FIRST TIME BUYERS&

RENTING A HOUSE AS A FOREIGNER

By Victoria MiguelAmparo Navas

From your point of view guess if these sentences are True or False

• Most people first move when they go to University.• After that they don’t come back to their parents house. • They prefer buying a house alone. • In their early twenties they prefer living with friends sharing a

rented place. • Parents don’t usually help them to buy their first house. • Most people buy their first house when they are 20 to 25 years old. • It’s required the 25% deposit to buy a house. • If renting you are asked for 1 month rent in advance plus around

£100 and a damage deposit of 1 or 2 month rent. • Renting is more common in England than in Spain. • The minimum renting time is 6 months if you do it through an

estate agent.

TRUE• Most people first move when they go

to University.• In their early twenties they prefer

living with friends sharing a rented place.

• Most people buy their first house when they are 20 to25 years old.

• It’s required the 25% deposit to buy a house.

• If renting you are asked for 1 month rent in advance plus around £100 and a damage deposit of 1 month rent.

• The minimum renting time is 6 months if you do it through an estate agent

FALSE• After that they don’t come back to

their parents house. • They prefer buying a house alone• Parents don’t usually help them to

buy their first house.• Renting is more common in England

than in Spain.

SURVEY

NAME AGE HOW LONG DID THEY

FIRST RENT A HOUSE FOR?

DID THEY COME BACK HOME TO

SAVE MONEY FOR THE HOUSE?

DID THEY BUY THEIR

FIRST HOUSE? WHEN ?

DID THEY NEED ANY

ECONOMICALHELP?

DID THEY BUY THE HOUSE ALONE/

COUPLE?

NEAR WORK/ FAMILY/OTHERS

OTHER ASPECTS

JO 52 18-37 SHORT PERIODS 37 NO ALONE WORK

MALE 38 18-21 NO 21 NO COUPLE OTHERS

FEMALE 36 18-22 YES 24 YES ALONE FAMILY

JIM 37 ---- ------ 22 NO ALONE WORK

SUSAN 42 18-20 NO 20 NO ALONE WORK

SHARIF 33 18-31 YES 31 NO COUPLE WORK

TAREK 33 18-30 YES 30 YES COUPLE QUALITY OF THE HOUSE

PETER 32 ---- ---- 29 YES ALONE FAMILY

FRANK 28 18-23 YES NOPARENTS HOUSE

SARAH 24 18-22 YES NO ----

FEMALE 24 ------ ------- 19 YES(PARENTS) COUPLE FAMILY

LUCY 24 ------ NOPARENTS’

HOUSE

SURVEY CONCLUSIONS UNDER 35 YEARS OLD

• People under 35 usually buy their first house in their thirties.

• As you can see in the chart many of them haven’t bought a house yet.

• They usually live with friends in a rented house while they are at University.

• They come back to their parents house while they are saving for their own house.

• Parents help them to buy their house.• They usually buy the house with the

partner. They share the mortgage.

OVER 35 YEARS OLD• People over 35 usually bought their

first house in their early twenties.• They don’t usually come back to their

parents home (short term exceptions)

• They usually buy their home on their own

• They could afford it without the parents help.

How to rent a house being a foreigner

Steps to follow:

First step: In an estate agent the first thing want you to do is to decide what kind of accommodation are you looking for taking into account preferences like:LocationProperty type: The main types of houses in England are:– Detached – Semi-detached – Terrace – Flats (apartments) Number of bedroomsFurnished/unfurnished/ partly furnished

Price range

£ 650 per month A 2 bedroom detached house situated within pleasant cul-de-sac location in the ever popular suburb of Catton. The property offers 2 spacious reception rooms, 2 double bedrooms and bathroom, utility

room, double glazed windows, gas central heating, gardens, garage.

£ 595 per monthLocated west of the city just of the Dereham Road. This semi detached house comprises entrance hall. Double bedroom with fitted wardrobes. Second single bedroom. Bathroom with mixer tap facility over bath and fitted electric shower, kitchen with gas hob

£ 625 per monthA well-presented two-bedroom terrace house within easy walking distance of the city centre. Other benefits include gas central heating, double glazed windows, recently fitted kitchen and bathroom and generous, well-maintained gardens.

£ 575 per month A two bedroom, ground floor flat offered in unfurnished condition. The property comprises of an entrance hall leading to two bedrooms, both with built in wardrobes and a bathroom with shower over the bath. Lounge through to kitchen with oven/hob, fridge/freezer and washing machine.

Second step:

This step will be different if you are a student or if your have a job

Student: They have to complete a tenancy application form and return it with the agents application fee of £125. The estate may ask you to pay for the whole rent in advance. Otherwise you will need a guarantor. This is a character reference application form from a full time job person knows you for at least 3 years (parents, relative or close friends). He/ she should pay an application fee of £ 75.

If you have a job: You will be asked for some references:– Where you have lived in the last 12 months and your landlords personal details; if you

have been living in your own house you will be required an utility bill with your personal details. – Where you have worked and your employee references and where you currently work

with a contract that proves your income.– Credit references: they need your permission to check your bank accounts back in your

country.

Third step

– The reference fee which should be paid on submitting these application form is refundable to the applicant if the agent or landlord decide not to proceed for any reason. Depending on the estate agent the prices are:

Single tenant: £ 125- 130 Subsequent tenants: £ 35-50

Once they get all these references they will have to approve them which takes about a week or two.

You have to pay in advance 1 month of rent. And a 1 and a damage deposit of one an a half month rent.If the house is furnitured an inventory is required.

You have to pay on your own electricity, gas, water and the council tax. All fees are inclusive of VAT.

Just for those who love animal is useful to know that pets are not generally allowed in flat. In the event of a landlord accepting a pet a higher damage deposit will be required

Estate Agents in Norwich, Norfolk

•Alexander & Co•Arnolds•Brown & Co•City lettings Norwich•Haart Norwich, lettings•Horwards Estate Agents•Kings & Co•Martin & Co, lettings•Northwood Norwich•Premier properties, Norwich•Potter & Co•Sapey & Co, Norwich•Watson, Norwich•William H Brown lettings Norwich