How to Rent a House, Flat or Apartment

Before you begin searching for a house to rent, you should determine what you are looking for in a rental property. You must determine where you want to live, the type of property you want, your monthly budget (as well as deposit money), and the amenities that you want to be nearby.

How to Rent a House, Flat or ApartmentThese requirements include:

  • Preferred location – amenities nearby, in the city, or in the country
  • Type of rental property – house, room, studio, or flat
  • Length of expected tenancy
  • Unfurnished or furnished rental
  • Rooms needed – bedrooms, bathrooms, etc.
  • Parking – on-street or off-street parking
  • Land – garden or no garden

Setting a Budget

Determine a manageable budget. When you speak to a letting agent, the rental price could be stated as a weekly rate or a monthly rate. Avoid looking at properties that are rented for more than you can comfortably afford because this could tempt you to rent a home for more than you can afford.

In addition to budgeting for your rental costs, you need to make sure other related expenses are also budgeted in. These expenses may include:

  • Renters insurance – This insurance covers the contents of your house. Renters insurance should be arranged when you sign a lease and will cover all of your personal belongings located inside the property.
  • Council tax – This tax is your responsibility;  ask the landlord or agent for an estimated cost of this tax.
  • Service charges and utility bills – If your property is a serviced apartment, there may be a charge. Ask the landlord or rental agent if the service charge is included in your monthly rent or if it is an additional charge.
  • Deposit – The deposit is typically one month’s rent and is due when you sign a lease.
  • Removal costs – This is
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How Would You Like To Take Underwater Photographs?

An open water dive is one of the most sensational experiences you can have in a lifetime. You can let yourself impressed by amazing wildlife, unspeakable colours and surprising sounds of these underwater creatures. It comes without saying that such an experience will make you want to capture it somehow, in order to share it with others or to savour it over and over again. This means they need a camera. But what camera should you get and how do you use it to capture those precious underwater moments?

How Would You Like To Take Underwater Photographs?

Are You Looking To Buy A Camera?

Are diving and snorkelling part of your regular activities and hobbies? Do you think that you’ll have plenty of opportunities to use your camera? Perhaps you consider learning the art of diving from professionals, so that you can take this hobby to a new level. Or maybe you just want to create cool memories from your family diving holidays and trips, for example the Kinabatangan River Tour, and enjoy owning a camera and a photo kit to use as you wish.

High-End

If money is not a big issue, consider taking a look at the Olympus Tough! TG5 with waterproof housing. You’ll pay about £620 to call this camera yours, but it will be well worth it. This model is waterproof to 45 metres. The camera is rugged and durable. It provides excellent noise control and colour processing.

Mid-Range

For a bit under £400, you can get the Nikon Coolpix W300 which is waterproof up to 30 metres without the need for housing. The wide zoom range and the high resolution monitor recommend this camera as being the right tool to take some extraordinary shots. We do love this camera, hence our decision to rent it time and again!

Bargain

The Fujifilm … Continue reading >>>

What You Need To Know About Driving In Europe After Brexit

What You Need To Know About Driving In Europe After BrexitBrexit will affect UK motorists who wish to drive in any of the EU countries in several ways; this article highlights the changes you must know about.

The changes to the regulations and laws around driving in Europe have a direct impact on driving lisences, driving permits, vehicle insurance policies and many other aspects that motorists will need to consider should they intend to drive on European roads after Brexit.

International Driving Permits

The Department for Transport has stated that in the event of the UK leaving the European Union without a deal, British motorists will be required to get their International Driving Permit (IDP) to be allowed to drive in the EU.
An IDP is nothing more than a translated variant of your actual driving license. It enables foreign officials to perform a quick check of your credentials. This permit costs £5.50 to buy and you can apply for it at your local Post Office.
Bear in mind, though, that an IDP is valid only together with your standard photocard driving licence.

Who Needs An International Driving Permit?

As a matter of fact, there are two types of IPD you can buy. The first one has been agreed upon under the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic while the second one has been born after the 1968 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic.
After Brexit, 1949 International Driving Permits will only be valid in Ireland, Cyprus, Mala and Spain. Should you want to travel in any other EU country, you’ll have to purchase the 1968 IDP. According to the DfT, the type of IDP you’ll need depends on the country you want to visit and not having the correct IDP you expose yourself to not being allowed to enter that country or to paying a hefty fine.

Green Card

Most … Continue reading >>>

Five Things HGV Drivers Do Which Annoy Fleet Managers

HGV drivers have it drilled into them that even small mistakes can be incredibly costly. While not every mistake is going to have huge consequences, a lot of HGV drivers – even those with a C + E licence – don’t realize how the things that they do (or do not do) can reduce the safety of their fleet, the efficiency of the business, and its long term productivity and profitability.

Five Things HGV Drivers Do Which Annoy Fleet ManagersSome oversights are hard to fix but there are a few simple things that are quite impactful and that will make a big difference to a fleet manager’s ability to work efficiently. Let’s take a look at those mistakes:

1. Not using the driver card in the tachograph

Drivers need to put their card in to the tachograph before they start driving. Failure to do so is illegal. It means that the tacho recording will not be linked to them as a driver, and that can cause trouble at the head office as well, making it hard for them to sort out payroll and validate time sheets. When there is no card in the tachograph, there is no ‘qualified drier’ linked to the vehicle, and this could make it difficult to prove who was driving if an insurance claim is necessary.

2. Recording breaks in the ‘other work’ category

Pressing the wrong button and putting a break down as ‘other work’ might seem like a small thing, but it can leave your hours looking vastly different to what they actually are, and may mean that it looks as if you have been breaking the law. Breaks are a legal requirement, and you are only allowed to drive for a certain length of time before you are required to rest. Recording the breaks correctly helps fleet managers to make … Continue reading >>>