, entertainment, restaurants and cafes, parks, prostitutes - whatever it is your heart desires. Is the area safe, is it cheap, does it offer good transport links, social life, prostitutes ..? Check this breakdown.

Adults have to respect other adults, sorry.

Get on the same level as your landlord. If you want to lead a successful tenancy, your views and your landlord's views need to align. Perhaps it's pets, perhaps it's decoration, perhaps it's rent. Each tenancy is more or less a unique relationship, and like any, it needs to lie on a base of mutual understanding and agreement.

If the tenancy agreement is confusing, just ask about anything you don't understand. If you have worries, requirements, requests - just speak them out loud. If you can't shake hands on them or come to a two sided respect, you're likely to experience tension forward in time. Don't just say yes to everything, while planning to overstep half the rules.

Step 2: While You're Actually Renting

Girl, you're simply amazing. You found yourself a flat to rent and
signed the lease. You're almost there sister, almost there. Now, before you actually come knocking on the door boxes in hand, there is a very important step to go through. You need to do a move in inventory report with the landlord. This seemingly trivial thing plays a huge role when you want to get your deposit at the end, so go do it.

Adults need to watch their own back, sorry.

Oh, and that deposit we talked about earlier.. Yeah now you need to remember about the deposit protection. Clear this with your landlord and at the end of the first month check if your deposit protection. There should be contacts within the information your landlord provided. Oh, he didn't ..? Find help and get some easy money.

Adults have to be organized about important stuff, sorry.

This is the time where you need to set up a safe place to keep and protect your documents. There are a lot of documents to keep - the tenancy agreement, the prescribed information, the check-in inventory report, all receipts you pay that are linked to the property, utility services documents, written communication with the landlord, the agent, the deposit protection agency.

In essence, you need to create a black box for your tenancy. It will allow you to prove your stance any time you need to, regarding any matter. It's great if you add that tiny bit more effort and scan all physical documents to keep online as well.

Adults must be responsible at least a little, sorry.

From here on, it's up to you to lead a good renting life. Pay your rent and bills on time. Clean and maintain the flat properly - that means at least one cleaning and laundry per week; dishes every other day; opening windows; etcetera. Tackle stains when you first see them, not two weeks later, when you need an angle grinder to get it off. Report damages to the landlord when you encounter them, so they can get to repairing faster.

Avoid throwing huge parties at your own place, as there always will be a gruesome aftermath, most likely resulting in damages, scratches, bumps and peels, permanent stains, cigarette burns, broken glass and a disgusting mess to clean up.

DON'T BREAK THE AGREEMENT. It's either you take charge of how you treat the property, or you get charged for not doing it right.

Step 3: Before You Move Out

Oh well, dear, oh well. Every tenancy comes to an end at some point. It maybe six months or six years, doesn't really matter. Usually moving properties is kind of a terrible and stressing process. Don't let anyone bullshit you, it will always be a pain in the royal behind, but if you do it in an organized fashion, it might be less so.

Adults need to manage their maniez, sorry.

Get all of your subscriptions sorted. If you stayed an year or more, you probably have a dozen of monthly subscriptions for gyms, clubs, magazines, deliveries and supplies, etcetera going on. A few months before you move out, you should start clearing those out one by one in order of less significance. Get on top of this early, so you don't have to pay for extra months you don't use.

Next up, you should arrange your personal and domestic services. Doctors, vets, therapists, maids and house cleaners, gardeners and all other paid help you receive should be sorted, redirected or terminated.

Adults have to learn to not attach themselves to objects, sorry.

A few weeks from DDay, you should start sorting out your luggage. I'm betting my head most of you have accumulated a ton of new stuff from the last time you moved. Now is your opportunity to purge your belonging from worthless shit.

Basically, just go through each room and find things you don't remember using in the last few months. If don't think you'll be using them in the next few months, and they are not seasonal items or a wedding suit, consider giving them away. If you find a compulsive, but unreasonable desire to keep them, you might be a horder. As for everything else - it's good to start on packing early, like a few weeks from DDay.

Adults need to fix stuff, they've broken, sorry.

It's already a good time to contact your landlord and arrange a visit to the property, so you can talk about repairs, cleaning and most importantly - the deposit. Invite him to a coffee and go into details. This way you two can find a midpoint, where you can take care of whatever problems there are yourself and receive your full deposit, or at least as much as possible.

Some common things to fix are: replacing light bulbs, changing power socket covers, fixing dings and scratches. Maybe you need to repaint a room. Maybe you need to wash the carpets. There will most certainly be something that needs doing to meet the initial benchmark. Be ready to surrender some of the deposit for maintenance and repairs which are clearly your fault.

Adults must clean their own messes, sorry.

Finally, when you've moved from the property, you need to come back and do, what's called in London, end of tenancy cleaning. This literally means you have to clean the place clean. Any room, any surface, under any furniture and appliance. Depending on what you agreed with the landlord, you might have no choice but you use a professional company.

However, often you might be able to do it yourself, as long as it's up to standard. To make sure you've covered your ass, use this cleaning checklist. It might take you a couple of days, so make sure you leave yourself enough time.

There we go, you actually know everything about how to rent like a reasonable adult. Go get your deposit and treat yourself on some cake for a job well done. *proceeds to an internet high five*

Hope this helps. Till next time,

Audrey Wright.