Once you’ve completed your first year of University, it’ll be time to move on to your second-year accommodation and we understand that this can be a lot to think about. Living in private halls Despite many students choosing to live in shared accommodation after completing their first year, private halls are becoming an increasingly popular alternative that often provide additional onsite...

Once notice has been served, either by the landlord or the tenant, you will need to prepare for your next move and the landlord will most likely also begin their search for a new tenant. Your tenancy agreement will normally permit the landlord or agent to conduct viewings in the last few weeks of the tenancy, as long as they provide adequate notice, and so you will need to accommodate this. Even though...

The success of most tenancies will come down to the working relationship between landlord and tenant.  It is important to remember that it is a professional contractual relationship and not a friendship.  Most problems occur when there is a breakdown in communication.  So if you are able to maintain an open and transparent working relationship you are less likely to experience problems and,...

Good practice in the residential industry has always put safety first.  There is now increasing legislation to ensure that this is the case and as a renter you should expect to be provided with the relevant documents to ensure your safety. Smoke and Carbon Monoxide alarms From the 1st October, 2015 regulations in Uganda require smoke alarms to be installed on each floor of a rental...

As a tenant, you are expected to occupy the property in a ‘tenant-like’ manner. It’s a slightly odd phrase but essentially means that you should do the things a normal householder should do.  This would include such things as: Changing lightbulbs Changing or testing batteries in smoke or carbon monoxide detectors Not putting things down sinks that might lead them to block Keeping...

A ‘holding deposit’ or ‘reservation deposit’ is different to a ‘Tenancy Deposit’. Holding deposits Holding deposits (often the equivalent of a week’s rent) are taken so that the agent or landlord can take the property off the market whilst they conduct their reference checks. Assuming the reference checks are successful, this holding deposit is normally then offset against either...

When you’ve found a property that you like, it’s time to make an offer.  If you are submitting your offer to an agent, they’re obliged to pass the information to the landlord for consideration.  Paying the asking price does not put the landlord under any obligation to accept – but it usually works. The acceptance process varies. In many agencies, if the price is good enough and the...

What is a Built for Renters property? ‘Build to Rent’ is an industry term used to describe properties, usually apartments, that have been built to provide private rental accommodation to tenants. We use the term Built for Renters because it describes exactly what these types of properties are, so you can easily spot them among rental listings on our site. Unlike regular properties you might...

Standards across the residential market can vary substantially from landlord to landlord, and it’s difficult to know in advance what your new landlord is going to be like.  At the moment, there are no national review sites to help you decide which landlord to work with and often people make a choice based on the property rather than how good the landlord is. Using an agent will help make sure...

With most properties now being listed online, it’s easy to find property that meets your needs. However, with such a large selection to choose from, it’s worth taking the time to ask yourself exactly what you’re looking for before you seriously start looking; this will help you to firm up your requirements and narrow the options more efficiently. There are three key criteria you’ll need to...