High season closes: what to settle before October
The busiest month of the year is ending. A short list for tenants and landlords before things quieten down.
September concentrates more contracts than any other month. When the pace drops is exactly when it pays to tidy up what was signed in a hurry.
If you have just moved into a property
- Check you have a signed copy of the contract and the inventory, and that the meter readings were recorded.
- Confirm the deposit has been lodged with the relevant body: it is the landlord's obligation and it protects you.
- Finish the utility transfers if you left them half done.
- Save the video or photos from move-in day somewhere you will find them in three years' time.
If you have just let your property
- Lodge the deposit if you have not yet, and keep the receipt.
- File the energy certificate, the contract and the inventory together.
- Put the rent review date and the contract expiry in the calendar, with a reminder months ahead.
- Review the insurance policy: if the property is now let, the cover may need adjusting.
And for both sides: be clear about which channel you will use to communicate. Most tenancy disputes do not start from a disagreement, they start from a message nobody can find six months later.
What comes next
October and November are quiet months, with less competition and more room to negotiate. If you are still looking and September left you with nothing, it is not a bad moment: there is less rush, and whoever is letting out of season tends to be more open to talking about the price.
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