Questions to ask when Renting

When you are looking at property, there are some important questions to ask when renting a house or an apartment. These questions will equip you with some of the more important information enabling you to make a sound decision that is right for you and/or your family.

We suggest asking:

1. Have the locks been changed or are all of the keys accounted for from the previous tenant/occupant?

Not all landlords change the locks to a property but rather count on previous owners turning in all the keys. You might want to ask for the locks to be changed, or ask if you can change them. This will protect you in the future if there are any extra keys unaccounted for by the property owner.

2. What is the likely average monthly spend on utility bill(s) to run this property?

In the event that electricity and water are not covered in your rental, knowing an estimate of these costs prior to signing the lease agreement will assist you to budget thoughtfully and manage your consumption in line with these estimates. The account that you will be responsible for at the end of the month will always be based on your individual consumption, however, it is worthwhile bearing in mind that a particular property may require a higher consumption to run and maintain, say, a large garden and a swimming pool as opposed to a granny flat that does not have either of those amenities.

3. What is the expected rental payment date?

Conventionally, rental is paid on or before the 1^st of every month, however, this is a convention and not a rule. It is worthwhile knowing what the landlord's expectations are with regards to the payment date in order to assess whether you can meet this based on the date you are paid your salary or income from which you will service your rental amount.

4. Are there any rules relating to parking?

If you are looking to rent a unit or a home that is on a shared property (for example, the Landlord has subdivided a house in to multiple living units), you may want to enquire about any rules related to parking, including how many cars your unit is able to accommodate. This will avoid any major conflict areas with other tenants on the property in future. If you are renting in a formal complex or sectional title scheme, these rules will more than likely be decided by the body corporate and therefore you should ask to see a copy of these rules.

5. Are pets allowed?

There is no rule that suggests that pets are automatically allowed on or n the premises that you are planning to rent. Therefore, asking this question upfront will help you to know whether the property is suitable for you. You may find that some pets are more acceptable to the landlord than others or that the landlord will restrict the number of pets. These are likely to be made a term of the lease agreement so be sure to not infringe on these terms.

6. Can I have a copy of the complex conduct/house rules?

If you plan to rent in a complex or sectional title scheme, you should obtain a copy of the complex conduct or house rules in advance of signing the lease agreement. This will guide you to understanding the rules of the complex or scheme with respect to pets, noise, parking, use of common property, maintenance, visibility of washing lines etc. It is very important to understand these rules as contravening them will likely result in a fine or some other form of recourse taken against you.

Wakefields' team of professional rental property specialists are here to assist you with all your letting questions and queries. It is time to rent the #WakefieldsWay

Email rentals@wakefields.co.za