16 things to tick off before you rent a house
Jan 04, 2017 Home Improvement
Anchor: Priya Arya
Photographs: Shutterstock
Photographs: Shutterstock
Are you planning to get yourself a place on rent? Sangeet Sharma, practicing architect and interior designer lists the important things to consider before you rent a house.
- Meter: Check the meter reading before you shift to a new house and see if the meter reading is updated. This will save you the hassle of paying a hefty electricity bill.
- Area survey: Talk to various tenants in the area you want to get your new place in. This will help you get an idea about the usual rents in the area so that the landlord doesn’t demand unnecessary rates from you.
- Good and bad condition: Check the condition of the house (water leakage, wall leakages, electric wires, water supply, etc) before you finalize the house. Shifting to a new place is never a piece of cake. Ensure that you are satisfied completely before taking the final decision.
- Lease agreement: Always read the lease document carefully. Check the terms and conditions mentioned in the document and get clarification from the owner as and when required. You have the right to know the details of the property. Therefore make sure that you check the maintenance bill, electricity receipt and other important documents. If any house is a mortgaged property or has some default property issue, the people residing in the house may have to face difficulties.
- Security deposit returns: Talk to the owner and get clarification about the security deposit including how much needs to be deposited and how much would get adjusted when you leave the house. Usually a security deposit is adjusted in two months. Never pay the security deposit in cash.
- Rent rate increase: Discuss with the landlord about the increase in rent. Check how much would be the advance payment, the security deposit, refund, etc. Also, discuss about the timings, pets, guest stay at your place, veg-non veg policy, etc, beforehand.
- Facilities included: Some facilities like water supply and electricity bill are included in the monthly rent these days. Discuss with the landlord about the various kinds of monthly investments that need to be made.
- House decoration: Some landlords don't allow the paying guest any kind of alteration to the space, not even fixing a nail on the wall! Make sure that your landlord doesn't have issues about you decorating the house the way you want.
- Maintenance policy: Generally, a paying guest only pays for the maintenance of the house although the maintenance cost could be included in the rent as well. Make sure that major maintenance like sewage, civil works including electricity, generator, elevators, and AC repairs are taken care of by the landlord himself.
- Society rules: It might be a possibility that the landlord isn’t much concerned about who visits your place or what you do at your place, what time you come and go. But the society of the house you plan to stay in may have some restrictions. Follow the rules of the society even if your landlord allows you to do it your way. Do not twist society rules.
- Social infrastructure: Select a place where you don't require to use a vehicle for simple things like groceries, mobile recharging, ATM, etc. You may want to choose a place in the outskirts of the city as it may be cheaper, but this may cause security issues and you may have to depend on a vehicle for going to every place.
- Parking charges: Generally the parking charges are included in the rent itself. Independent houses may not have any parking charges, but society and apartments may have, hence this should be discussed beforehand.
- Landlord's background: A landlord always rents a house after acquiring enough knowledge about the tenant or paying guest. Similarly, the paying guest or tenant should enquire about the background of the landlord, nature and behaviour of the landlord.
- Security: Make sure to have proper knowledge about the security that the house offers like double lock door, watchman, security cameras, etc.
- Rental insurance: Like homeowner’s insurance, rental insurance is also an important point to keep in mind to ensure it takes care of damage in the house such as fire, water, electricity, etc. As rental insurance does not include flood damage, you may need to take additional flood insurance as well.
- Legal knowledge: Awareness is always important when you rent any house. The Indian government has laid down some fixed rules for landlord and paying guests as well. Hence before renting, selling or purchasing a house, go through these rules thoroughly.
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About the author
Sangeet Sharma
Practising Architect and Interior DesignerRelated Articles
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