VIEWS
PROPERTY: Top Questions for Tenants to Ask
Recent Kwazulu-Natal Business News
Just as there are “problem” tenants, there are also “problem” landlords – and even more often, “problem” properties.
“Ask any tenant,” says Berry Everitt, CEO of the Chas Everitt
International property group, “and they’ll tell you at least one horror
story about a place they wish they’d never seen – let alone paid their
hard-earned money to live in.
“But no matter what it was that bothered them about the place, from
traffic noise to a leaky roof or an impossibly nosy neighbour, the fact
is they could probably have avoided the annoyance if they had asked more
questions before signing the lease, as every tenant has a right to do.”
Writing in the Property Signposts newsletter, he notes that of course
whoever shows you a rental home – be it landlord or letting agent – will
naturally emphasise the property’s good points and downplay any
disadvantages.
“However, they are also obliged to answer truthfully any specific
question a prospective tenant asks about the property or area,
especially if the answer might affect the decision to rent the property
or not. So it is worth having a list of such questions to hand when
going to view any home you are considering renting.”
To compile the list, Everitt says, you should try to think of all the
bad things you personally want to avoid - faulty plumbing, faulty
wiring, roaches, rats, environmental hazards, high crime areas, noisy
locations – the list can go on and on.
Others you might like to ask concern the cleaning or servicing of the
property; special conditions on the tenancy (such as no pets); the
ownership of the property and the reason for the property being empty /
available.
“In fact, you should not be shy to ask anything you want, or be
satisfied with vague or non-committal answers. The important thing is
for you to be able to make an informed decision. After all, it’s going
to be your signature on that lease – and your money paying the rent.”
Business News Sector Tags: Property|
Accommodation
Foreign Exchange
Directory
Fax 2 Email
Finance
Furniture
Online Casino
Restaurant
Shop Online
Study IT Online
Web Design
Weddings
Work from Home
|
||
Company News
|
||