Renting in Harborside: a first-timer's guide

Harborside lofts move fast. The best ones are let within a week, often to the first person who arrives with their paperwork ready. Here is how to be that person.

Before you view

Have your references, proof of income and identification ready to send the same day. Most landlords here ask for a deposit of five weeks' rent and the first month in advance.

At the viewing

View early in the week, before the weekend rush. In the larger warehouse conversions, ask about heating costs, because high ceilings and tall windows are beautiful and expensive to keep warm.

• Ask what the last winter's heating bills came to

• Check the water pressure on the top floor

• Ask who to call when something breaks, and how quickly they come

The questions landlords hope you skip are the ones about winter.

Signing

Read the inventory carefully and photograph every room on the day you move in. It is the simplest way to make sure your deposit comes back in full.