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Moving out to rent

Leaving home is a big decision but an important step for young adults to learn responsibility and self-management. The process could be either very exciting or very frustrating depending on your level of preparation. If you are ready to leave home and claim your independence here are a few crucial questions to consider:

  • Do you have the funds to cover all related expenses?
  • Do you have to buy furniture and appliances?
  • What happens if you lose your job?
  • Do you have savings for minor repairs if necessary?
  • How do you plan to pay your landlord/lady? Cash, Cheques, Standing Order?

Most landlords require at least one month’s rent in advance as a security deposit and, if you are using a rental agency, you may have to pay them the equivalent of one month’s rent as well. If you are moving into an unfurnished apartment/home, you may need to buy furniture and appliances to live comfortably.

If you do not have funds to cover these expenses, you should let us set up an automatic or forced savings plan for you as soon as possible so you can reach your goal. However, if you are ready to move immediately but don’t have the funds required, we can give you a consumer loan to cover all your settling-in expenses and make this a stress-free transition. Expenses to consider:

  • 1st month’s deposit for landlord
  • Fee/commission payable to rental agency
  • Purchase of furniture and appliances
  • Cost of transportation/moving
  • Cost of temporary storage

Savings for 3-month salary cushion:

We highly recommend that you try to have 3 month’s salary set aside to cover rent, bills and other living expenses in the event of job loss or any other unexpected situation. Be realistic and include groceries, transportation and even food for your pet dog if required. This is best done through either forced or automatic savings.

Save for expenses related to maintenance and minor repairs:
Pipes spring leaks, door locks get jammed and appliances malfunction. In some rental agreements, the tenant is expected to cover expenses for minor repairs up to a certain value. So, you should have savings set aside for this purpose, plus some extra for maintenance of your personal appliances or furniture. You should try to save for this, but, you can also use a credit card for emergencies of this nature.

Payment solutions:
To simplify the rent paying process and avoid your landlord having to knock on your door to remind you that rent is due, we recommend that you:

  • Set up a standing order to automatically - debit your transaction account and credit your landlord’s account on the day that rent is due.
  • Also, you can utilize Internet, ATM and Telephone banking services to easily pay utility bills; monitor your accounts and keep track of expenses; ensure that you have enough funds to cover rent and confirm loans and standing orders are being paid on time. Ask one of our friendly representatives which of these services are available to you.
When shopping at furniture and appliance stores etc., the credit card is the most convenient tool. If you already have a credit card, you may need to request a limit increase to pay for costly items that exceed your credit limit. Also, extra cash is always required when setting up to rent. A chequing account with an overdraft facility will come in very handy when you have to pay servicemen who repair your furniture or appliances. After deciding how much of your savings you will use, work out the total financing required for other related expenses. You can borrow for all your setting-up needs including:
  • Purchase of furniture and appliances
  • First month’s deposit
  • Rental agency fee
  • Temporary storage fee
  • Transport costs

Protect your investment:

While your landlord has to pay property insurance, you should certainly consider protecting your personal assets – furniture, appliances, computer etc. You should know that it costs very little to insure these items for their replacement value. That way, if they are stolen or damaged, you can quickly replace them and get yourself back on your feet. Ask about our Contents Insurance today.

You may be planning to eventually buy a home of your own. If you want to make this a reality, remember:

  • You would usually need a down payment, plus closing costs (legal fees, stamp duty, etc.) to qualify for a mortgage. The best way to acquire this is through Forced or Automatic Savings.
  • Don’t rent an apartment that is so costly that you cannot afford to save.
  • Consider having a roommate if the rental agreement allows so you can split the rent.
  • It is not recommended that you rent a property for more than 25 to 30% of your monthly income.

You should have an automatic savings plan to a high interest yielding account or a loan to save your down payment and closing cost.

7 steps from home: 
Go through the following steps to make sure that, when you’re mentally ready to buy your home, you will also be financially ready:
  1. Give yourself a deadline for buying your home (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 years etc.) I want my home in x years.
  2. Make a list of your ‘must have’ features e.g. master bedroom with private bathroom or a room that could be converted to a music or art studio, study, workshop etc.
  3. Find out the going prices for houses with these features (check classified ads, do site visits etc.)
  4. Work out your estimated down payment plus closing costs. 
  5. Work out how much you have to save yearly to have the down payment and legal fees (that would be the total of step 4 above divided by the number of years you decided in step 1) 
  6. Work out how much you need to be saving monthly starting this month (step 5 divided by 12)
  7. Visit your branch and set up an Automatic Savings plan for your home purchase...today.

Things to have on your list:

  • Set up a savings plan or arrange a loan for settling-in costs (first month's down payment, rental agency fee etc.).
  • Set up a 3 Month Salary Cushion to insulate yourself against job loss or even job dependency.
  • Set up a savings plan to cover maintenance and minor repairs.
  • Open Credit Card and Chequing accounts to purchase furniture and appliances and pay service providers.
  • Protect your investment in furniture and appliances with Contents Insurance.
  • Use Standing Orders, ATM Cards, Internet and Telephone Banking (where available) to easily pay rent, bills, track expenses and monitor accounts.
  • Save for down payment and closing costs if you plan to buy a home in the future.