Whether you are looking for a property to let for the short or the long term, it is essential to find the property that is right for you and meets all your needs. To do this, it is important to know exactly what it is you are looking for and to approach Letting Agents that can help you to find it.
The best place to start is with your finances. You need to know exactly what you can afford to spend each month on your housing costs. Remember, it is not just your rent you need to consider, but also Council Tax and utilities. The costs related to both utilities and Council Tax will differ depending on the size and location of the property you are considering. You will need to check which Band the property is in for Council Tax when you are making enquiries about the property. Similarly, it is worth checking on how the property is heated – gas, oil or electricity, and whether it has night storage heaters, an open fireplace or underfloor heating. Each of these comes with different responsibilities and costs. As well as ongoing costs, you also need to consider any upfront costs that you will need to cover to execute the move. Location is also an important consideration. If you are looking to be in the heart of West Sussex then choosing local letting agents gives you an advantage as they will have better knowledge of the different areas.
Finally, you need to consider the size of property you are looking for. Putting some thought into this now means that you can narrow down the options and consider appropriate properties. When you are looking at individual properties, you need to narrow down your selection by considering further criteria. This might include aspects such as how close you are to local transport links and main roads. Proximity to work, outstanding local schools and places were you regularly socialise may also all be considerations. You should also consider how close to other local amenities you want to be, and which amenities are most important to have close by. For example, do you want easy access to a local leisure centre or library? Do you need to be close to the shops, or is it more important to be close to parks and natural spaces? You also need to consider whether you want a furnished or unfurnished property, and how long you are looking to let for. Some landlords will instruct their agent to only accept those looking for longer term lets, others will be open to either long or short-term tenants.
Finally, ensure that you have access to everything you need to be able to let a property. This includes proof of identification (photographic and proof of address) and evidence of your right to Rent within the UK. You will also need cleared funds, proof of employment, previous rental history and if necessary, someone willing to act as a guarantor.
