Short term Lets in London - help please

joe3k

Hi guys

Myself and my GF were due to move to London in a few days time.
We had a 1 bed apartment sorted and holding fee paid (we were awaiting reference checks etc before paying deposit, collecting keys and moving in). However the agent now says we have effectively been gazumped (apparently someone put in a higher offer to LL and ours was droppped).

We are going over in a few days and will hotel it for a few days and try to get a short term let asap. We then intend to explore London properly (we didn't get a chance to, as we were only over for 5/6 days initially and wanted something sorted quickly) and decide on an area we like to stay in maybe a few weeks time.

Any advice... would this be a good idea, or should be instantly look for another long term let and just hope the area and transport works out ok? Also can anyone recommend any good places to look for short term lets in central London for reasonable prices (min 2 weeks, max 3 months)?

mynameisdave

Not sure what your options are but I trust the holding fee has been refunded?

joe3k

Hi thanks for the reply.

Holding fee not refunded yet, as we're overseas, but when we are back in London we will get it. Agent says it will be fine... lets hope so!

At this stage I think the short term let option makes most sense, even though it will inconvenience us with two moves. At least we will be in a better position for finding a nice flat in a nice area and it gives us time to negotiate the price without feeling pressured to get the deal done quickly due to time constraints. We're pretty confused though.

BitterAndTwisted

Which part of London was this flat in?

Fire_Fox

Surely the point of a holding deposit is that the flat is held for you?

joe3k

Flat was in Canary Wharf area, however we can move anywhere in the Central London area. We liked the fact that a lot of the stuff in the Canary Wharf direction are new builds, or buildings of only a few years old. Thus modern, clean and fairly sleek, but I'm sure there are many others locations in London with similar new/newish buildings for around the same money. Only problem was the Canary wharf one had a parking space and most Londons flats don't appear to have this thrown in. We don't really need the car anyhow, just thought it might be handy seeing as parking space included with the flat anyhow.

Re: Holding Deposit
Yes that is exactly what we thought and were disgusted with the result. Apparently the holding fee means it is taken off the market and no more viewings allowed. However as apparently someone else had previously viewed the flat and then approached with higher offer it was accepted by LL. I honestly am uncertain if the agent we used was unscrupulous and underhand or not, but we certainly feel annoyed about it and cheated! (even though he says he'll give us the holding fee back without issue).

Fire_Fox

Did you get anything in writing?

joe3k

Just a receipt printed on company headed paper, for the holding deposit.

Fire_Fox

Were you only verbally told it was a holding deposit?

property.advert

Two issues here and they will have to sort out the holding deposit thing themselves but I can help on the property front.

Try and contact the people who place this advert http://www.gumtree.com/london/61/35896661.html

I've been to see them and seen their properties. Quite new and well kitted out. No nonsense approach, perhaps £500 deposit, a real company at No. 26 Danbury Road. £50 signing fee narked me a little and they throw Council Tax on top which is about another £100 a month or so.

Compares very well to other short term rentals as some of their smaller studio places are around the £200 mark to start. When you consider a hotel, it is a no brainer.

I lived in the Angel area for 10 years and needed a short term place in 2008 and again in 2009 and tried them. I haven't found any others who are legit and on the ball with decent properties. Great area as well. Zone 1

joe3k

We were definitely told verbably. Unsure if it also states in writing it was a holding deposit on the receipt... I would have to check and my gf has it at mo. Does it make much difference though?

Thanks for the suggestion property.advert. You push it in a way I can see why you call yourself property advert... sounds more like you are the person/agent trying to let it and your reply is your "property advert". It's ok but looks a little dated. Gumtree looks ok for searching for short lets though.