Whatever your situation may be, thinking about moving out for the first time can be both thrilling and terrifying. Moving out for the first time should be exciting, not worrying. And with our guide, you can make sure you’re prepared.
Perhaps you’re tired of living with parents, have an itch to explore somewhere new, or just want the new independence that comes with living by yourself in a place you can call your own. It’s likely that you’ll be exploring your different options, and unless you can afford to buy a property outright, you’re probably going to be looking into renting.
Whatever your situation may be, thinking about moving out for the first time can be both thrilling and terrifying. Especially when you don’t know where to begin when it comes to private rental.
Moving out for the first time should be exciting, not worrying. And with our guide, you can make sure you’re prepared.
Often, the hardest part of renting a property is actually getting started on your search. After all, there are so many properties available that it can be tricky to know at first which is going to be the right fit.
Consider why you want to move out, and try to find a property that matches these requirements. For example, if you’re looking for independence, but you’d love the chance to meet new people - a flatshare could be an excellent option.
However, do bear in mind that while the perfect rental property in the ideal location will exist, it may be out of your budget. Be aware that throughout the rental process, you may not get exactly what you want, and compromises will have to be made. But that doesn’t mean you can’t rent somewhere great!
First, consider the type of property you might want to rent, and if you can afford it.
A shared property, so to speak, does exactly what it says on the tin - it’s a property that you share with others, and rent is often split between you and your fellow tenants. There are many different types of shared property, including:
This is where you rent a room in a house or flat where your landlord is also living. A positive of this is that you can tell your landlord about any issues straightaway; but a clear downside is the lack of privacy.
This is typically a house or flat that you rent with other people, but the landlord doesn’t live in the property. A more popular choice, shared properties offer a bit more privacy, and are often more affordable than self contained accommodation.
However, while you’ll get your own room, you’ll have to share common areas (kitchen, living room and bathroom) with the other tenants. While this can work well, you might see problems if your fellow tenants aren’t as clean or friendly as you’d like them to be. In this property type, you’ll also often be responsible for splitting bills with the other tenants.
Similar to the above, shared apartments also include living with other tenants without a live-in landlord - and the added benefit of meeting new people. However, what makes a flatshare unique is that often, in addition to your own room, you’ll also have a personal bathroom - which has obvious benefits.
Flatshares also offer all-inclusive payment, meaning that you’ll get bills included as part of your tenancy, and you won’t be responsible for splitting them with the other tenants. This is an excellent choice if you want the freedom of living independently, without the responsibility of juggling lots of different bills.
Following roughly the same concept as a flatshare, co-living spaces are often at the more luxury end of property rental - offering your own room and bathroom and shared living spaces, but with added extras such as gyms, roof gardens or other more “luxury” spaces. These are usually very expensive, so may not be an option if you’re on a budget.
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Once you’ve got an idea of the type of property you might like to choose, be sure that you understand completely what paying for it actually means. It may sound obvious, but for many first-time renters, there can be some confusion over what “rent” actually includes.
Ultimately, paying rent means entering a contractual agreement between you and your landlord.
This legal contract, known as your tenancy agreement (likely an Assured Shorthold Tenancy, or AST) is a document that clearly lays out the terms and conditions of your lease, as well as what responsibilities you have - but more on this later.
What’s actually included in your rent agreement will differ depending on the property you choose - but essentially, it requires you to pay your rent, on time, throughout the tenancy. It also requires you to leave the property in a good condition at the end of your tenancy.
Once you’ve found a property that you like, you’re well equipped to enter the application process as smoothly as possible - which we’ll cover in the next section.
When you’ve found a property you like, you’ll need to indicate your interest to your landlord or letting agent, and go through the application process to secure your rental. We recommend that you do this as soon as you’ve found a property you like - after all, you don’t want to miss out!
But don’t panic or rush. While it may seem confusing at first, the rental application process is actually fairly simple - providing you have everything you need to rent.
You need to prove that you have a right to rent property in the UK if you’re over 18 years old and are renting a property as your main home. In order for you to do this, your landlord will conduct a series of checks, which will usually require you to provide:
While this may seem like a lot of information, the reference process isn’t as complex as it seems. In fact, it usually only takes around 2 days, and can be completed entirely online.
Once you’ve passed the referencing stage, you’re well on your way to securing your rented property - all that’s left to do is pay your deposit.
A deposit for rent is a fixed payment that secures your rental and provides extra security for your landlord should you damage the property or breach your lease.
Due to regulations passed in England in June 2019, this deposit fee is now limited to the equivalent of 5 weeks’ rent. This means that your landlord should not charge you more than this amount. If a landlord tries to charge you above 5 weeks rent, they are breaking the law.
Throughout your tenancy, your deposit should be protected through a government approved tenancy deposit protection scheme - even if you don’t pay the deposit yourself.
Your deposit must also be refundable at the end of your lease, as long as you pay rent on time and return the property in good condition, with an allowance for general wear and tear.
Remember: Avoid signing any contract where your deposit isn’t protected. At Ocasa, each of our tenants’ deposits are protected through the Deposit Protection Service (DPS), which is an independent third party that ensures you get your deposit back.
When renting a property, you may also come across rental “fees''. However, under the same regulations as your deposit, most of these tenancy fees are now banned, including:
This is often the most daunting part of the rental process, but providing you choose a good landlord or agent, you shouldn’t face any issues. Don’t be afraid to question things you don’t understand - as this will help you get the property you want, much faster.
Once you’ve paid your deposit and any permitted fees - you’re one step closer to getting your independence.
Now the exciting part - you’re almost ready to move in!
Succeeding in your application is exciting, but there are some things you should bear in mind before you move into your new property - or best practices for moving in. These include the processes you need to go through before moving in, as well as understanding your landlord’s legal obligations, and your own responsibilities.
Before moving into your new home, it’s essential that you make basic checks on the property, and agree on them with your landlord. This includes:
You should also make sure your landlord explains how to heat the property, and other important information through a welcome pack that you can refer back to throughout your tenancy.
In addition to charging a fair deposit and fees, a landlord also has legal responsibilities to you as a tenant.
At the most basic level, landlords have a legal obligation to provide accommodation that is ‘fit for human habitation’. This means they have to provide property that is safe, healthy and free from anything that could cause serious harm to you or anyone you live with. If you’re unsure what counts as unsafe, there is guidance available here.
In addition to this, landlords must provide you with:
Your landlord should also make you aware of any bills you’re responsible for paying - including utilities and council tax.
In addition to your landlord’s legal obligations, it’s essential that you’re aware of your own responsibilities as a tenant.
At a basic level, when you rent a property, you’ll have to:
There are also other things you can do to be a good tenant, beyond just your legal responsibilities.
If you choose to rent shared accommodation, there are best practices to living in these properties - or “unspoken” rules that will make your experience much better. For example, creating cleaning rotas with your flatmates helps keep the property clean, and ensures there’s no bitterness around whose responsibility it is.
Living in a shared property can be a great way to meet new people and gain independence, but it’s important to balance social aspects with your responsibilities as a tenant.
No matter which property you decide to rent, it’s important to do your research, and fully understand the contract you’re entering into. Thinking about moving out for the first time is incredibly exciting, but you need to be confident that you’re prepared.
