House renting traps to avoid

Moving into a new home is often exciting, especially if it is your first time. The sense of freedom it comes with makes it something to look forward to.

So you gather some money, call a house agent and off both of you go in hunt of a house. And because there are so many ‘To-Let’ signs on almost every street, you quickly find one that you believe is suitable for your needs and if you have an agent who needs quick cash, he gives you the sense someone was already on the property before you came, so ‘the earlier you pay the better’. So you pay and a month later, you are thinking “I’ve made a mistake.”

It was a situation a friend found himself recently. It turned out that the house lacked most basic amenities like water running through the plumbing system – agent had assured him this will be fixed immediately, a month later, they were still on it. A week after he paid, he took an electrician to fix the lighting in the house only to discover there were no provision for alternative electricity, many parts of the room were not properly connected. But it was a brand new house and he had fallen in love with it at first sight. He had to learn the hard way but you do not need to if you follow some basic steps. The dilemma was he paid to the agent who did not issue an invoice. So there was no physical evidence that any transaction took place – just word of mouth.

The first is to put your sentiments out of the way. Renting a house is not so much about what you feel or what your instincts tell you. Falling in love too soon may be difficult to avoid but it is the best and first step to take before considering a house. Leave your emotions out of it; rationalise everything about the house. It does not matter whether you are getting it for a cheaper price than others you have seen so far; keep your critical mind in front all the time.

Think about what is important to you. Decide how much rent you are willing to shed annually before setting out. Then ask yourself what type of house you are looking for.

Are you looking for a place that is closer to your workplace? Are you looking for a house that is close to the market, shopping malls or the road? Do you want a place with maximum security? If you are married and have a child already you may want a house with a compound for your child to play. What about the neighbourhood? If you are coming from an unpleasant neighbourhood, will you be willing to move into a new house with similar experiences? As much as you can avoid focusing on the size of the kitchen, sitting rooms or bedrooms, have a bigger mindset.

On many occasions, it is best you go with a third person. The third person will see some of the details you may likely ignore. There are times you may have some signals that you are missing something vital, do not be ashamed to ask for help from a third person to point this out.

When you are sure you have found the place that is suitable for your needs, it is time to put everything in writing. Do not be in a hurry to make payment as soon as you agree on terms with the agents. In fact, insist on sitting down with the owner of the house or realtor, get the contract in writing and request an invoice before you make a money transfer. This is the best way to prevent any misunderstanding. Having the contract in writing will ensure you remind the landlord what has been agreed upon should any conflict arise.

Although you have been issued a contract, reading it is very important. Ensure you understand every word contained in the contract. When in doubt, ask a lawyer to interpret. Ask questions like does my lifestyle agree with what is contained in the contract? Take photos of your new home not just for your Instagram or Facebook page but also for posterity sake. Capture the initial state of the property, and if you found some damages, call the attention of your landlord.

Most landlords will ask for ‘Caution Fee’ as part of the initial. The idea is to hold you accountable for the property by putting away a certain amount of money from in case you cause any damage to the house. Usually you will be told that the money will be returned to you when you are moving out. But it rarely gets returned. This also can be negotiated.     

FRANK ELEANYA