There are many benefits to owning your own home, not least the element of security that you have in the long term. Renting, however, is much more flexible, especially if you move around a lot. If you’re just looking for somewhere short-term to live it can be great, and there are some great properties to rent out there. One of the biggest benefits of renting over owning is that renovations and repair are not your responsibility. This only works if you have a landlord who is conscientious, though. Some landlords are great and run around to fix a dodgy window, or a broken thermostat straight away. Others are not so helpful, as we’ll see in this article.
Playing the system
There are as many different rental agreements as there are renters. Some involve paying separately for utilities, so your energy is your own responsibility. This has pros and cons, as sometimes the efficiency of the heating systems affects your energy use, and you can’t do anything about them.
Some renters land upon a deal where utilities are included in your rent, so you can use as much electricity as you like without it impacting your monthly outgoings. Landlords don’t always play fair, as in this case, where the landlord turned down the heating during a -40 degree cold spell. This was the tenant’s solution. Staying warm shouldn’t be a luxury.