Follow this straightforward guide to renting property in Vietnam.
Vietnam’s booming economy is enticing more people to the cities for work. With rapid residential development there is a wide choice of properties to rent. When renting a property you need to make sure that you know what your responsibilities are before signing a tenancy agreement. So ask your landlord or managing agent the following questions.
1. Are any utilities included?
It is advisable to check what, if any, utilities are included in the rent as for some properties the Internet and television are included for foreign tenants. This will enable you to budget accordingly as you do not want to overstretch yourself each month. You may also want to check the speed of the Internet and whether you will be able to get the television satellite channels that you desire. Serviced residences as a rule of thumb include all utilities.
2. What are the electricity rates?
Electricity is calculated on your usage. The government sets a rate but some rental properties have a rate slightly higher than this. The additional amount is usually insignificant but it is still worth checking how much it is.
3. How do I get access to drinking water?
It is not advisable to drink the tap water in Vietnam. Check with the landlord or real estate agent to see what options there are for getting safe drinking water where you live. You may even be able to fit a water filter to your kitchen tap so that you can drink this instead.
4. Do I look after the greenery?
If the property has a garden or plants on a balcony, establish who is responsible for the care of these.
5. Who is my point of contact?
Get current contact details for your landlord or the managing agent of the property in the case of any emergencies or should you require essential repairs.
6. What taxes am I liable for?
Generally the landlord should cover all taxes. However VAT tax (required by company lets) is negotiable. Check what is required so that you can factor this into your costs
If you are looking to rent a property in Vietnam, check out Dot Property’s comprehensive listings found online here.
