Costs of renting

General

When renting a property you should consider all of the following costs in order to work out how much you can realistically afford to spend on a property. This list is by no means exhaustive but should help you work out a guideline budget before committing yourself to a specific property.

On-going Costs

Rent

The rent will be due on the 1st of every month. The rent will not include gas, electricity or council tax.

The rent will vary depending on size, location, and standard of property, so you must be realistic about your budget and your requirements.

Council Tax

As a tenant, you are responsible for the Council Tax on a property. Each property is banded, and Council Tax can vary between £80 and £300 per month. If you will be the only person occupying the property you can apply to the council for a discount on your yearly Council Tax bill, full time students may also apply to the Council for an exemption. It is essential that you check this cost before applying for a property. To check which band a property is please contact the council directly on 0131 469 5000

Gas and electricity

As a tenant you are responsible for the gas and electricity bills. The amount will depend upon the usage of the gas and electricity within the property.

Telephone bill

Please allow for a quarterly line rental charge plus the cost of the calls you make. If you have a broadband or cable / satellite subscription you must remember to include these additional costs too.

Insurance

As you will have many of your own possessions in the property, it is advisable to take out your own contents insurance. One of the companies who can arrange this for you is Insure Smart. You can contact them by telephoning 01592 649786 or visiting the website http://www.insure-smart.co.uk/. Be sure to tell them you were referred by Dunedin Property Management Ltd to get the most competitive rate.

One-off rental costs

Deposit

You must pay a deposit for any property you are renting. Dunedin Property Management Ltd will hold this for the duration of your tenancy. If necessary, your deposit will be used to pay for any cleaning, missing inventory items and damage to the property or contents at the end of your tenancy,

TV licence

If you intend using a television in the property, it's your responsibility as the tenant to obtain a valid TV licence. You can pick up the forms at the Post Office or call 0870 241 6468 for further details.

Telephone connection / Broadband

In most cases there will be telephone points throughout the property but it is your responsibility to get connected. You will need to call your preferred company and organise for them to visit the property. Connection costs may vary so please call the relevant company for an accurate price.

Removal Van

Unless you have your own van, the property is fully-furnished or you have someone who can move your belongings for you, you will have to arrange and pay for either the hire of a van or for an actual removal company to move your belongings from your current residence to your new home.