advice please for first time renters

clutton_2

the key to good tenancies is honesty and research by both parties. if i were to ask a prospective landlord at the end of March which deposit scheme s/he was going to use, and s/he did not know what i was talking about, i would assume they were either an amateur landlord/lady or a bad one. This Scheme will only be of real use to tenants if a landlord/lady unlawfully with-holds a deposit. Like all schemes coming out of ODPM - it is half baked, and has not had the detail detailed - so goodness only knows how the first lot of disputed deposits will be handed - if its anything like the new HMO regs implementatiion, it ill be a nightmare.

verdie

Hi all, we're in a similar position to the OP with an offer accepted on our house but we will need to rent for six months in the new area. All the replies have been really helpful so far but I've just got a couple of other questions to throw in:

First, are you normally expected to make an offer on/haggle over the advertised rent, like making an offer on a house? And if you are are there any rough rules of thumb about what to offer?

And we've got two very cute and house trained cats coming with us but I'm a bit concerned that almost all the lets on rightmove seem to say no pets. We'll probably try to get an unfurnished house with laminate floors if possible but can anyone give me any advice about whether landlords would consider us?!

silvercar

jeez, as a first time landlady in the summer, most of your posts would have frightened the tenants off! We all need to start somewhere.

At least now, with one tenant who is happy I suppose I could get a reference.

I think rental prices are negotiable in the same way as house prices, try an offer if it fails increase it or walk away.