How to know a good rent value

I'm wondering how we will know what the going rate for rent is and how much to bargain or hesitate about before signing off on a place.

I've seen a zillion photos but you know...Also like most places, I see different quality across the rates. I am surprised that some places look like they would fetch a higher rent.

Hope this all made some sense.

I wouldn't sign off on renting a place until you've seen it in person or someone else you trust has - or you could be stuck with a real dump without really knowing it. It looks like you may have a good idea about how much rents are in the area you are looking to settle. Rents can vary a lot due to location (is it near public transport? or a take away? is there parking near by?), who the renters tend to be (young professionals? students?) and sometimes rent is high for no discernable reason (or because they have recently done a lot of work on the property).

I don't know in which area you are planning to settle, but here's some general links for you: London Rents Map, Best and worst places to rent, and Finding a place to rent.

Thank you Cali Girl!

I went to various search sites (ex. rightmove) and searched for properties in the area I was looking at.  I found that similar places were fetching similar rent prices, and averaged them out to get a sense of what I could be expecting in that area for a specific type property.  If a place had substantially lower or higher rent, I would make a point of figuring out why.  I found that some places weren't very close to any transport links, some places had recently been totally re-done with all new appliances, some had various utility bills included in the rent price, some had parking spaces, etc.  But on the whole, I found that doing a fair bit of online searching was pretty good at determining a ballpark figure of what landlords were asking in a specific area.

If a place had substantially lower or higher rent, I would make a point of figuring out why.  I found that some places weren't very close to any transport links, some places had recently been totally re-done with all new appliances, some had various utility bills included in the rent price, some had parking spaces, etc. 

Thank you. It is about compromise. What we need, where we need, what we would love and what we can afford.

Pay close attention to the type of windows in a property. If they're old and single-glazed, you'll most likely have a pretty drafty house that can get a bit noisy if you're on a busy road.

Our terrace has old, single-glazed sash windows and while I absolutely adore the character of the property and the location, I've spent the better part of the past 17 months freezing inside my house (at any time of year, btw!)

Pay close attention to the type of windows in a property. If they're old and single-glazed, you'll most likely have a pretty drafty house that can get a bit noisy if you're on a busy road.

Our terrace has old, single-glazed sash windows and while I absolutely adore the character of the property and the location, I've spent the better part of the past 17 months freezing inside my house (at any time of year, btw!)

LOL! So true. Many years ago, I got quite a kick out of the high esteem they hold for double-glazing. Husband said with single-glaze you see the curtains move all of the time and that double was as wonderful as sliced bread. I wrote song lyrics about it. Need to try to find the Kinks.

We have single glazing.

Last weekend our bedroom was 8 degrees with the heating running all day.  It so awesome. 

blahblah, how much longer do you before you have to "use" your visa?

Our terrace has old, single-glazed sash windows and while I absolutely adore the character of the property and the location, I've spent the better part of the past 17 months freezing inside my house (at any time of year, btw!)

yes!  I am cold in my house, winter or summer because i have the same type of window situation.  Huge, almost floor-to celing windows in both bedroom and living room... these are the original windows in an almost 100 year old property.  Loose, rickety wooden frames, and single glazed.  Not this winter, but last, i folded a blanket up and placed it next to one of the windows to stop some of the draught and a few days later I went to remove the blanket.  It was stuck FROZEN to the window!!

Yeah, it's a real 'kick'. 

When I stayed with a friend one winter in Spokane Washington, it was a very old drafty house with single window panes.  She used to use plastic film wrap that she taped up over her windows in the winter time.  It made a big difference. 

I would love to use it, but I think my landlord would object since you need to put sticky tape all around the window frame.   

That tape isn't suppose to tear up the walls and any trim is it?

We use that plastic film you are talking about.  Our place is a bit drafty - not terrible, but enough that the gas bill is high and there are noticeable temperature gradients.  Plus, on the coldest days/nights, the apartment struggles to reach 68F even with the windows covered with plastic.  The plastic enables the place to heat up quicker, reduces drafts, and reduces the gas bill.

We just took it off tonight as our landlord is coming round tomorrow with an estate agent to put the place up for rent as we are moving out soon.  I don't feel guilty about having put it up, I just want to make sure the place looks good so we can get it rented out and not have to worry about breaking our lease.  Actually, I figure if the landlord is renting a place that isn't properly insulated, then tough luck, they'll have to put up with it.

Anyway, we use masking tape to stick it to the window frames/wall as the double sided sticky stuff they supply with the kit is rubbish, it doesn't work at all.  Unfortunately the masking tape does occasionally peel a bit of paint off, but we plan to touch it up when we move.  The double sided sticky tape isn't much better, as it leaves a sticky residue behind.

When I stayed with a friend one winter in Spokane Washington, it was a very old drafty house with single window panes.  She used to use plastic film wrap that she taped up over her windows in the winter time.  It made a big difference. 

Good point Lisa. Younger Americans don't understand that there are old and drafty houses a plenty in the US. I never had to live in one but I can find some all around easily enough.