Questions to ask landlords and agents at private inspection
Property viewings are your chance to check out places in real life! đź‘€
It's also an opportunity to ask questions, so you need to know what you will get for your money. A good landlord or agent will be happy to answer your questions.
We have put together a list of the most important questions to ask a landlord and/or agent when you go and view a property, and why you should ask them.
đź’ Remember - whatever you are told and agree to, will need to be confirmed in your contract document, so be sure to check the small print as well!
đź“Ś Practical Questions đź“Ś
Ask the question but do also check out the area yourself: walk around, have a good look. Are there local shops, green spaces, a pub, a gym? Is it close to a tube station or bus stop?
Most properties in London do have telephone and broadband connection. But do ask to make sure.
Usually, tenants and lodgers are not allowed pets, and some landlords do not like tenants to smoke or bring bicycles indoors. Whether or not you can have visitors depends on the type of contract you have and who you live with.
Landlords do have a legal responsibility to get gas heating and gas cookers checked every year by a properly qualified gas installer. This is to make sure it is safe to use.
Rents are usually advertised weekly, but most landlords will expect you to pay monthly.
One calendar month is longer than 4 weeks.
Will you need to pay your rent every three months, every month, or even weekly? How will you need to pay? By card, or bank transfer from your bank account to the landlord’s bank account?
Most rents do not cover the utility bills. Please remember to budget for this! If the rent is inclusive, make sure that it says so in the contract. Telephone and Internet charges are almost always extra!
Guarantors agree to pay the landlord in case the tenants don’t pay. Guarantors usually need to be UK based. If you do not have a guarantor, you can use the guarantor service provided by Housing Hand for UAL students.
Council tax is usually the tenants’ responsibility. If you are a full-time student you probably
don’t need to pay, but you will still need to arrange your council tax exemption, it is not automatic.You can find more information about council tax on the UAL website.
If your contract is an Assured Shorthold Tenancy, the deposit must be protected by a Tenancy Deposit Protection Scheme. This is the landlord’s responsibility.
đź“ť Contract Questions đź“ť
Assured Shorthold Tenancy? Another Type of Contract?
Your rights and responsibilities while living in accommodation depend on the type of contract.
It is usually not possible to move out early, so the contract should not be longer than you need it.
Landlords do have a legal responsibility to provide tenants with their name and a contact address, so tenants can write to them. Just a phone number or email address is not enough!
Small jobs (like changing light bulbs) are usually the tenants’ responsibility, but landlords need to keep the structure and exterior of the property in good repair and keep all installations in good repair once the tenant has notified them about it.
Did you know that UAL offers independent accommodation advice to all UAL students? 
Our dedicated advisor can advise you on a wide range of information about renting privately or living in independent halls and can even read over your new housing contract.
