Ten things you need to know about renting ¦ Property Guides on Times Online

- The best recommendation is word-of-mouth. Ask friends, family and colleagues if they know of properties to rent.

- It is a good idea to put a notice on the notice-board at work or elsewhere, detailing your requirements. You could also place an ad in local shop windows, but these do tend to attract unscrupulous landlords, so be extra-cautious.

- Be the first to check out classified sections in local newspapers. You must be quick off the mark to get the best properties, so find out where the first editions are delivered to, and be ready with a pen, paper and mobile phone.

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- Contact the accommodation services of your local colleges and universities. Although they will specialise in student accommodation, they will also be used to advising relocating academics.

- Drive or walk around and look for “To Let” boards. Follow up those of interest with the agents, and keep a note of their details for future reference.

- Use the internet to whittle down suitable-looking lettings agencies/estate agencies, and to search for properties.

- It is a good idea to visit estate agents and specialist lettings agents in person; key indicators of a reliable company include membership of a professional organisation such as Arla which means it is required to employ a minimum of at least one member of staff who holds a suitable industry qualification, and a decent selection of properties on its books.

- Accommodation agencies are not always lettings agencies. They hold details of properties, but will not necessarily be responsible for managing them.

- If time is tight, consider using a property search service, which will find you a home to rent for a fixed fee, usually comprising a “retaining fee” for the time required to search, and a “success fee” of one’s month’s rent when a property is found.

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