It's a jungle out there so be prepared for a tough flat-hunting trip

The problem with flat-, apartment- or house-hunting is that whatever extra efforts you make to find a place, legions of others will be doing exactly the same.

The most obvious starting point is the accommodation sections of newspapers. There you will find lists of lettings, with some details of the accommodation offered, monthly rent and usually a telephone number.

Landlords or existing tenants seeking to share are likely to get dozens of telephone calls the day an advertisement is published, so the sooner you make contact the better.

Be prepared to face inconvenience and disappointment when making arrangements to view a property. You may find all the prospective tenants are invited to view the place at the same time and you will have to wait in line. If possible, get the landlord to commit to an individual appointment and take his or her mobile number with you. It can happen that an apartment or house is let to the first or second viewer, sometimes for a higher rent than advertised.

If you don't want to camp outside the house to ensure you see it first, you can increase your chances by bringing references. Bringing the deposit with you may help to secure a deal with a landlord but it is inadvisable to carry large amounts of cash.

Accommodation websites like daft.ie, myhome.ie and propertyeverywhere.com can be lucky for some, but they are becoming congested and competition is fierce, particularly in Dublin. It hardly seems worthwhile replying to an advertisement that has been viewed 240 times.

Letting agencies can be useful but don't part with a fee unless you are sure and happy with what you will get in return. Most letting agencies charge the landlord rather than the tenant. Those that do charge tenants are asking for up to £65.

Some estate agents have residential lettings sections and will send out lists of properties in the category you ask for. Letting agents will arrange viewing appointments, possibly at times more convenient to the tenant and should keep looking for you until they get a result if you have paid for that service. However, do not expect letting agencies to work miracles; they are operating in the same market as everyone else. One Dublin letting agent revealed he only had three or four properties on his books at any given time, compared to more than 30 several years ago.

Advance information is the holy grail for flat-hunters, so spread the word. Telling as many people as possible that you are on the lookout may throw up some leads.

Foot in the door: You are ahead of the posse, the landlord offers the flat to you and you can't believe your luck. With so many other people willing to take your place, there isn't much time to ensure everything is in order.

The best way to deal with the discussion about the terms of the rental is to have a checklist prepared. Threshold has some handy tips in its leaflet Renting for the First Time:

are there any signs of dampness?

check fire extinguishers and fire escape routes;

check the ventilation, especially in the bathroom and kitchen;

do the windows open?

what kind of heating is there and how much will it cost?

what furniture is provided and what condition is it in?

check if kitchen appliances are working;

how do you pay for the utilities? Take a reading on any meters;

is there piped television and if so, how is the bill paid?

what are the arrangements for cleaning the common areas?

does anyone else have keys to the flat?

The deal: Most landlords look for a deposit equivalent to one month's rent. Make sure you get a receipt for any money you hand over. You may lose some or all of your deposit if you do not give proper notice, cause damage to the property or leave with bills or rent unpaid.

If you think your deposit has been withheld without good reason, you can take your case to the local Small Claims Court for a fee of £6. The court deals with disputes up to the value of £1,000.

A lease may not suit everyone but if you are willing to make the commitment to live in the property for the term, usually one year, you cannot be asked to leave during that time unless you have broken the terms of the lease. One clear advantage of a lease is that your rent cannot be increased during the term unless a special condition is put into the lease.

The main drawback is that if you want to leave before the lease is up, you might have to pay the rent for the remainder of the term.

There are no rent controls of any kind in the Irish rental sector. If you do not have a written agreement, your landlord can raise the rent as often as he or she wishes. The other alternative to a lease is a letting agreement or rent book. This is an open ended arrangement and must contain specified information about the tenancy.

Your rent book or letting agreement must include the following information:

the address of the dwelling;

the name and address of the landlord and his or her agent, if any;

the tenant's name;

the term of the tenancy;

the amount of rent, when and how it is to be paid;

details of payments other than rent;

the amount and purpose of any deposit paid and the conditions under which it will be returned to the tenant;

an inventory of contents;

the date of commencement of the tenancy;

a statement of information on the basic rights and duties of landlords and tenants.

All rent or other payments to the landlord must be recorded either in the rent book or a written statement or receipt.

Don't forget to establish under what circumstances the landlord has access to your flat, and ask to be present. It is important to clarify from the beginning which repairs will be the responsibility of the landlord or the agent.

Home, sweet home: You may want to put your own stamp on a new place, but if you want to redecorate you must get your landlord's permission first.

Bring any repair problems to your landlord's attention as soon as they arise and if minor repairs are being ignored, you could consider offering to look after them yourself. Agree it first with the landlord and retain receipts for work done. Holding back rent for repairs, if it has not been agreed in advance, could put your tenancy at risk.

Local authority service charges for water and refuse may be payable by the tenant as occupier. Check you are not billed for arrears for previous tenants or for charges due from other people living in the house.

It is equally important when you are moving out to make sure none of the utility accounts is left in your name. Remember: as a tenant you are entitled to tax relief on rent. Tax credit for rent relief up to £200 per year is available for a single person under 55 and £400 for a single person over 55. The rates are double for a married couple.

It is not essential to provide your landlord's Personal Public Service (PPS) number (previously known as RSI number) to obtain the relief, although it is asked for on the claim form. If you are having difficulty obtaining the number, the landlord's name and address will suffice.

If it doesn't work out and you want to move out, you must give your landlord four weeks' written notice. This applies to tenants without a lease.

Pay no heed to the urban myths about security of tenure - with the exception of some pre-1982 tenants, no matter how long you have lived in your rented home, your landlord is only obliged to give four weeks' notice to quit.