When you as a tenant are out looking for an ideal property on rent, you may have made a priority list that the property should fulfil- budget, location, connectivity, configuration etc. But, not many people give importance to the problems that may come along with the rented house. Many times, people encounter these after moving into the rented property. These may be harmless ones that may make you adjust it after a while or serious ones which may actually put you in a tight spot- if you should continue with the deal or move out in a month. While one will cause inconvenience, the other will cost money. In this guide, we outline some of the hidden issues which you should look for before confirming a landlord for renting his property.
1) Check if the rental house is Vastu compliant
If you believe in the principles of Vastu, check if the house that you want to rent is compliant with Vastu. In case the house is not Vastu compliant check out what best you can do. At least check if the entry to the house, the kitchen and the bathroom area is compliant with Vastu.
2) Does the house support a proper mobile network?
With the world connected with each other through mobile phones and work from home a reality today, internet and mobile network coverage is basic. In case you are looking at renting a housing unit in an old building, it is recommended to check the network as the ash-brick construction which is a thick block network. A rental property which doesn’t support a proper mobile network is a big inconvenience as you will not be able to function seamlessly. You may constantly have to find an area that supports the network or hop in and out of the house in search of a network every time an important call comes your way. This will impact your professional and personal life.
To identify any issues related to internet and mobile coverage, check the internet speed by executing the speed test online. If the results are not very positive, go ahead and talk to neighbours in the complex to understand if they face similar issues.
3) Natural lighting
Natural lighting and ventilation is important for a healthy life. When you are on a home evaluation visit, check the placement of windows, understand the direction of the sun and if the house will have enough sunlight and ventilation. A sun-facing flat is always in demand as it lights up the house and with the house being bright all day, the electricity bills will also be less.
“In my previous rented house, the owner had put an AC in the living room and closed the window present there permanently. Since the kitchen was just opposite to this window, the hot air from the kitchen would partially go from the kitchen window and partially from the living room’s window. As this window was closed, there was no proper ventilation, leaving the house very hot. The owner was not very keen on breaking the glass and making windows that could open and close and we had to leave the house after staying for 6 months, because in summers, staying in the living room was unbearable and we started to fall sick, inhaling the bad odour,”said, Shanta, a tenant who had a bad rental experience with zero ventilation in the house.
In case you come across such a property, it is recommended to talk to the landlord and ask him to provide options so that you can comfortably stay.
4) Pressure of water
Inadequate water pressure is painful as it affects everything from taking baths to cleaning vessels and washing clothes. Wherever you are opting to rent a house, in addition to ensuring 24 hours water supply, also ensure that pressure is adequate. This can be an issue in high-rise buildings, where water may not have the pressure and get pumped to the higher floors. In case of any issue in this aspect, it is in your best interest to ask the landlord to check the plumbing area and rectify any blockage that has been created.
5) Water tank cleaning schedule
Contamination of water is a very common reason why people fall sick. In a housing society, the RWA or the cooperative housing society is responsible for undertaking the task of cleaning the tank. But, in case of builder floors, the owner is responsible for cleaning the overhead tanks. However, how do you know if the landlord has cleaned the tank or not?
- Before saying yes to a housing unit, go to the kitchen sink and check for muddy water.
- Check is the water in the kitchen sink has a strong metallic odour.
- Check if the house has pre-installed RO and in case it is part of the house agreement, check with the landlord if the agreement for servicing it is renewed.
6) Check if the society will charge tenants extra for using amenities
When the landlord shows the property, he may not go in the depth of how the amenities can be used. There are many amenities that can be used only when the tenants pay an extra charge which the tenant may not be aware of at the time of signing the contract. Get complete details of how the tenant can access the amenities and only if you are ok with it, sign the agreement.
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It is important that one gets to know the smaller details when a tenant rents the property. While the apparent ones will be written on the rental agreement and registered, it is important that the smaller details are asked explicitly to the landlord as these small details can hurt the everyday life of the tenant leading him to take financially unviable things.
| Got any questions or point of view on our article? We would love to hear from you. Write to our Editor-in-Chief Jhumur Ghosh at jhumur.ghosh1@housing.com |
