Before you sign a tenancy agreement

It's easy to be won over by a nicely decorated property, but you need to be sensible when deciding where to live. Consider your household's needs carefully and assess whether the location, size and style of the property suit these. You should also check the property thoroughly for signs of disrepair which may cause issues once you're living in the property.

Be sure that you can afford your monthly rent, rates and any other associated costs. If you will be applying for housing benefit or Universal Credit to help you meet the costs of your rent, make sure that you find out how much help you are likely to be entitled to under the Local Housing Allowance rules. Benefit assistance with housing costs will not usually cover your full monthly rent.

Most tenancy agreements specify a term of 12 months. However, if no specific term is mentioned, a default term of 6 months will apply. If you've applied for social housing and are waiting for an offer from the Housing Executive you should try to negotiate a term of 6 months or less, if possible, as you could still be held liable for rent in your privately rented property once you move into a social tenancy.

There are a few important pieces of paperwork that you'll need to keep safe once you become a tenant. You will usually be asked to sign a tenancy agreement, but this is not always the case. If you do sign a tenancy agreement, make sure you get a signed copy.