Moving into your first home, especially when renting, can be a nerve-racking but exciting experience. Whether you’re a student living away from home for the first time or a young professional finally escaping to the city, we have gathered our 10 top tips to ensure you have a smooth move and a harmonious tenancy.

Tip 1 – Understand your rights

When renting a property, you will sign a contracted tenancy agreement that highlights your rights as a tenant. For instance, the landlord or letting agent cannot disturb you in your home without warning. Knowing what you and your landlord can do helps create clear communication and a positive landlord-tenant relationship.

Tip 2 – Identify your responsibilities

As well as knowing what your rights are as a tenant, it’s also key to identify your responsibilities, such as when to pay rent or what your cleaning duties are. Studying your tenancy agreement and understanding your responsibilities early on makes you less likely to breach any agreed-upon obligations in your contract, which could potentially cause friction with your landlord or letting agent.

Tip 3 - Pay your rent on time

The one expectation landlords have from a good tenant is, of course, paying the rent in full and on time each month. If you end up in a situation where you're struggling to meet a rent due date, then clear communication is necessary. By simply being upfront and honest, you can create a good landlord-tenant relationship for the future.

Tip 4 – Put everything in writing

Any communication between you, your landlord, or even the letting agent should always be in writing. This enables you to present proof in the event of any disputes arising. If you have a phone call with them instead of emailing, it’s important to follow up on that call with an email clearly stating the key facts spoken during the call. Always keep records throughout your tenancy.

Tip 5 – Create a good relationship with your landlord

By communicating clearly and effectively with your landlord, you can ensure a good relationship is maintained during and after your tenancy. This will allow you to approach your landlord with any problems or queries throughout the tenancy, reducing the chances of any friction being created in your landlord-tenant relationship.

Tip 6 – Treat the property as your own

Loving and respecting the property as your own home is super important, as once again, it solidifies a superb landlord-tenant relationship. By ensuring that you look after the property, you can guarantee yourself the best chance of receiving the return of your full security deposit and a great tenant reference when renting in the future.

Tip 7 – Having the correct insurance in place

While you may not be responsible for the building’s insurance, you are responsible for the contents of the property. The adequate insurance policy for renting is contents insurance. This policy covers all your belongings inside the building, as the landlord is not responsible for the contents inside the home.

Tip 8 – Always get permission

When renting a home, before making any interior changes, you need to ask the landlord for permission. Most landlords are quite laid back about decorative changes, as there are many things you can do that won’t create damage to the property, but it is always crucial to ask for permission just in case.

Tip 9 – Be a good neighbour

Entering a new community can be difficult, especially when renting, and this can sometimes be your first taste of independent life. By being a good neighbour, minimising noise and any potential disruption, you can ensure the support of your neighbours in the future with any problems.

Tip 10 – Always ask the question

At any point when you are living in your new home and you have a question or query, don’t hesitate and always reach out to your landlord or letting agent. All your rights and responsibilities will be outlined in your tenancy agreement, but if you’re ever unsure, always ask the question.