It is vital to remain safe when looking for a new flat or new flatmate. Generally you will not have any difficulties locating a place to live and you will only encounter genuinely pleasant people, who would like nothing more than to find an equally pleasant individual to share their home with. There are some strange folks out there though, or even a number who are in fact out to get you (it's not paranoia; it's just common sense), so staying vigilant is always the best course of action.
There's one crucial rule that you will want to keep in mind: if it seems too good to be true, then there's a high probability it isn't true. Be wary of flatshares that are priced dramatically lower than other apartments around the same location, or appears too cheap for the standard shown in any advertisement photos. Exercise extreme caution if an advertiser tells you that you can't see a room until you have signed something or even handed over money, also be wary if requested to pay / receive funds by way of a money transfer system (like Western Union). If you reply to an advert written in clear English and following correspondence appears to be inconsistent in language use / quality, you should then also be cautious.
Always see the accommodation before you agree to anything and certainly before you make any payment. Any property should always be of a safe and liveable standard, which means you need to steer clear of any rooms to rent that don't fit this description. You should also be provided with a copy of any tenancy contract to review prior to signing, and be made aware of the tenancy deposit scheme your landlord will be using. Your deposit money is by law required to be kept safe within a government approved scheme for the duration of your stay, however it doesn't mean that you are guaranteed to get the total amount back (as the landlord may be permitted to make deductions in specific instances).
In order to remain physically safe when dealing with classified ads, you need to take a couple of measures in order to avoid potentially dangerous situations. If you're arranging a viewing, it is a good idea to get a landline telephone number that you can contact to confirm on first. You will need to make a note of the address that you will be going to and avoid agreeing to meet somewhere else, then you need to inform a friend / member of the family / trusted colleague of the address as well so that someone knows where you are. Additionally let your friend (or whomever) know the name of the individual you are meeting as well as the time that you'll be meeting them, maybe agreeing a time to call one another to confirm that you're safe.
There's one crucial rule that you will want to keep in mind: if it seems too good to be true, then there's a high probability it isn't true. Be wary of flatshares that are priced dramatically lower than other apartments around the same location, or appears too cheap for the standard shown in any advertisement photos. Exercise extreme caution if an advertiser tells you that you can't see a room until you have signed something or even handed over money, also be wary if requested to pay / receive funds by way of a money transfer system (like Western Union). If you reply to an advert written in clear English and following correspondence appears to be inconsistent in language use / quality, you should then also be cautious.
Always see the accommodation before you agree to anything and certainly before you make any payment. Any property should always be of a safe and liveable standard, which means you need to steer clear of any rooms to rent that don't fit this description. You should also be provided with a copy of any tenancy contract to review prior to signing, and be made aware of the tenancy deposit scheme your landlord will be using. Your deposit money is by law required to be kept safe within a government approved scheme for the duration of your stay, however it doesn't mean that you are guaranteed to get the total amount back (as the landlord may be permitted to make deductions in specific instances).
In order to remain physically safe when dealing with classified ads, you need to take a couple of measures in order to avoid potentially dangerous situations. If you're arranging a viewing, it is a good idea to get a landline telephone number that you can contact to confirm on first. You will need to make a note of the address that you will be going to and avoid agreeing to meet somewhere else, then you need to inform a friend / member of the family / trusted colleague of the address as well so that someone knows where you are. Additionally let your friend (or whomever) know the name of the individual you are meeting as well as the time that you'll be meeting them, maybe agreeing a time to call one another to confirm that you're safe.
About the Author:
Using precautions when searching for a flatshare Chelmsford is not a sign of undue paranoia. People who have malicious intentions make up the smallest minority of society, however they are still around and that alone is sufficient cause to take measures to protect yourself.
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