So you’ve just moved in, or maybe you have been in your rented property for a couple of years now but dealing with your landlord has been a nightmare. It is time to sort things out, get things straight and cut to the chase. Remember that this is a business relationship first and foremost. Whilst it can be beneficial to be friendly with your landlord, it can cause problems in the future. A relationship with your landlord should be communicative and open, if you are hiding something it is likely that you will get found out. Similarly if you want a radiator fixing you want to know that this will be done as soon as possible. The first step has to come before you move into your new property. Building an open channel of communication takes time, but as soon as you view the property you begin a dialogue with your future landlord. Try to be as friendly as possible in all correspondence and cooperate with any reference checks to make sure that you come across as the perfect tenant. If you encounter any hiccups at this stage or the landlord tries to pressure you into signing a contract before you are ready, it is probably best to steer clear. Next comes moving in. You have passed all of the checks, handed any deposit money over to a certified tenancy deposit scheme, and hired that removal company that charges too much, but it’s a family friend so you pay over the odds anyway. Now is the time to create your own inventory. Many landlords will have a system in place to create an official third party inventory, however many will not. It is a vital part of any tenancy agreement to document the state of the property before you move in, get this agreed by both parties and then sign them off. This saves a lot of hassle and deposit disputes in the future. Turn your house into a home by putting a personal touch all over the property. But don’t do this until you have thoroughly checked the tenancy agreement and asked the permission of your landlord first. Whilst this is your home it also isn’t, so you will have to be mindful that any damage that you cause you will have to fix before moving out. Paying your rent can often be another cause of tension. When you move in this will be agreed between you and your landlord. There will be payment terms that you as the tenant have agreed to adhere to. However, if you are struggling to make payments the best advice is to have a chat with your landlord. Be open and transparent about your situation, most landlords are understanding and would rather be notified than shocked when the money doesn’t come through. Getting things fixed. Tenants and landlords often fall out over repairing problems within the house. This can all be avoided with some careful forethought. Make sure that you and your landlord have an action plan in place in case of emergencies. For the minor repairs, try to politely encourage your landlord to fix them as soon as possible, but be careful of annoying messages that may slow his response down. Finally moving out. You’ve just got your dream job as a giant furry teddy bear at Alton Towers and you are having to move out and up to the West Midlands. Moving out can often be a busy time and you will have to remember to tell a lot of people about your move. First of all, check your tenancy agreement for the amount of notice that you have to give your landlord before you are able to move out. Next you will need to go through all of your utility bill providers and notify them of your move. Your landlord should ask you to do this anyway but it is better to be proactive and do it yourself. Last of all comes the cleaning. Leave the flat in the best possible condition so as not to annoy your landlord just before he is about to release as much as possible of your deposit money. Revert back to your inventory to check the condition of the property and any issues that arise you can take up with the deposit handling scheme.
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