About to go flatting? 🏠🏡🏘🏚🏢

Jessica Brown from Citizens Advice Bureau Te Awamutu

With the shortage of affordable, quality places to rent, the pressure comes on to sign up fast or miss out. It’s a good idea to make sure you go into things prepared and know your rights.

Here are a few essentials:

• You should have a written tenancy agreement. Read it, so you know what you’re in for, preferably before you sign up for the flat.

• Inspect the property at the start of the tenancy and record the condition of each room. Take photos. While no one seems bothered about that small stain on the carpet now, it can cause grief later when you’re trying to get your bond back.

• The upfront costs when you go into a flat are up to four weeks’ rent as bond and two weeks’ rent in advance. The rent should be similar to the rent charged for similar properties in the same area. Unfortunately, it’s the market that decides what’s reasonable. It’s unlawful for you to be charged a letting fee.

• If there are a few of you in the flat, make sure that anyone who’s not signed up on the tenancy agreement signs a flat sharing agreement. This means everyone knows where things stand and you can work through any problems that crop up.

For more information about your rights when renting, check out our website. We're here to help with free, independent information and advice. Call us on 0800 367 222, get in touch via our website, or visit a CAB near you.