Looking for a house to let is difficult at the moment. Whether you are an experienced tenant, or renting for the first time, the whole process can be daunting.

The first thing you need to do is decide what it is you need, where is the best location for you? How long ideally will your tenancy be for? Do you need a property that is furnished or unfurnished? Once you’ve decided these set yourself a manageable budget and stick to it.

When considering your budget you need to be aware that referencing criteria will state that the annual rent cannot be more than 40% of your gross salary. To calculate this, take the monthly rent, times this by 12 to create the annual rent and then divide this by your annual gross salary. Then time that figure by 100 to get the percentage.

Once you have a good idea of what it is you’re looking for, you have to begin your hunt. Nowadays, searching for a property has never been easier. The easiest way to search is online; there are a range of property websites which will allow you to see thousands of properties.

There are a number of advantages to searching online, firstly convenience and there is also great choice. It’s easy to search available properties as you can tailor the search to your requirements, e.g. number of bedrooms, locations or by keywords. You can also receive email alerts if you sign up to different letting agents’ website- they will send you an email as soon as a property matching your specification becomes available.

There are other ways of searching. Local newspapers and classified sections are a useful source, but sometimes by the time the paper is printed, the property may have gone. You could also keep an eye out for ‘To Let’ boards in your area and then make a note of which agents they are with.

When you have found available properties arrange a viewing. First clarify with the agent that what you are going to see meets your needs, because if you waste an afternoon looking at an unsuitable property, you could well be missing out on the one that is perfect for you.

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