Great ‘How to haggle down rent’ Hunt

James_N

[QUOTE=seraphina;18160675}_Being_a_landlord_is_a_business,_just_like_any_other,_and_renting_is_just_a_utility_that_puts_a_roof_over_your_head._So_landlords,_by_all_means_storm_off_in_a_huff_because_you_think_tenants_are_taking_the_mickey_-_it's_not_like_there's_a_shortage_of_rental_properties_at_the_moment...*[/QUOTE]

Very few businesses can or will tolerate their customers lying, breaking or failing to understand how things work through stupidity or laziness, failing to report a problem and then putting all the blame on the owner, or just expecting to disappear without paying. MOST landlords experience this at some point.
Examples: not knowing how to bleed a radiator and threatening legal action.
Not knowing how to programme a muti-function microwave and threatening legal action because it was "broken". Having hundreds of pounds of LPG delivered, signing that contract, but expecting the landlord to be paying for it. Complaining there was mud on the public road outside and - you've guessed it - threatening legal action. Oh - and we won't talk about the disapparance with criminal damage and the three year follow on of debt collection agencies connected to them.

My policy is to lock them in the legal framework and demand a high deposit. At present mortage rates, for me, a void is cheaper in money and effort than a bad tenancy - so if you come over pushing and demanding and potential trouble as a tenant - go bother someone else! Not all landlords are desparate enough to willingly take on an idiot or a grasper as a tenant.

stevetodd

Lumphammer wrote: »

What website do all the bad landlords and bad tenants use?

All the one's on here are good!

I can only guess that some of the good landlords on here aren't as good as they think they are - and some of the good tenants aren't as good either.

I do feel that tenancy agreements could be better - clearer and simpler. Both parties would then have a better understanding of their obligations.

Or that landlords that take the time to observe and consider the views of others on this forum (and others) would tend to be the better ones, rather than ignorant or dogmatic landlords that simply don't care about being fair and reasonable and make no effort to be that.

In other words the bad landords probably tend not to use forums like this

Generali

Mrs Generali negotiates our rents. The trick is to find 2 places that you are completely indifferent between and play the LLs off against each other. The last place we lived in we paid GBP1,050pcm having been asked for GBP1,400pcm.

tbs624

2horsevillage wrote: »

Does anyone know if my landlord is breaking any rules by not having our oil fired central heating boiler serviced for the last 5 years.

Welcome 2horsevillage. Your best best is to start a new separate thread with your query, as this one is on "how to haggle down rent" and it can make things confusing if separate topics are introduced . (See the Blue "New Thread" button to the top left of your screen)

Gorgeous_George

I like negotiation but I'd refuse to 'haggle' (it's a horrible word).You have to be prepared for the LL to stop negotiating if he feels you will not agree to hius bottom line. If negotiation becomes the norm, asking prices will rise to accommodate room for manoeuvre.

Recently, I wanted to set my rent at £450 but would have settled for £445. If I thought my tenant would want to negotiate I'd have started at £475 and may have achieved more than I really wanted.

My tip is to think of the saving as a whole and not just over a month. Saving just £5 per month is £60 per year - enough to pay for your breakdown cover or a dinner with your wife at your favourite restaurant. Save £10 and you could take the girlfriend instead.

GG

mick_s

MissMoneypenny wrote: »

I checked the Local Housing Allowance on my local council's website, for 2 and 3 bedroom houses. The rental asking prices are now less than Housing Benefits Local Housing Allowance.

A 2 bedroom house on LHA is £650per month (£150per week), but letting agents are now dropping the asking rents to £600 - £625 as there are so many looking for tenants. A 3 bedroom was just let for £600pcm.

That means that when they review it in a months time that the new rents will take into account these lower rents (if the trend is across the board) and the allowance will drop.

Ours has dropped, then a couple of months later increased again and many times it is just one out of the range that is affected.

kazzadred

I charge my landlord £20 per month to use the garage to store his stuff - worth thinking about...

kazzadred

Having looked at this thread, it struck me to check what my local authority's housing allowances, as I get something towards my rent due to my low income.

