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Six months rent

tigerfeet2006
tigerfeet2006 Posts: 14,030 Forumite
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in House buying, renting & selling
We are looking to rent a property and are told that we will need to put down the deposit plus 6 months rent.

Now does this mean we don't have to pay rent for the next 5 months or does this mean we have to put 6 months down and then still pay rent each month and get the 6 months back when we move out?

Any answers gratefully recieved.
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The only stupid question is an unasked one
Loving life as a Kernow Hippy

Comments

  • furndire
    furndire Posts: 7,308 Forumite
    First Post First Anniversary Combo Breaker
    edited 15 March 2017 at 3:55PM
    Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • dlmcr
    dlmcr Posts: 182 Forumite
    First Post First Anniversary Combo Breaker
    6 months rent up front means just that, you pay 6 x £pcm rent up front beofre you move in and no more for 6 months, then at the end of 6 months you pay month to month as normal, when you move out you get your deposit back as long as you've been a good boy. (otherwise 6 months rent would be called 6 months deposit and will need protecting in a scheme, yes all of it!) At least that's how the process worked last 2 times I did it, jobless bum being that I was at the time :)
  • Cakeguts
    Cakeguts Posts: 7,627 Forumite
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    Why were you told that you needed to pay 6 month's rent? This isn't normal.
  • marliepanda
    marliepanda Posts: 7,186 Forumite
    furndire wrote: »
    It's the latter. You will pay each month straightaway. Word of advice - go round with camera and take video of property especially if there are any immediate problems.

    No its not 'the latter' unless expressly stated. A landlord cannot take 6 months deposit (which it would be in your scenario) without it being treated differently and no landlord will do that.

    You pay 6 months upfront, so, Jan - June, then in July, you start paying a monthly rent unless otherwise agreed.

    Unless you have particularly poor credit/references/income, paying 6 months upfront isnt normal.
  • tigerfeet2006
    tigerfeet2006 Posts: 14,030 Forumite
    Name Dropper First Anniversary First Post
    Cake, because we are newly returned to the country and have no credit rating at all.

    Thanks for the information everyone. So the consensus is we don't have to pay rent for the six months.

    Anyone else with any opinions?
    BSCno.87
    The only stupid question is an unasked one
    Loving life as a Kernow Hippy
  • Marvel1
    Marvel1 Posts: 7,171 Forumite
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    Since we are guessing, I would ask the landlord.

    Also check if they want you to pay upfront every six months.
  • G_M
    G_M Posts: 51,977 Forumite
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    tigerfeet2006 wrote: »
    We are looking to rent a property and are told that we will need

    to put down the deposit

    plus 6 months rent.

    .
    A deposit is money you get back at the end (unless you owe rent or cause damage.

    Rent is paid to live there. You don't get it back! So if the 'rent' was going to be given back at the end, it would be a deposit, not rent.

    So in your case, you pay 6 months rent up front, then no rent for the next 6 months.

    What happens after that is less clear. If the tenancy agreement says eg:

    " Rent - £X000 for 6 months, payable in advance" then after 6 months you need to pay another 6 months rent.

    If it says: " Rent - £X00 per month, with the initial payment for 6 months payable in advance" then after 6 months you pat monhly.
  • sheff6107
    sheff6107 Posts: 451 Forumite
    Myself and the wife are both self employed and thus hated by banks and landlords alike.

    Every landlord we dealt with wanted 6 months up front + 1 month deposit (one wanted 12 so we told him where to get off).

    So if you move on on the 1st January you don't pay anything until 1st July, and get your deposit back when you leave.
  • tigerfeet2006
    tigerfeet2006 Posts: 14,030 Forumite
    Name Dropper First Anniversary First Post
    Thanks for the help everyone.
    BSCno.87
    The only stupid question is an unasked one
    Loving life as a Kernow Hippy
This discussion has been closed.
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