Should I Rent a House Without Viewing It?

Whether you’re stuck at work, isolating at home or can’t find the time to travel long distances to view a new rental, you may be wondering if you can just sign the lease without viewing it first – and whether it’s a good idea or not!

Everyone has their reasons for not viewing a house before renting it. But if you’re not sure what to do, here’s a handy guide about whether you can (and should!) view a house before renting it, plus a few tips on how to do it in the right way if it’s unavoidable.

Can You Rent Without Viewing it First?

Put simply, yes, you can rent a house without viewing it first. There are no legal restrictions about needing to view a property before signing the lease. However, that doesn’t mean that viewings aren’t important. There are many benefits to viewing a house before deciding whether it’s the right fit for you.

What are the Benefits of Viewing a House Before Renting?

Many lessons can be learned about the power of photography angles after viewing a rental in person. Looks can be deceiving and it’s not uncommon to find a house that looks very different (in colour, shape or size) in real life than it does in the pictures.

Viewing a house before renting it has many benefits, including that you can:

• Check out the size – Pictures online can make rooms appear bigger than they really are. Viewing a house in person gives you a much better idea of just how big or small it is.
• Measure up – Are you bringing your own furniture? Or do you need new stuff? Visiting in person means you can measure up where things can go, so you can settle in with your furniture right away.
• Scope out the local area – Have you ever visited somewhere and fallen in love with the local area? Or had the opposite happen? When visiting in person, you get to see the things that aren’t online, like how busy the streets or roads are.
• Check for issues – Being there in person means you can check whether any major or minor issues need fixing before you sign the lease.
• See if it feels like home – Renting a house that you intend to live in should feel like a home. Sometimes, the only way to see whether a rental is the right fit for you is to see what it feels like to be in it.

How to Rent a Property Without Viewing It

Even though it’s best to view a house before renting it, it may be impossible or unavoidable for you. If that’s the case, here are our tips on how to do it right when renting a property you can’t view.

Ask Lots of Questions

If you really can’t get the time off work or the rental is abroad and difficult to get to, make sure you ask a lot of questions to the letting agent or landlord. Try to send your questions via email and ask for the answers in writing. If you don’t think the letting agent has given you enough information about certain subjects, give them a call to follow up in more detail.

Request a Video Walkthrough

Ever since the 2020 global pandemic, more estate agents are offering easier ways for renters to view properties without having to visit them. Ask the letting agent for a live or pre-recorded video walkthrough. Not all agents will oblige, but if they’re keen to get a tenancy signed, it’s worth asking!

Are You Moving Into a Rental Home?

Moving rental can be a difficult and stressful time, especially if you have to pay your new deposit upfront before getting any of your old ones back. With Fronted’s help, we can make moving rental more affordable with our Lifetime Deposit Scheme. Check out how our Lifetime Deposits work to learn more about whether it’s the right solution for you or contact us today to find out more.