SEEKING PRIVATE RENTED ACCOMODATION
A Practical Guide To Help You Find A New Home
Seeking a new home can be stressful and leave you feeling overwhelmed and anxiouswe understand that.
This fact sheet gives you tips and advice to help you find
something right for you and your family. You will have to be
proactive and flexible as good accommodation can be hard to
find but being persistent but pleasant can pay off.
Remember that Landlords are looking for good tenants so you
are selling yourself as someone reliable- how you come across
can influence whether a Landlord will take you on so think about
what you say and how you present yourself at viewings.
TOP TIPS
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Ring landlords/ letting agents regularly- finding something is going to take more than
one call and being proactive is going to be essential as they won’t always call you. It will
be demoralising and occasionally frustrating- you are unlikely to find what you want the
first time you call. Sometimes it is as simple as being in the right place at the right time.
Do not be put off if a letting agent says a landlord will not give you a viewing on one
property because of a particular reason, ask if they have any other landlords or other
properties which you might be considered for instead.
Use a range of sources- don’t just rely on landlords/ letting agents, check through the
local newspapers, websites, newsagents’ windows and talk to friends, asking them to
keep an eye open for you. All of this increases your chances of finding something.
Please understand that we don not have any special access to accommodation that you
don’t.
Know what you are looking for- rent, number of bedrooms etc. Think about the things
that are important to you and grade them- you can perhaps compromise on some, be
clear and realistic about what is a need and what is a want.
Prepare a list of questions to ask at viewings. We have got some for you later to start
you off- it will make you look more business-like and ensure you cover some essential
things.
Look presentable at viewings and be on time. You need the landlord to consider you
a good tenant who will look after his property and pay the rent.
Where to look
 Letting Agents and Landlords (start with the list provided
 Local newspapers- particularly on Wednesdays and Saturdays
 Websites e.g. Gumtree, Zoopla or the Daily Echo online
 Shop windows, newsagent’s windows, supermarket boards
WHAT COSTS AM I GOING TO HAVE TO FIND?
Generally speaking, all landlords are going to want some form of upfront payment before
handing over any keys. This will probably include one month’s rent in advance and a
deposit, usually the same amount as the rent.
A deposit is a sum held for the length of the tenancy to protect the landlord against rent
arrears or damage. If you pay your rent and look after the property, you should get the
deposit back at the end of your tenancy.
By law, these have to be protected and in a certified scheme.
Letting agents will also have additional charges- usually fees for referencing and
administration so that they can check out your financial status before agreeing to take
you on.
Whilst we do have some schemes that can assist you financially if you are unable to
find some of these costs, they are limited and we don’t pay
referencing fees or letting agent’s costs. You will need to
consider where you can access other sources of money- a
credit union or bank loan or help from family and friends.
WHAT KIND OF PROPERTY SHOULD I LOOK FOR?
It is important that you look for suitable accommodation for you and your household. If
you cannot manage stairs you will need to concentrate on ground floor accommodation
or a bungalow- it may take longer to find something but don’t be tempted for a quick fix
as you may regret it later. It can be useful to visit properties at different times to check
out what things are like at weekends and the evening. Remember- you’re choosing a
home and you have to get it right as moving is expensive.
You must ensure that the property is the right size for your household. We understand
that it is tempting to try to get something with a bit more room but if you are using a loan
scheme or are reliant on housing benefit to help with the rent, you MUST live in the size
of accommodation you are eligible for. If you move to a property that is bigger than your
need, it is likely not to be long-term affordable which could lead to rent arrears, a bad
credit rating or even eviction. If you have been evicted for rent arrears, finding a new
landlord willing to take you on will become harder and your choices will probably be even
more limited.
Your Local Housing Allowance (LHA) is the maximum amount that housing benefit will
pay and is based on your household size. Your allowance is made up from your room
entitlement and the actual LHA figures are published monthly by each local authority:
1 room- all couples (whether married or not)
1 room- all persons aged over 16
1 room- 2 children under 10 who can share regardless of their sex
1 room- 2 children over 10 but under 16 who can share if they are the same sex
1 room- any unpaired person
If you are a single person aged under 35, it is likely, you will only be able to claim for the
shared room rate which is far lower than the 1 bedroom rate. This means you will need to
consider a bedsit, studio or even a room in a shared house to ensure you can afford to
pay the rent, your bills, and other any outgoings. .
WHAT SHOULD I FIND OUT?
Be clear on the things you want to find out about when you view the property. Here are
some things you might want to ask…
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How much is the rent? When is it due? Is it paid weekly or monthly? What is
included in it (some include council tax or utility bills)?
