The Estate Agent

• Let lots of Monmouth estate agents know what you are looking for so you get a really good selection to choose from.
• * Inform the agent of your criteria (location, budget, furnished/unfurnished, occupation date requirement, tenancy period and any other aspects that are important to you).
• Expect to pay a deposit of at least one months rent, possibly more. Possibly some administration charges.
• You may be required to provide references.
• Ensure you read and understand the tenancy agreement. Be sure there is no abiguity in the agreement or content that the estate agent can "interpret" to their benefit. The Citizens Advice Bureau may check this for you. Clarify what is NOT included in the rental fee, such as council tax, utility bills, ground maintenance etc.
• Examine the inventory prepared by the agent and keep a copy.
• Check restrictions: sub-letting, pets etc. Can you redecorate?
• Notify defects in writing as soon as they become apparent (even if you do not want them remedied).
• Establish what is covered under maintenance (boilers, refrigerators, radiators etc.).
• Usually, you will not have to deal with the landlord directly. Should you have any problems or queries, direct them to your agent first.
• Other issues to consider are, parking, neighbours, noise levels, public transport availability etc.

Energy Performance Certificates (EPC)

Energy Performance Certificates, or EPCs, have been available since October 1st 2008 to outline the energy efficiency rating and the environmental impact rating of a property.

The rating offered by the EPC will range from A to G, where A is very efficient and G is very inefficient, with the typical rating for a home being either D or E. These simple ratings will allow potential tenants to compare homes of interest to gain an insight into the difference in potential running costs.

Advice for Tenants

• Be sure to check the EPC rating before agreeing to rent a property, a house with a poor rating could be liable to greater running costs compared to a similar house with a better rating.
• Be aware that landlords are under no obligation to improve the EPC rating of their property.
• Look into the possible grants and schemes offered by the Government to help tenants improve the energy efficiency of their home.
• Make sure that the EPC assessment has been made by an accredited Domestic Energy Assessor (DEA) - details can be found at www.epcregister.com
• Check how long the EPC has been in effect for, EPCs will be valid for up to 10 years.

For more tenant information on Energy Performance Certificates click here   and view the Government released booklet that helps to explain EPCs in even greater detail.