In This Guide
Choosing an area
1. Introduction
2. Transport
3. Crime
4. Amenities
5. Landscape
6. Neighbours
7. Check it out
Getting in
Leaving
Lettings agents
Living
Looking for property
Renting introduction
Tenancy agreements
Viewing property
Choosing an area
Check it out
Print
Contents
Prev Page
Next Page
It
may not be possible for you to visit an area until it is time
to start looking for somewhere to rent, especially if you are
relocating some distance from where you live now. But the very
least you can do is your homework on the area, especially as so
many web sites make it easy to do on the Internet.
If you can go and look around a place then some simple preparation
can help ensure that your trip is worthwhile. Here is our advice
for deciding whether you like an area:
- Make
a list of the most important factors that you want your chosen
area to have, then see how the place matches up.
- If
you are renting with your partner, make sure you both go - people
can have very different gut reactions to a place.
- Go
in the daytime.
- Go
at night to compare.
- Walk
round as much as you can - some very small areas can be quite
diverse, especially in British cities.
- Why
not take some photos - these can be used to directly compare
two areas later on.
- Try
and imagine what it will be like in the different seasons -
appearances can change quite dramatically around the year.
- See
if you can spot many For Sale signs - if there are a lot of
them on anything but a new development, this can be a bad sign.
Why is everyone leaving?
- Similarly,
take note of the apparent state of local businesses - are they
run down, or does it appear that investment is coming into the
area?
- Look
at the types of housing, especially if you have your heart set
on a certain type of building. This can be a reality check -
it may be time to admit that finding a thatched cottage to rent
in the middle of a city is a bit unlikely.
- Sample the atmosphere - have a drink in one or two of the local pubs or try out a restaurant.
After
the background research and one or two visits, you should have
a clear idea of whether you would be happy to live in an area.
If so and you know what type of property you are after, then it
is time top start the search
in earnest.
If something feels wrong, and your gut feeling says no, then it's
back to the drawing board, but at least you found out before you
wasted too much time searching for property.
Prev Page
Next Page
Contents