When you find a flat in the right area and at the right rent that you really love, take a minute or two to check a few things before making an offer for it.

Most importantly, ask yourself if it feels secure. There might be access from rear gardens and alleys; would you be comfortable with this? Also check what the locks are like?

Some other bits to look out for:

• Check out the heating system and whether the property is well-insulated. You can look to see if the hot water tank has a jacket. Don’t forget the landlord must have a valid energy performance certificate and you are entitled to see it.
• Similarly, the landlord must have a valid gas safety certificate (which has to be renewed annually) and again you are entitled to see this.
• You’ll want to know that the toilet flushes, the shower works and that the bath and kitchen sink taps run properly. Check them all while you are viewing.
• It’s a good idea to check how well the property has been looked after by the landlord. Checking the gutters and windows will give you a good idea about whether the landlord cares about the fabric of the building. Don’t forget to check the state of window frames behind curtains or blinds to see if they are intact or rotten. Do the windows open?
• Are there enough sockets? Also check the cords of electrical items that are included as part of the furnishings to make sure they are not frayed or dangerous. Don’t be afraid to ask for electrical items to be replaced if you do not think they are safe.
• Who looks after the common areas, such as cleaning the hallway, maintaining the garden? If you rent a house with a garden, it is likely that you will be responsible for maintaining the garden so you will need to factor this in as an extra expense if you are going to need a gardener.
• What about parking? Is there a designated parking space for the pad, will you need to get a resident’s parking permit or is parking a general free-for-all?

 Back next Tuesday ...