Searching for a new home and moving is a very tedious and long process, especially if you are unlucky. I am currently looking to move flats and have sent out an application just a few days ago, so fingers crossed! Although I have only been living in Scotland for 3 years, I am currently planning my 4th move. Saying I have quite a lot of experience when it comes to the moving process would be an understatement. And because I have learned all these things the hard way, I thought I would make your life and future moves a little easier for you by sharing these tips with you. Without further ado, please enjoy this week's post!
Viewings and things to look out for
When you are actively looking for a flat to move into, I suggest that you set up email notifications for all the major property search websites. That way, you won't miss when a new flat is put up. And time is of the essence when you want to find a flat. They usually go very quickly, especially if they're nice. If you see a property that suits your needs or that sparks your interest, apply for a viewing straight away. There are no obligations attached to a viewing - you can see a property and then decide that it doesn't suit your needs or that you don't like it. You do not have to apply for it if you don't want to.
Here is a list of things to look out for: moisture build-up and/or mould; the state and ease of opening of doors (including the front door) and windows; the surrounding area and access to shops/train stations/parking; taps, sinks, bath/shower, white goods (or lack thereof). Think about what you need: storage space, a washing machine, accessibility, a garage, a bath, etc. And if the flat doesn't have something that is essential for you, I wouldn't bother going through the application process.
Photos can also make places look very different. I remember the first flat I lived in after halls was a shithole. It was truly horrendous. However, when I was moving out, I looked at the listing for it online. And the photos (which were clearly years old) were quite stunning. Seeing a flat in person (or through a video at least) is crucial. And when deciding whether or not a flat that you are seeing (or have seen) is the right fit for you, listen to what your gut feeling is saying, which brings me to my next point.
Trust your gut
This is so important. Remember that when you are looking for a flat, the end-goal is for you to move in somewhere new. So if you see anything that you have a bad feeling about - or if the whole flat is just giving you weird vibes - listen to your gut. My flatmate and I are currently looking to move. We viewed a flat for her today and let me tell you, as soon as we stepped in we were like "nope"! If something doesn't feel right while you are there for just a few minutes, imagine what it would be like actually living there and not having anywhere else to go. If you can't imagine yourself living there (comfortably), then don't apply for that property.
Applications
If you have viewed a flat, liked it and can afford it, go ahead and apply for it. The application process can be tedious. You will have to fill out (long) forms, have references, provide documents, etc. That being said, you need to fill out the application asap. Straight when you get back home after your viewing. The sooner you send it off, the better chance you have of getting the property. So send it that same day. And before doing so, read over it to make sure all your details and the information you put in - especially numbers (such as bank account details) - are correct. You can send it to someone you trust to proof-read it too.
References
Most places you apply to will require you to provide references. These are people that you choose that the agency or landlord will contact to get more details about you as a person. This is to help them understand whether or not you would be a good tenant, pay rent on time, and so on. It is crucial that you pick people that know you and that will help you by giving a good reference. Make sure you ask before you put them down as your references. Some people might not feel comfortable doing that for you. You will find, however, that people usually agree, so don't worry.
Usually, you will need to give them an employer/work reference; ask your manager or someone higher up than you in the company that you get on well to be your reference. And for your personal (or character) reference, you can choose anyone that isn't related to you. If you can, give them the details of someone slightly older, such as a professor, a colleague or a mentor, rather than your uni friend. It will help make the reference seem more legitimate.
Guarantors
If you are a student or under the age of 25, chances are that you might need to provide a guarantor. This is someone who becomes liable to pay your rent if you stop paying or aren't able to anymore. It's a guarantee for the landlord to ensure he will get his money. It can be difficult to find someone to be a guarantor, though. Especially if you are living abroad for uni and don't have any family living in the same country as you or if your family doesn't have endless amounts of money.
My flatmate and I both struggle with this first one as we both live in the UK but our parents don't. And I find that it can be very discriminating to demand a guarantor: just because someone doesn't have that much spending money and live paycheck to paycheck doesn't mean they can't pay rent. Maybe they don't have much spending money and are living paycheck to paycheck because they make rent every time, on time and in full. People should be judged on their ability to pay rent, not on the size of their (or their parents') bank account.
