The process of renting a house abroad and renting a house in China are actually similar. What is it like to rent a house when studying in the UK?

How to rent an apartment while studying in the UK? In fact, the procedures for renting a house abroad and renting a house domestically are actually similar. If you are planning to rent in the UK, you will be joining the growing army of ‘gentle renters’, which has grown from 10% of all households in the 1990s to 22% or 5.4 million households today1. As the number of private renters increases, market regulation tightens to protect tenants from bad landlords and unscrupulous agents and to make rental properties safer.

But while so many people rent, it’s surprising how many first-time renters don’t know the basics of how to rent, and the potential pitfalls they face. ?Guide to renting while studying in the UK?Finding properties to rent?Viewing?Beware of scams?Being accepted?References?Rent rights?Deposits?Lease agreements?Inventory checks?Start building your credit score

Finding properties to rent Properties

Most people start their search on the major property portals such as Rightmove or Zoopla, but properties are letting so quickly that it's still worth calling a few local letting agents every day to see what's just Listed properties - before they are listed online - and there are real estate websites such as OpenRent that offer "live" listings. ?Watch

Having an agent's photos can make even the cramped one-bedroom look spacious, so no matter how desperate you are, it's crucial to actually see a rental property.

This is also a good opportunity to find out some important information to help you decide whether to package your property. Questions to ask include:? Is the property managed by the landlord or an agent? Is the landlord planning to renovate in the near future? Deposit - six weeks rent is now the norm? How much will the letting agent charge you in management fees, reference fees and fees before or after you move in? What is included in the occupancy fee? Can you smoke or have pets on the property?

Does it have the correct safety features - including smoke and carbon monoxide detectors/alarms?

Rent Which official deposit program is the agent registered with?

Tip: If you are renting with friends, make sure everyone is there to view; don’t just send one person to inspect. Properties are often available for rent within a few hours, especially in popular city center locations. ?Beware of Scams

Make sure you can see the property face to face with the landlord or agent. More and more people are renting properties online without actually visiting them, and they are increasingly being scammed by fake landlords who steal photos of real properties to rent and then create fake listings on auction sites like eBay or on Facebook. So be careful! It happens. ?Be Accepted

If the landlord likes you and you are in, there is some paperwork to complete before you can get the keys: ?Reference

These days, most landlords and agents will let Tenant Reference. This includes a credit check and references from your bank, previous landlords and employers. If you are unable to provide these, then sometimes landlords will allow a relative to be your rent guarantor. ?Right to Rent

The government is now forcing landlords or their letting agents to check that every tenant over the age of 18 named on their tenancy agreement has the right to rent in the UK before they move in, or face hefty fines. This means that a copy of the tenant's UK passport or any document giving them rights of residence in the UK will be made. ?Deposit

Before you move in, you must pay a deposit of 4 to 6 weeks' rent to your landlord or agent. The law in turn requires them to deposit their deposit into one of three government-approved deposit schemes, give the tenant two receipts for the deposit and tell them which scheme it is registered in. In addition to a deposit, tenants in the UK are required to pay their first month's rent in advance - usually in advance rather than in arrears. ?Tenancy Agreement

Any reputable landlord or letting agent in the UK will ask you to sign a tenancy agreement. The most common is the Assured Shorthold Tenancy protocol, or AST. This is a contract between the tenant and landlord, usually for six months, after which both parties can quit with one month's notice.

It also sets out the terms on how the tenant can rent the property and names the landlord, including their address and contact details, how much the rent is, when it is due each month, how it is paid and when rent increases are likely to occur .

ASTs are relatively standard contracts these days, but read them carefully - some landlords add non-standard clauses, such as rules that prevent tenants from keeping pets in the property, stating that they can or cannot keep pets on the walls Place things on and prevent tenants from bringing additional, for example, furniture to the property. ?Inventory inspection

Before you move in, many landlords will have a stockist come in to record and photograph all fixtures, fittings and furniture in the property, as well as the condition of paint, carpets, furniture and curtains. You will usually be asked to pay for this. ?Move in - and start building your credit score

Tenants can improve their credit score without borrowing money. If you want to improve your credit profile by reporting on your rent payments, CreditLadder is the only way to improve your credit score and credit profile with all three of the UK's main credit reference agencies, namely Experian, Equifax and TransUnion