8 Tips for renting a house
Renting an apartment can be quite an ordeal in India. The entire process of finding a good home for the next few years means dealing with brokers, sorting out the legalese, building a good rapport with the house owner, and whatnot!
More often than not, renters tend to overlook some obvious details when choosing a house. We’ve compiled some tips so you can add them to your apartment renting checklist the next time you go house hunting!
Tip #1: Rental Agreement
Before renting an apartment, make sure you have the legal agreement in hand. It should mention the deposit amount paid, tenure of the lease as well as notice period, rent amount, and details of year-on-year percentage increase.
Make sure there are no hidden costs. Is the maintenance fee included in the rent? Have previous water and electricity bills been paid for? In case of minor problems such as broken faucets, and faulty lighting who takes care of the damages?
Tip #2: Powerpoints
It’s surprising how renters overlook this point. Before you move in, check all the power outlets and see if they are in working order or if the earthing has been done properly. Old or damaged outlets can be a life risk. More importantly, ensure there are enough power outlets and that they are strategically placed to suit your lifestyle.
Tip #3: Storage spaces
Check the storage capacity before renting an apartment. And by that, we don’t just mean your wardrobe but shelves, cabinets, display & TV units, niches, etc. An apartment with decent storage will help you keep your stuff organized so it looks clean and pleasant.
Tip #4: Walls
People often complain about loud neighbors and the common answer is thin walls. The sad truth is that apartments that are constructed or bought for the sole purpose of renting are not constructed from high-grade materials.
Do your apartment recce during the busiest hours and pick a home where walls are thick enough to stop unwanted noise from going out or coming in. Check for cracks as well.
Similarly, keep an eye out for seepage issues, especially on the ceiling and under-sink areas in the kitchen and bathroom. That’s a sign of ill-constructed, thin walls.
Tip #5: Infestation
This is a gross but much-needed exercise. Check the darkest corners of the house’s cabinets and drawers for bug infestations or rodent droppings. This should give you an idea about what pest issue you might or might not face. Remember to ask the owner to take care of this before you move in.
Tip #6: Flooring
Make sure that the floor is easy-to-clean and that no loose tiles or stones are coming out. Cracks and damages can be hazardous for little kids and elderly occupants.
Tip #7: Bathroom
The windows and doors for bathrooms should be constructed from durable, waterproof materials and have proper bolts and locks. Also, check the water pressure in the shower, taps, and faucets and ensure that there are proper water outlets.
Tip #8: Locks
Security is absolutely mandatory. Check all the doors and see if the locks work smoothly before renting an apartment. See if they fit into the frames well and make sure that they aren’t made of flimsy material. Get the keys for every room, balcony doors, and servant’s entrance as well.
Lastly, the right to allow tenancy lies with the homeowner so do try to ascertain beforehand if your lifestyle choices won’t become an issue later on. With these tips, renting an apartment should become a much easier process altogether.