When visiting a house to rent, prospective tenants often conduct a thorough physical inspection of the property, visualise their home and finalise the rental agreement with landlords. However, with changing times and a busy lifestyle, the trend of online house hunting is growing fast, especially in big cities like Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore. Working professionals moving to different cities prefer online house rentals due to their strict schedules. However, finalising a house without a physical visit can come with some risks, including fraud and property-related issues. It is still possible to rent a house remotely if prospective tenants take care of a few things. Here’s a guide on renting a house without visiting.
How does online renting benefit tenants?
With the help of online property platforms, prospective tenants can shortlist the properties based on their preferences. They have the basic information about a property available online, such as property type, facilities, rent and security deposit, brokerage, as well as property photos. This enables them to choose options that closely match their needs while ignoring the remaining. It saves them ample time and travel costs. This way, they can make decisions faster, especially when one is looking for an accommodation urgently. This mode of house hunting is highly beneficial for working professionals and NRIs who move to their home country temporarily.
Risks of renting a house without visiting
Finalising a rental property without physically checking it can invite problems for tenants. One of the biggest risks is rental fraud. Without verifying the property listing, the home seeker may be falling prey to a scam. So, it is necessary to verify if it is not a fake property listing.
A prospective tenant can face problems if the listed information about the rental property is inaccurate or outdated. For example, the listing may wrongly show the availability of a parking space. It can create inconvenience and parking hassles after the property is rented.
Without a physical inspection of the property, tenants may not be able to gauge the structural condition and location advantages. If there are structural issues in the property, like a plumbing issue, it can lead to hidden maintenance costs. Similarly, tenants may have to face connectivity or other locality-related issues if they do not assess the neighbourhood before deciding to rent.
How to rent a house remotely?
Choose trusted property platforms
One method by which tenants can safeguard themselves against property fraud is to pick verified properties on trusted property platforms. Such platforms typically have verified listings with property photos, accurate property details and contact information of the owner or broker. So, there are less chances of falling prey to unknown real estate agents or fraudsters.
Ask for a virtual tour
Without physically visiting a house, prospective tenants can still get a realistic experience of viewing the house. This can be done by requesting the landlord or broker for a virtual property tour through a video call or by sharing the house tour video online. When going for a virtual tour, tenants should ensure they get to view the property entirely, including all rooms like kitchen, bathrooms and balconies, entrance areas, etc.
During the visual inspection of the property, it is crucial for tenants to check for any structural issues, such as seepage issues, poor ventilation or lighting, pest problems, etc. To get a better view, prospective tenants can request to zoom in on specific spots in the house.
Research the neighbourhood
Even without physically being present, a prospective tenant can assess the neighbourhood through proper research. They can look for online locality reviews and use tools like Google Maps to know more about the neighbourhood. Typically, this initial research can give useful locality information such as distance from schools, healthcare facilities, workplace and key connectivity points. Speaking to friends who have lived in the neighbourhood can also provide useful information.
Verify landlord and property ownership
Before finalising a property, prospective tenants should check the landlord’s identity and ensure that the landlord has rightful ownership over the property. They can do this by asking for specific documents, such as a valid identity proof and property documents like a title deed or tax receipts. If required, potential tenants can hire a lawyer to conduct the verification.
Discuss terms and conditions
Before saying yes to a property, a prospective tenant should have a virtual discussion with the landlord and get clarity on things such as rent, rent increase and security deposits, maintenance responsibilities, additional charges, etc. Tenants can also ask for information regarding society rules and any restrictions on pets, guests, etc. There are other important rental agreement clauses that potential tenants and landlords must discuss. These include the lock-in period (the minimum period when neither party can terminate the tenancy) and the notice period.
Housing.com POV
Renting a house without visiting it involves proper planning and thorough verification by the prospective tenant. There should be a complete checklist rather than relying on a few basic procedures, like seeing property videos or photos. Ignoring the legal verification part or neighbourhood assessment can be a costly mistake for the prospective tenant. Finalising a rental property remotely should also involve a detailed conversation with the landlord to clarify the rent agreement terms.
FAQs
What should tenants negotiate during a house visit in India?
Tenants should negotiate the monthly rent, security deposit and maintenance charges with landlords to ensure affordable renting.
What are the documents prospective tenants must check before finalising a house?
Tenants must check documents such as landlord's identity proof, property ownership documents and the rental agreement before finalising the house.
