Advice on letting flat in Southampton

ognum

I have decided after 6 months on the market and an offer which went up to the day before exchange before the purchaser dropped out letting down me and the person buying her place to put this flat on the rental market I have other rental properties where I live so am conversant with being a landlord but do not know the Southampton area Flat was bought for my daughter while at uni I have taken advice from a rental agent but could anyone who knows the area give me some advice on whether the Southampton market is a strong rental market and if they think there is anything I can do to improve the property for rental I will include a link so any comments gratefully received (Sorry about my laptop which has lost punctuation and the enter key now am wishing for a new one for Christmas!) http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-21334077.html I also notice there is another to let in the same block!! http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-32150035.html

BitterAndTwisted

The same price for both furnished and unfurnished doesn't make sense to me. Unfurnished would be attractive to a family while the other is patently a student let at the moment.

That's an ugly development, isn't it?

I have no knowledge of the rental-market in Soton, sorry. I think I've only visited the place once in my life.

ognum

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

The same price for both furnished and unfurnished doesn't make sense to me. Unfurnished would be attractive to a family while the other is patently a student let at the moment.

That's an ugly development, isn't it?

I have no knowledge of the rental-market in Soton, sorry. I think I've only visited the place once in my life.

Thanks do you think unfurnished should be more or less money? I agree that the photos make it look quite austere It is a 60s build so room sizes are quite good and the gardens are beautiful But I can see what you are saying

00ec25

unfurnished should be cheaper - particularly as yours does not even have any white goods in the kitchen

furnished means the LL is including the costs of wear and tear on the LL's furnishings in the price - if no furnishings, then any premium on the rent is simply greed

that close to the uni it should be easy to rent - even if its only 2 bed - have you considered doing it through the uni itself - although students would expect (require) "fully" furnished see
http://www.soton.ac.uk/accommodation/privaterented/landlords.shtml

camptownraces

Speak to the university Accommodation offices about the prospects for letting - try both So'ton and Solent. I suspect they may tell you that there's a surfeit.

It looks a nice flat, very convenient for the university. However, the prospect of being surrounded by students might deter potential "professional" or "family" tenants.

Does your daughter still have contacts with any students who might be interested? There's also some way of posting it on an email notice board.

ognum

I have told the agent I am prepared to put in white goods and curtains etc but have beed advised not to do it until a tenant has been found in case they have their own I would rather not have students if possible and would rather go for the professional market only because this is the letting market that I know here So do you think this is overpriced?

ognum

camptownraces wrote: »

Speak to the university Accommodation offices about the prospects for letting - try both So'ton and Solent. I suspect they may tell you that there's a surfeit.

It looks a nice flat, very convenient for the university. However, the prospect of being surrounded by students might deter potential "professional" or "family" tenants.

Does your daughter still have contacts with any students who might be interested? There's also some way of posting it on an email notice board.

The majority of the flats are owner occupied Quite a mix of elderly/young/families I agree being surrounded by students would not be attractive

00ec25

ognum wrote: »

I have told the agent I am prepared to put in white goods and curtains etc but have beed advised not to do it until a tenant has been found in case they have their own I would rather not have students if possible and would rather go for the professional market only because this is the letting market that I know here So do you think this is overpriced?

fair enough, but you have no option but to market it with a single price point that does not let prospective parties know that and so it appears over priced for anyone who does a comparison

ognum

00ec25 wrote: »

fair enough, but you have no option but to market it with a single price point that does not let prospective parties know that and so it appears over priced for anyone who does a comparison

Thanks for that I have just emailed the agent suggesting he put a reference in the advert to say white goods will be supplied if needed Thanks for highlighting this

hazyjo

Yep, usually more for furnished - you could include two prices, one for furnished, one for unfurnished (or part-furnished if that's what you're offering).

It does look like an ex-LA block, and I don't think the angle they took the pic at helps with that large highrise block nearby! Just my opinion... maybe a different angle might make it look slightly more appealing.

Jx

andthethreebears

seems expensive to me - saying that we havent rented for 2 and a half years but we were paying £650 for a bigger property (in a block that looks almost identical) walking distance from the city centre.
it looks a good size inside but £750 + council tax + utilities etc etc seems pretty pricey for a 2 bed student let - if it's going to be rented out to young professionals (too small for family / top floor so presumably not OAPs) its a bit of a walk to the city / hospital so does it have parking?
maybe it's just me, but when we rented it was nice too see photos / view flats with furnishings in situ (ie sofa / bed / dinner table etc) just to get more idea of the size. (edit: not furnished like the other one you posted though, eek!)