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15 questions to ask at a rental viewing

Looking for a new rental home? From parking and pets to piping hot water, here are the key questions to ask letting agents at your viewings.

Words by: Ellie Isaac

Senior Editor

It pays to be prepared when you’re viewing a rental property. Arrive at each one armed with a list of questions, and you’ll be well on your way to knowing if it’s ‘the one’.

Make sure you keep track of the answers too, so you don’t forget which home is which. Take notes on your phone or jot them down on the property brochure.

Or even better, use our rental viewing checklist to stay on top of it all.

Here are the 15 main questions to ask at your next rental viewing.

1. Which bills will I be responsible for?

First on the list is figuring out which bills you’ll be paying, as it can make a big difference to your monthly budget.

The main ones to ask about are the gas, electricity and water bills, as landlords can handle them differently. Some might work it into your rent while others will want you to manage the bills and pay the supplier directly.

You’ll probably be responsible for Council Tax and internet bills but it’s worth asking about these too.

And double check that bills like service charges, buildings insurance and ground rent won’t fall to you. They’re typically covered by the owner of the property.

Which bills are you responsible for as a tenant?

If the current tenant is at your viewing, ask them what they currently pay in bills each month.

It’ll help you figure out how much you need to set aside and if you can afford it once you’ve factored everything in.

2. Can I switch energy suppliers?

Reckon the current tenant is paying over the odds for their gas and electricity?

If so, you’ll want to find a cheaper deal – and that can mean switching suppliers.

The good news is that you have the right to switch energy suppliers if you pay the bill straight to them. This includes if you have a prepayment meter.

But in some cases, the landlord or letting agent might put a default supplier in the tenancy agreement.

So ask the question at your viewing to find out if there are any tie-ins with specific energy suppliers.

Find out more about switching energy suppliers as a tenant from Citizens Advice.

3. Can I get a water meter fitted?

If you’re keen to get a water meter, ask the letting agent if it will be an option.

You’ll need the landlord’s permission if you’re renting the property for less than six months.

And while a 6+ month tenancy means you’re within your rights to get a meter, it’s still a good idea to check the landlord’s okay with it.

They’re less cost-effective for households who use a lot of water and you can’t get rid of a meter once it’s in.

So the landlord might need to think about whether a water meter will put some prospective tenants off in the future.

How to save money with a water meter

Modern flats for rent

4. Is there a carbon monoxide detector and smoke alarm?

Ask the letting agent if these alarms are in place and if they can share a gas safety certificate with you.

It’s a legal requirement for the landlord to arrange a gas check every 12 months, so they should be able to show you when the last one was.

Carbon monoxide detectors are legally required in rooms with fuel-burning appliances while a smoke alarm should be fitted on each floor of the property.

If anything’s missing, see if the landlord would be willing to fit one or if you’d be allowed to arrange this yourself.

5. Who is my first point of contact?

Even if the property looks great, it’s rare to go a whole tenancy without something cropping up.

So ask who you should contact in an emergency, or even if you just get locked out.

If the letting agent is managing the property, they’ll usually be your first point of contact.

Some landlords are more hands-on and will be your first port of call if you need help.

6. Can I redecorate?

When it comes to decorating, it’s all down to the landlord’s own policy. 

Some landlords will want to keep their property how it is and will limit the changes you can make to the decor.

Get the details and be clear with any requests from the start, or you could face losing your deposit further down the line.

7. Can I have pets?

If you’ve got a furry best friend, this question will be high on your list of priorities.

So be prepared to offer assurances that your pet is well behaved and suitable for a rental home.

While landlords cannot put a blanket ban on pets, they can turn them down if they have a good reason.

It might be that the home is too small for pets, they think it could be a nuisance for neighbours, or it might cause damage to furniture.

When you ask the letting agent about the pets policy, it can help to mention your pet’s medical details, such as their vaccinations, and get a reference from a previous landlord.

But keep in mind that you’ll need written permission from the landlord to confirm. They can turn your request down within 28 days of receiving it.

Guide to renting with pets

8. What does furnished actually mean?

If the rental property is either furnished or part-furnished, find out exactly what will be in the home when you move in.

After all, a lot of what you see on your viewing could belong to the existing tenants.

It’s not just limited to furniture, either. Double check that white goods will be in place, as they can cost a lot to buy.

And if you’d rather bring your own furniture into a furnished place, ask the letting agent if it’s okay to swap them over.

They’ll need to check if the landlord is happy to find storage or sell their existing furniture.

Traditional Victorian terraced house for rent

9. How old is the boiler?

Take a look at the boiler to make sure it’s in good nick and ask the letting agent for proof of servicing.

The last thing you want to find when you move in is that the hot water is temperamental or the water pressure is low.

It’s up to the landlord to keep it serviced and sort any repairs, and they should be able to share a record of when it was last looked at.

10. What’s the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating?

All rental homes must legally have a minimum EPC rating of E to show it meets a certain level of energy efficiency. 

The closer the EPC rating to A, the better. It means it’ll cost you less to heat and run your home.

If it’s rated G or F, the landlord’s legally required to improve its energy efficiency before they rent it out.

11. Am I responsible for the garden?

Find out if you need to look after the garden, as it tends to vary with different rental homes.

In most rentals, it’ll be down to you to keep it looking neat and tidy. You could ask if you can add furniture or a barbecue to really make it your own.

The landlord is responsible for any parts that would be unreasonable for you to look after, like trees, hedges and fences.

If you have a communal garden, there might even be a paid-for gardener in place.

12. What are the neighbours like?

Neighbours matter, especially if you’re looking at a flat or terraced house where you’ll be in close proximity.

A young family could mean early mornings, while a group of twenty-somethings might mean late nights.

There’s no guarantee the letting agent will know about the neighbours, but it’s worth asking what they know.

Semi-detached house for rent

13. How long is the walk to…?

Distances on property listings tend to be measured as the crow flies, so the walking distance is probably further.

If you’re planning to walk to the train station or local school on a daily basis, ask the letting agent how long it takes.

Even better, take the journey before or after your viewing to see if it’s doable.

If you forget to ask or don’t have time to make the journey, you’ve always got our travel time search. It can help you find a home close to what’s important to you.

14. What’s the parking situation?

Parking is always going to be a biggie, so find out what the deal is from the off.

If there’s only street parking, find out if you’ll need to get a permit from the local council and how much it costs. See if you can apply for more than one permit or a guest permit as well.

Try and get a sense of how busy the street is too. Even with a permit, you can end up having to park a street or two away.

See if the road has any parking restrictions, as this might make it difficult for people to visit you. Restrictions are most common near train stations, schools and town centres, but they might only apply for a few hours a day.

If you’re lucky enough to have allocated parking, check how many spaces you’ll get.

Don’t forget to check out the public transport options too, for those times when the car’s in the garage or you need to get home from the pub.

15. Is there anything else you think I should know?

This is always a great last question. 

It’s a catch-all for anything you might’ve forgotten and could help you uncover some extra nuggets of information.

Looking for a new rental home?

Search for a new rental home by location, price, number of bedrooms and more.


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