Deposits
If you are having to pay a deposit, this means that you got a flat so congrats! Depending on your landlord, whether the flat is furnished or unfurnished, whether you have a pet or not and much more, your deposit can range from less than 1 month's rent to double that amount. Deposits are, once again, a guarantee for the landlord. It's a security measure in case the tenant causes damage to the flat by being neglectful. It can be difficult to get all the money together, especially when it's a large deposit you are required to pay. Living with someone else and splitting the deposit can make it slightly easier.
Also, keep in mind that if you have paid a deposit for your current flat, it often takes a few months for it to be paid back into your account. So don't worry if there is a large gap in your bank account, it should be filled in the first few months of you living in your new flat. When you move out of your old flat, there are a few things you can do to ensure you get your full deposit back: give it a very good clean, put the furniture back where you found it (if there was any), empty out the fridge/freezer and make sure you clean and turn them off... The better the state of the flat, the more likely you are to receive your deposit back in full. And if you don't but you believe that you should have, you can appeal it. Don't get swindled by bad landlords.
Utilities
Considering that everyone needs gas and electricity for their flat, you would think that companies would make the process easier. Up until now, my flatmate has always been the one dealing with them while I handled the wifi. Now that I am (hopefully) moving into a flat by myself, I do not look forward to having to take care of setting up an account. Let me tell you this: more often than not, you will be charged a lot, even when you don't use that much. We are currently paying over £110 per month which is ridiculous considering that it's summer and we don't have the heating on or anything. We have a smart reader as well, so it did not make sense to us. My flatmate called them, turns out we only use about £20 a month. So basically, we're paying almost a hundred quid more than we should be paying. They said they would change our bill, the didn't. We were supposed to only pay what we used (hence the smart reader), but they've dismissed that as well. Long story short, it is a headache.
If you feel like you are being charged an insane amount, speak up. Call them and tell them that you are going to change provider because it is too expensive. Faced with the prospect of losing a client, they will, more than likely, offer you a better deal. And if not, change provider. It's a pain but there is no point in you wasting your hard-earned money on bills. Same goes for your internet bill. My biggest tip: keep an eye out on your bank account to see how much you end up paying for all your bills each month. That way, if something is out of the ordinary (for example your contract with a discount ends so you start paying full price), you can catch it early on and not waste loads of money.
Packing and moving
My last move was quite eventful, to say the least. Because the new flat was only about 100 meters away from the last and we didn't have much furniture, we decided we could do the move ourselves. Just two gals. Oh boy, were we wrong. We were attacked by our old neighbour's dog (who broke one of my bookshelves in the process), ended up borrowing a large trolley from Tesco, climbed 151 FLIGHTS OF STAIRS (yes, I took a screenshot because I couldn't believe it), found a beautiful couch in our local charity shop which we had to carry up the stairs and into the flat ourselves and didn't finish moving until 2 am.
Unless you can pack up all of your belongings into 3 boxes and a suitcase and have no furniture, use a moving company. You can find some that aren't too expensive and trust me, the cost far outweighs the struggle of moving yourself. Plan your move and be all packed up the night before (just keep essentials such as toothbrush, PJs, bedding, etc and pack it in the morning). Also, make sure you have snacks and water handy; you will need all the energy you can get.
Decorating
Check out my post on making a home away from home and this one on decorating your space!
Landlords
Some landlords are great, others are shit. If you are unlucky, a bad landlord can make your life very difficult and unpleasant. Here is a little storytime about mine: on 4 different occasions, we have been confronted with grown men outside of your windows because our landlord didn't feel the need to let us know work was being done on our roof; we have many issues with the flat that have never been resolved; and when we sent an email detailing some of these issues so that they would know to fix them before the next tenants move in (they live very far away and never come up to the flat so, really, we were doing them a favour), I had the privilege of being the phone with them for over half an hour being told repeatedly how they are great landlords and that it was our fault for not saying anything (which we did). So yeah, needless to say, I'm over that behaviour and my flatmate and I are looking forward to moving out.
If your landlord is causing you problems, you do not have to put up with it. There is a certain minimum that landlords have to do (let you know at least 24 hours prior to any work happening at the property for example) and you can take legal advice - and even action - against them. Don't let them treat you like shit. Many charities can help you out regarding issues with your landlord (Citizens Advice are one in the UK).
Here we have it. I hope you enjoyed this post and found it somewhat helpful. And if you happen to be flat hunting, I wish you all the best and have my fingers crossed for you. If you apply for a flat that you really wanted but your application is unsuccessful, I feel you. It sucks. But I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason so if you didn't get this one, something even better will come along for you. See you next Sunday and take care!
Yours truly,