IT'S easy to fall in love with a property at first sight and move into it as soon as possible, only to realise you should have asked lots more questions about the landlord and property before you agreed to rent it.

David Gordon, area sales director for Your Move Chris Stonock in Durham, has ten key questions he believes everyone should ask the landlord or letting agent before they reserve a property and move in.

1. How much is the rent on a monthly basis?

2. What s included in the rent?

3. What additional bills will you have to pay and how much are they likely to be?

4. How much deposit is required? Which tenancy deposit protection scheme is the deposit protected in?

5. What type of tenancy is used? Is it a licence or an assured shorthold tenancy agreement?

6. What notice period is required to leave the property?

7. Can you view a copy of the property certificates? These include the energy performance certificate (EPC) and gas and electrical safety certificates. The better rating the EPC gives the property, the lower your utility bills are likely to be. This could save you hundreds of pounds a year.

8. Are any smoke alarms fitted? If so, are they connected to the mains or will you have to replace the batteries?

9. Who should you contact in an emergency such as flood or fire?

10. What insurance does the landlord have to cover the property? What do you need to insure yourself?

You should also consider how long you want to rent the property for (most agreements require a minimum six-month let), whether you want to furnish the property or rent a home that's already furnished, what telephone and internet services you need and whether the landlord allows children or pets.

For more advice or a free sales or rental valuation on your property, call Your Move Chris Stonock in Durham on 0191 3862070 or e-mail durham@your-move.co.uk.