How do I ask the agency to lower rent?

Sharon87

Hi, I just moved house with my brother and are needing 2 tennants to move into our house. The thing is no one seems to be interested as the house is quite expensive for what it is. The previous tennants were very messy and when we moved in it was so dirty. Some of the dirt seems irreversible, and the carpet on the stairs needs a good shampooing. The bathrooms need the most work.

I'm visiting the agent to pay the deposit (our contract doesn't start till 13th March, but we moved in early). What should I say to them? Should I ask for someone to visit the house to inspect it? Or should I get them to repair everything?

I'm really stressing as I don't know whether we'll find tennants in time, and me and my brother will have to pay almost £1000 a month each in just rent (we live in North West London).

Any help/advice is appreciated.

rogerdodger007

Hi,
So, you plan on renting the entire house and then you want to sublet a couple of rooms to two other people that you have yet to find?

Have you looked on gumtree? That has a section for people looking for places to live - or you can advertise your rooms on there.

You 100% need somebody from the Estate Agency to look around the house and complete an inventory which includes damage, dirt etc. Also, you should insist that the house is cleaned first. They should do this and they'll no doubt deduct the cost of cleaning from the previous tenant (so it'll not cost the landlord anything).

Also, make sure you look around the house very carefully when the Estate Agent is taking the inventory and ensure he makes a note of any damage i.e. door has scratch on, knob missing from the cooker type things.

Why are you moving to that property if it is expensive for what it is?

2912pwil

Go round with a camera & take LOTS AND LOTS of photos... so there is a record of the condition when you took the property on.

Does your tenancy entitle you to sublett??? If not you've a problem - you'll be best advised to discuss that with the EA BEFORE giving them the deposit - otherwise after they've your money why would they agree to a sublett..

If you've moved in early before contract starts then I (I'm a Landlord by the way) think you may have acquired rights above & beyond the tenancy (? tenancy that you have signed?? - if no deposit sounds like maybe no tenancy agreed). If you ain't signed a tenancy talk to CaB BEFORE signing anything/giving any money... this is a tricky area.

Good luck! Tough times out there....

Sharon87

Bascially. We moved in early as 2 tennants moved out early. The plan was to move into the 4 bedroom house and find 2/3 more people during the 2 weeks. We have posted ads on gumtree and spareroom, we've had many people looking round, but no one wants it yet.

I have just phoned the agent and they don't know when they're going to do the inventory. The problem is the state of the bathroom/stairs.etc is bad and might put people off considering they'll have to pay about £475 rent per month.

The property looked nicer when we looked round it, the previous tennants covered things up and actually cleaned it before we saw it. Then when we moved in we saw it for what it actually is.

We need people asap, as we need to pay the deposit now (we have that money), but if we don't find people we can't pay the first months rent as we've used our money on the deposit.

Sharon87

2912pwil wrote: »

Go round with a camera & take LOTS AND LOTS of photos... so there is a record of the condition when you took the property on.

Does your tenancy entitle you to sublett??? If not you've a problem - you'll be best advised to discuss that with the EA BEFORE giving them the deposit - otherwise after they've your money why would they agree to a sublett..

If you've moved in early before contract starts then I (I'm a Landlord by the way) think you may have acquired rights above & beyond the tenancy (? tenancy that you have signed?? - if no deposit sounds like maybe no tenancy agreed). If you ain't signed a tenancy talk to CaB BEFORE signing anything/giving any money... this is a tricky area.

Good luck! Tough times out there....

The LA knows we're getting more people in the house. We've signed a pre-tennancy agreement, when we left the holding deposit, but that's it. We'll be signing the contract either on the 12th and 13th.

rogerdodger007

>>The property looked nicer when we looked round it, the previous tennants covered things up and actually cleaned it before we saw it.

Before the next people come around, do the same thing the previous tennants did - cover things up, tidy away mess and clean it. Plus put a few air fresheners around and pop some flowers in a vase etc.
If you didn't spot the problems before you signed up, neither will they.

The other difference I guess is when you decided on the house, it was just the house you had to make the decision on - the prospective tenants you are now seeing have to want to live in the house AND feel they want to live with you two.
Get the house looking the part and then the rest is up 2 u2 :-)

Good luck!

Catblue

£475 seems a lot for a houseshare - particularly one that you say is in a state.

You say that you want 2/3 more people to live with you and your brother in a 4 bed house. So it may end up that two people will have to share a bedroom?

Personally, I wouldn't take up the tenancy. Why on earth should you be fretting about getting other tenants in, cleaning other people's mess, trying to cover up the state of the place, and then living with complete strangers? And then presumably you'll have to chase the other tenants for rent, bills, etc which they might not feel like paying.

It isn't your house. All this and you still have to pay £2K per month between you every month. And you can't afford the first month's rent. :eek:

It is going to be nothing but trouble - why not just rent a 2 bed place for you and your brother?

Sharon87

Well we are looking for a couple in one room and one person in the smaller room. Houseshares are very common in London. It's cheaper living with people in a 4 bed house than living in a 2 bed flat. Besides we've paid the holding deposit, which is non-refundable. We can afford the rent if we find people! I was just stressing earlier! My brother found people easily at the last place, but it was a nicer house and a bargain! We thought it would be easier to find other people to live with.