I noticed that I'd been getting the 2 bedroom allowance, as my children were both under 10 when I moved in.

So I rang the council, and apparently I should have been getting the 3 bedroom allowance after my son's 10th birthday, so I should be getting 3 months backdated rent rebate and a higher rate of benefit from now on!

Result!

briz_hatchings

It is perhaps a sign of the times that there have been a number of posts on this thread by passionate landlords that have perhaps been a bit off topic.

I’ve been involved with rent negotiations for my last two properties and because the market was different both times the approach I have had to take has been different.

The first was when I moved to Cambridge approximately two years ago. I reckon I was able to get a £25 - £50 off the rent by renting directly form the landlord and not through an agent. Fortunately in Cambridge there is a website, The Cambridge Accommodation Notice Board, that allows you to get in touch with landlords directly and I can highly recommend it. http://www.brettward.co.uk/canb/

This was when the market was good. In my humble opinion, even from the landlord’s perspective, there is really no need for a letting agent if your property is going to fill itself. Why not cut out the middle man and save a bit of cash then both parties can benefit?

The only caveat I would warn with this approach is that you need to make efforts to ensure that the inventory and contract are sorted out. In my case I insisted we drew up a contract and inventory so there was at least something to refer to in the unlikely event of any dispute. I’m also fairly sure my deposit wasn’t held in escrow either which I believe is a legal requirement now days so that could have been a problem.

Interestingly the landlord has recently let his second place to a complete skag (I’ve seen her and she looks like a proper nasty piece of work) he now wants to get rid of. There are issues because nothing was formally agreed so it can be as much for the landlord’s benefit as well as the tenant’s.

When I moved to Kettering about a year ago the market wasn’t so good. We went through an agent because we needed to get somewhere quick and we paid the market price because firstly interest rates hadn’t fallen by that much then and secondly we felt it offered good value in comparison with other places.

After we moved in it transpired from a conversation with the neighbors that the house had been on the market for three months and the only reason it was being rented out was because it hadn’t sold and the landlord probably needed to cover their mortgage having moved to a larger place to accommodate their family.

I was surprised when about 5 months ago I received an email form the letting agent saying that the landlord would like to put the rent up by £15 to cover additional mortgage payments. To be fair to my landlord he was right when he argued that this premium did reflect other similar properties in the area but when we looked around we realised a good deal of properties that were probably furnished slightly better were sitting empty. Although admin fees would have made it more expensive to move out initially I objected to the increase on the basis that it was a cheeky request as I had been told by the letting agent that rent reviews only occurred annually. I said that we had chosen their property because we felt it represented the best value in the area and that if they did decide to go ahead with the increase we would have to move.

The gamble paid off and the landlord caved but asked us to sign another 6 month tenancy. We conveniently ‘forgot’ to do this and no one has bothered to chase us up. The likelihood is that the landlord decided that they could afford to lost £15 a month on the property but not £595 if it sat empty for a month plus any finders fee from the agent.

5 months on from this and I would be surprised if they asked again. I don’t know what mortgage they have but I presume that they would be able to obtain a lower rate at some point. Besides, we have now spotted larger properties for the same price as ours (my housemate watches Rightmove like a hawk). If the situation arises where we feel would could actually save money by moving I will give my landlord the option to lower our rent before we hand in our notice and move on.

In general there are a couple of basic rules to follow and I don’t think you can go far wrong.

- Look at other similar properties in the area to make sure you’re getting a fair price.
- Try to understand the landlord’s situation as it will give you an idea of how far you can negotiate.
- Always account for any ‘admin’ fees in any saving calculation you make.

Lucytastic

My landlord took over my house four years ago, he hiked my rent up by £250 per month, lets my garage out separately now to make more money and I have to clean for him twice a week to make up the rent. He does not do anything except tell me how much I have cost him! I wish I could do something but we have lived there for eleven years and I dont want to move, if i complain i feel he would just not renew my tenancy. It is a horrible situation but we have dogs and cats and live in a rural area so my chances of finding anything that would allow me pets etc and be in a similar environment would be pretty hard to find. I feel well and truly stuffed!