Renting Question

chucknorris

venomsst wrote: »

Me and two friends are looking to move into a 3 bedroom house/flat shortly so we can all be closer to our jobs. Money isn't an issue so the deposite wouldn't be a problem so we thought we were all set to go. When we got around to visiting estate agents we got turned away from them due to HMO.

What we wan't to know is there any way we can get around this and if not is there anywhere we can find landlords with HMO properties? It's soo frustrating that we can't leave home and get our own place in our mid twenties due to this law and we don't have 10 years to wait for a council home.

Any help on this is appreciated.

As posters above mentioned HMO rules vary from council to council, has more than one agent said this to you (maybe you got some bad advice if it was just one)?

Young professional sharers are my usual market, in fact I rented a house out to a family last week and that was the first time in 18 years of being a landlord.

PasturesNew

This is the HMO rule in this case: "an entire house or flat which is let to three or more tenants who form two or more households and who share a kitchen, bathroom or toilet "

http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/rentingandletting/privaterenting/housesmultiple/

Check through Rightmove and look for houses which are shared houses let on a room by room basis - then contact the agents managing them and tell them you're looking for one house for 3 people. If those agents are handling one HMO then there's a chance they'll manage more.

So, you're not looking for one that has somebody in already, or will be 4-5 rooms. You're looking for the next one that 3 people could rent without other people joining them.

tek-monkey

I have found that renting as three independant blokes caused hassle, but renting as 2 blokes and a woman was fine even if not in a relationship.

venomsst

We went to 4 estate agents in one day and before we even get asked about references and work we get turned down flat. Two of us are 23 and the other is 27. We were all smartly dressed at the time and were polite like we would be at a job interview. One of my parents just rang one and they said it would be ok so I guess they just didn't like the look of us. I tried looking through the local papers today but there was only one being advertised privately and it was in the wrong town. The rest were all being advertised by the local estate agents. Thanks for all the speedy replies! At least I now know that its not against the law and we will keep trying.

chucknorris

venomsst wrote: »

We went to 4 estate agents in one day and before we even get asked about references and work we get turned down flat. Two of us are 23 and the other is 27. We were all smartly dressed at the time and were polite like we would be at a job interview. One of my parents just rang one and they said it would be ok so I guess they just didn't like the look of us. I tried looking through the local papers today but there was only one being advertised privately and it was in the wrong town. The rest were all being advertised by the local estate agents. Thanks for all the speedy replies! At least I now know that its not against the law and we will keep trying.

Have a look at gumtree but watch out for scammers, don't hand over any money until you have seen proof that they actually own the property though, genuine owners will not mind being asked (politely) for this. If you deal with a private landlord directly you will avoid estate agents fees.

clutton_2

if you were brothers or cousins you would be one household and there would not be a problem

tek-monkey

clutton wrote: »

if you were brothers or cousins you would be one household and there would not be a problem

It may still be an issue, I've rented with my brother for 5 years now and many places just don't want three lads sharing as they think you'll trash the house.

adg1

As others have said, mandatory HMOs are for 5+ people and 3+ storeys only. Councils can add little bits to this so its worth calling them and seeing if they have any rules for 3 sharers.

Use the largest agents in town and be open and honest - do you all have a rental history? Previous landlord references are a good thing to get hold of ASAP to take with you to the agents.

Rooms let out individually are generally through the local papers etc so not many agents would be instructed on them - too much hassle for them to rent a room here and a room there every few months and much cheaper for the landlord.

Go into each agent in the area and there will be one that can help. Foxtons are in Pinner and did a house for a group of my friends in another part of london? :rolleyes: You could try them.

carolinosourus

We're renting through Foxtons at the moment and when we're been in the office in Chiswick a couple of groups of people have come in and they've all been dealt with, I know one group was advised to get 2 2-bed flats as they didn't currently have anything suitable but you might be better off trying the bigger agencies.