Think beyond the number of bedrooms. Consider your budget, move date, household, parking, pets, accessibility, school or work travel, outside space and the running costs you can reasonably manage.

Use the Habitat Lettings property search and read the full listing. Check the rent, deposit, location, availability date, property type and any important conditions before requesting a viewing.

The viewing is integral to the Habitat Lettings process. It allows you to experience the space, ask questions and decide whether the property genuinely suits you. It also gives the team the opportunity to understand your requirements and explain what will happen next.

• Look for signs of damp or water damage.
• Check the heating, windows, storage and room layout.
• Understand parking, garden and bin arrangements.
• Ask which appliances or furnishings are included.
• Consider the immediate street and practical journey to work, school or transport.

If you wish to proceed, Habitat Lettings will explain the information needed and the holding-deposit terms. Provide accurate, complete information and respond promptly to requests.

You may need to supply identification, income evidence, employment or other income details, relevant bank statements, address history, previous landlord details and Right to Rent evidence.

The external credit search contributes to the process, but Habitat Lettings makes the overall assessment internally. Where something needs explanation, the team asks rather than relying only on a computer-generated result.

A holding deposit can reserve the property while agreed pre-tenancy checks are completed. The maximum is one week’s rent and the usual deadline for agreement is 15 days unless another period is agreed in writing.

Before payment, you should receive clear written terms explaining the information required, when the deposit is returned and the circumstances in which it may be retained.

Do not pay rent before the assured periodic tenancy agreement has been signed. After signing, no more than one month’s rent can be required before the tenancy begins.

The tenancy deposit is normally capped at five weeks’ rent where annual rent is below £50,000 and six weeks where annual rent is between £50,000 and £100,000. It must be protected through an approved scheme.

The required checks, documents and payments must be complete before keys are released. Habitat Lettings should provide the information you need about rent, repairs, emergencies, access, property care and how the tenancy is managed.

Read the inventory or schedule of condition carefully. Report any genuine discrepancy within the stated period and keep a copy. The inventory is important evidence for both tenant and landlord at the end of the tenancy.

Check heating controls, alarms, meters, keys and any immediate concern. Report a repair early rather than waiting for the issue to worsen.