Check more than the headline price
Labels like warm rent, cold rent, gross rent and total rent can mean different things in different listings. Heating or electricity might still be extra. Look for a breakdown of the actual costs before planning your budget.
On DimeTrace, base rent excludes separately listed running costs. Total rent is the regular total the person says they pay. We ask separately whether heating and electricity are included and show that with the result. This explains how our comparisons work; it isn't a legal assessment of your rental agreement.
Put the same costs side by side
An apartment can look cheaper just because part of the bill is missing. That's why we keep base rent separate from total rent and calculate a middle figure and range for each.
Start with total rent if you want to know what leaves your account each month. Base rent helps you compare the rent itself. Either way, remember to add any energy, internet or other household bills you pay separately.
Four things to check
Before you compare two rents, check these details:
- Are both figures base rent, or are both total rent?
- Do both include or exclude heating and electricity in the same way?
- Do they cover the same billing period?
- Are the homes a similar size, and could you qualify for the same price?