Don’t bite your tongue: Five things every prospective tenant should ask
ARLA’s advice for tenants looking to find a rental home
With the average tenant now staying in a property for just under 20 months*, the Association of
Residential Letting Agents (ARLA) is keen to ensure that tenants don’t assume they know all the
answers and that the right questions are asked up front.
London tenants are staying put for the longest, at 20.9 months, a figure which is slightly ahead of the
19.1 months recorded in the Midlands, but considerably longer than the average of 17.7 months
found in the North East of England. The lowest average can be found in Scotland, Wales and
Northern Ireland, where the typical duration of stay is 17.1 months.
Susan Fitz-Gibbon, President of ARLA, said: “Asking the right questions when viewing a rental
property can guard against any unwanted surprises later on in the tenancy. Whether you’re a regular
home mover or someone who likes to stay put, never be afraid to ask what may seem like a simple
question as the answer may have a significant bearing on your final decision about a property.
“Renting should be a positive experience, and our figures suggest that many people are staying in a
property for longer than the duration of a traditional one year tenancy agreement. For this reason it
definitely pays to think reasonably long term when considering your choice of rental home.”
ARLA has the following advice for tenants viewing properties:
1. Who is responsible for the property: You may be shown around by a letting agent, but they
may not be responsible for the ongoing management of the property once it is let. If the
landlord is going to take on maintenance duties, it may be worth meeting with them before
signing the tenancy agreement.
2. Choose an expert agent: The letting industry is not currently subject to any government
legislation, meaning that anyone can set up as a letting agent or landlord. You should always
ask if your agent is affiliated to a professional organisation like ARLA. All ARLA agents must
adhere to a strict code of conduct, as well as offering client money protection and redress
schemes, which protect consumers if things go wrong.
3. Winter is coming: Always ask to see a property’s EPC when you view it. This will give you an
idea of potential energy bills. As a tenant you will be liable for these and with the recent
price increases, a more efficient home will be easier on the wallet. With the winter nights
drawing in, it can also be a good idea to view the same property at different times of the day
to get a sense of how light each room is and how secure it feels overall.
4.
Are you jointly liable? : Many shared tenancies contain a joint liability clause, meaning you
are responsible for the actions of your co-tenants. This includes covering their share of the
rent if they were to unexpectedly move out. Before you enter such an agreement, carefully
consider how well you know your prospective housemates.
5.
Batteries not included: Always ask explicitly what items come with the property. Current
tenants may have added their own items of furniture and you don’t want to find key pieces
aren’t there when you move in! As well as asking about included contents, it is always worth
turning on the shower and taps to check pressure.
ENDS
Editor Notes:
*The average length of a UK tenancy is 19.6 months. The data from the ARLA Members’ Survey of the Private
Rented Sector, covering Q3 2013, was drawn from 524 member offices. Together with the ARLA Survey of
Residential Investment Landlords, September 2013 – conducted among 854 landlords – the report forms the
ARLA Review and Index. The Review and Index is available at: http://www.arla.co.uk/buy-to-let/buy-to-letreview/2013/
About ARLA
The Association of Residential Lettings Agents (ARLA) was formed in 1981 as the professional and regulatory
body for letting agents in the UK. Today ARLA is recognised by government, local authorities, consumer
interest groups and the media as the leading professional body in the private rented sector. ARLA is a sister
organisation to the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA).
In May 2009 ARLA became the first body in the letting and property management industry to introduce a
licensing scheme for all members to promote the highest standards of practice in this important and growing
sector of the property market. Both ARLA and NAEA members are governed by Codes of Practice providing a
framework of ethical and professional standards at a level far higher than the law demands, and both
Associations have their own complaints and disciplinary procedures so that any dispute is dealt with efficiently
and fairly.
Susan Fitz-Gibbon was appointed President of ARLA in June 2013, has been a property professional for over 30
years and is director of Fitz-Gibbon.
For further information contact:
ARLA PRESS OFFICE
Tel: 020 3128 8181
E-mail: press@nfoppmedia.com