Femi had it all planned out. He would sneak out of the office at 3:30 to beat traffic, pick up the cake and presents and  set up the decorations at the his flat. Then, he would pick Sandra up, and valentine’s day would begin. They would have dinner at the Mirage before heading back to his flat.

The flat. He had forgotten about that. He could hardly call it home. It really was not more than a  dysfunctional  one bedroom dump he was trapped in. Before renting  it, Femi  had been staying with a friend  on the outskirts of town, and was desperate to get a living space of his own.

He had seen the listing in the yellow pages and the pictures he saw satisfied his curiosity. The one bedroom flat was located on the Westland, a supposedly exclusive part of town, and the price was a fraction of what he thought it would be. It was too good to be true. He ignored the impatient tone of the agent, Mr. Brown when he asked to see the place before paying for it. Femi did not want another person to snatch the place up, so he paid cash , neglecting to collect a receipt. He also did not notice the wicked smile playing on Mr. Brown’s lips as he handed the keys to him.

Femi was not pleased to discover that his Westland dream house was lodged between a cement factory and the local garbage disposal dump. His worries increased when he met broken fittings, badly done plumbing which gave off an offensive odour, and neighbours who played music  so loud he could not  even think. Mr. Brown ignored his pleas to conduct repairs and the days wore on.

Home was supposed to be his sanctum, a place where Femi  could work and play and exist. But he had paid two years rent, and there was no going back, not with the dwindling economy. 

He and Sandra would have to move the valentine’s party somewhere else, because  he knew that she would not take one step into the flat that constantly smelled like a septic tank. If only he had been wiser.

Anyone would be happy to avoid the slew of problems our good friend Femi has to deal with. Renting a place to live, from a self contained apartment to a five bedroom detached work of art, is no easy task. There are many factors to consider to make the process easier, and also to ensure the prospective tenant does not fall headlong into a barrage of complications.

In this series, we will go through a set of guidelines that would benefit anyone looking to rent a living space. If you do not fancy Femi’s undesirable situation, you might want to keep reading.

#1. Understand Your Needs

Before you go shopping for that new apartment, the first thing to do is factor in your needs. Make a checklist of the places you might want to live. Also, consider the number of people living with you. Are you a big family, complete with dependent relatives? a bachelor, or a group of girlfriends who want to live together? Figuring out your needs before taking the plunge will help narrow down the search for an ideal living space.

#2. Location! Location! Location!

The first factor to consider is the location of the house. Any person seeking to rent a place must consider the desired location. Would you be comfortable living in that area? Is the property located in a satellite town or the city centre? What is the distance between the house and the workplace, school, and other important places? What are the transportation costs? These are questions to be considered by the house hunter.

It is pertinent for the prospective tenant to have a clear picture of the kind of space he would want to live in (read #1 above). The goal is to secure a decent place that gives value for your money.

Environmental concerns are a very important factor to look out for. The house hunter should inspect the property and  its surroundings carefully. Pictures and appearances may be deceitful, so one must visit the house and make careful observations  before committing to a tenancy agreement. Consider the  proximity of the property to places of worship, markets, highways, industrial areas and refuse dumps . This is to examine the potential risks of noise, air and other forms of environmental pollution, and consider the health concerns that could arise. For instance, a place like Femi’s, located close to a refuse dump may pose health risks to the tenant.

# 3. Budget

In another post, this might have been the number one consideration. One must draw up a budget in order to plan effectively. It is wise to have a price range in mind when house hunting to avoid excessive spending. Note that property in highbrow areas may cost more than other locations, while other areas generally offer more affordable housing arrangements.

#4. Authority of the Agent

It is important to ensure the agent the prospective tenant is dealing with has the authority of the owner of the property to rent or lease the house. This is to avoid instances of fraud and situations where one property is leased to several people.

#5. Security

Before signing that tenancy agreement, it is necessary to check the security detail of the property. Is the house fenced and is there a front gate? Is there a high security risk in the location? Do not neglect to check the locks, burglary proofing and the immediate surroundings to ensure they are properly fitted. Also, observe the environment surrounding the property to identify possible security threats. It would pay to ask neighbours and  residents of the area in order to be informed on potential security risks in that area.

#6. Check for Defects

Before paying the rent and moving into the property, the prospective tenant should  inspect the property to check for defects. Points to look out for include the fixtures and fittings, drainage system, electrical wiring, plumbing and so on. Any repairs to be done must be completed by the Landlord or his agent  before the tenant moves into the building.

TO BE CONTINUED IN THE NEXT POST…