What are the upfront charges? The rent in advance and deposit? Are there any
other costs? How much and what do they cover?
Will the Landlord accept Housing Benefit? The landlord needs to know if you
will be claiming, even if you are paying the majority of the rent yourself.
How long is the tenancy? It has to be for a minimum of 6 months but can they
offer longer.
Is the property in good condition- are there signs of damp/ condensation? It is
clean and well maintained?
What, if any, furniture is provided and has it been fire checked?
Does the property have the necessary gas safety certificate? Ask to see it- a
property must have a valid one in order to be legal (they are valid for 12 months).
Does the cooker or fridge freezer supplied actually work?
Does the heating system work and have they got some information on average
bills?
Is the wiring safe? Look at the fittings and fuse box. Does it look ok?
Does the smoke alarm work, who checks it and how often?
Check out local bus routed, schools or shops- if you do not drive, can you access
everything ok?
If you have pets, ask the landlord if they allow them. Do not move in a pet or buy
one without first asking permission from the landlord.
GUARANTORS
Some landlords and letting agents ask for a guarantor. This is someone who will
guarantee to pay the rent if you can’t or won’t pay it. In most cases they will need to be a
home-owner and/or earning in excess on £25,000 to qualify (each agent has slightly
different criteria) and it is a lot for someone to take on. If your tenancy does run into
trouble, they could be taken to court and made to pay what you owe so guarantors are
hard to come by. The Borough of Poole cannot act as a guarantor for you and if the
letting agent will only accept tenants with guarantors; you will need to avoid that agency
and stick to the ones who will be more flexible. There is no easy way around this.
LANDLORD AND LETTING AGENT CONTACT LIST
This is a list of landlords and letting agents that clients have used in the past.
This does not mean that we are recommending them but they could prove useful in your
search for new accommodation. Check out www.yell.com for further letting agents.
You can search for available properties online, some of these will be advertised by
private landlords www.rightmove.co.uk, www.gumtree.co.uk, www.zoopla.co.uk,
www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/homes/homes_for_rent/
Remember to also check the local papers, newsagents’ windows and talk to friends.
Be aware that most letting agents have standard policies like ‘need guarantor if under 25
or on Housing Benefit’ but there may be some flexibility and this will depend on your
circumstances. You should always ask whether there are any other properties available
where the landlord might consider you given your particular circumstances. Refer to the
top tips on page one.
(G) = Guarantors required, otherwise need for guarantor depends on circumstances
ANGLOTOWN (G) - Tel:01202 830107 370 Ashley Road, Poole, BH149DQ
CARTERSHAW – Tel: 01202 744500 446 Ashley Road. Poole, BH149AD
CAMERONS (G) - Tel:01202 295678 163 Holdenhurst Road, Bmth, BH88AS
CONNELLS (G) - Tel:01202 673977 154 High Street, Town Centre, Poole
DAVE WELLS PROPERTIES- Tel: 01202 301244 25a St Clements Road BH144DU
DIMENSIONS (G) - Tel:01202 397877 38 Ashley Road, Boscombe, BH14LJ
ELLIS AND PARTNERS- Tel: 01202 551821 4 Dean Park Crescent, Bmth, BH11LY
LEWIS-DEAN (G) - Tel:01202 621900 4 Moorland way Parade, Upton, BH165JS
MOVE ON RENTALS (G) - Tel:01202 711169 464 Ashley Road, Poole, BH140AX
PFL- Tel: 01202 930930 123a Commercial Road, Parkstone, BH140JD
REALITY- Tel: 01202 733333 24a Commercial Road, Parkstone, BH140JR
RS PROPERTY SOLOUTIONS (G)-Tel: 01202 737340 215 Ashley Road, BH149DS
SCOTT CASTLE- Tel: 01202 397321 743 Christchurch Road, BH76AN
SOUTHERN AND WEST (G)- Tel:01202 232323 87 Wimborne Road, BH37AN
SPECIALIST LETTING AGENCY- Tel: 01202 548400 209 Redhill Drive, BH106AJ
TAYLOR MADE LETTINGS (G) - Tel:01202 673454 234 High Street North, Poole
THACKER & REVITT (G) - Tel:01202 748999 478 Ashley Road, Poole, BH140AD
THOMAS AND RAWSON- Tel: 01202 721131 461 Ashley Road, Poole, BH140AX
TONY NEWMAN AGENTS- Tel: 01202 660323 81 High Street, Poole, BH151AH
TURNERS (G) - Tel:01202 681682 168 Blandford Road, Hamworthy, BH154BH
BOROUGH OF POOLE HOUSING ADVICE TEL: 01202 633804