If you’re looking to move from one rented property to another, you’re probably about to take a long, deep breath.
Especially if you’re in a busy city where both demand and competition for good rental homes are high.
But with the right know-how, preparation and a little dose of reality, you can knock down these rental hurdles before they trip you up.
We asked a group of renters about their experiencing finding their next home.
Here are some practical ways to overcome the most common rental challenges.
1. It’s difficult to find a suitable and affordable rental home
Finding a property that fits your location and budget is one of the biggest pain points when it comes to renting.
Start with searching for rental homes and filter by price, location and size.
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Search for a new rental home by location, price, number of bedrooms and more.
If you're not sure how much you can afford, bear in mind that letting agents and landlords usually want to see that your rent is no more than 35% to 40% of your gross income (single or joint).
You can refine your search with specific keywords such as "garden" or "parking" – so you only see homes that are perfectly suited to you.
2. I’m beaten to a property by another interested renter
Being beaten to the prize is not only frustrating, but time-consuming and stressful too.
Ease the pain by creating an account and opting in for email alerts.
You'll get all the latest rental homes straight to your inbox as soon as they get added by a letting agent. This can be especially handy for fast-moving markets.
You can also set yourself apart from other renters by being super-prepared with your paperwork.
If you have your ID, recent utility or bank statements, written confirmation of where you work and references to hand, the second you find your dream property you’ll be ready to sign on the dotted line.
If you’re moving from one rental property to another, then make sure you’re not breaching any of the terms of your existing contract by leaving.
You’ll also need to have a cash deposit to hand – budget for five weeks’ rent – and a robust credit score.
The references and checks to rent a home
3. It’s hard to juggle viewings – after work and at weekends
There’s no denying that home hunting is time-consuming and requires considerable effort – often rushing off to viewings after work and on Saturdays.
Take time off work and line up several viewings to take place over one day as a better solution.
It’s also important to make the most of viewings while you’re there. Prepare a checklist in advance, make notes of the pros and cons and write down any questions you might want answered later.
Taking your own pictures can also help you document any issues you find or serve as a useful reminder of the layout of the home.
4. The estate agent doesn’t get back to me
As a starting point, check that you’re trying to contact agents during their opening hours.
Typically, letting agents are open on weekdays from 9am until around 6pm, and on Saturdays between 9am and 5pm.
Don’t rely solely on email if you need to move quickly as many agents may be away from the office on viewings.
Pop into the agent's office or give them a call to explain your needs fully. You can also build a rapport that will put you squarely in your agent's mind when the right property hits the market.
If you’re looking for a comprehensive list of lettings agents in your search area, take a look at our agent finder.
It will show you how many homes each agent has available to rent, what the average asking price is per month, how long their properties are listed for on average and their contact details.