Searching for Rental Accomodation

Wail

Hello

I am currently looking at moving to a new area but I will only be able to look at property in the 10 days or so before I am due to start working in the area.

Is it feasible to pick up property with just 10 days to go?

When should I be booking viewings with estate agents before I head up to the area.

What fees should I be aware of when searching for a property (searching fees/retainers)? What are reasonable? What are not?

I am looking at Newcastle upon Tyne

Cheers

Callie22

In my experience, it's not feasible at all to try and get everything arranged in 10 days. You'll end up rushing into picking a property, and even then it's unlikely that the agency will be able to sort out the credit checks etc in that time. Is there no chance that you could go up a few weeks before to look at properties?

In terms of fees, there are no regulations as to what lettings agents can charge, so you're probably best making a few calls and asking what the fees are. That way you can work out a general amount. The last time we moved we had to pay a £250 holding fee (which was used as part of the deposit when we moved in), plus £100 each for credit checks, plus £30 for 'contract fees', plus £50 as a 'deposit protection fee'. This was on top of a month's rent and the remainder of the deposit, which had to be paid on the day we picked up the keys.

Wail

Well technically, I can wait three weeks (move in wc 6/5) but I can only go up on 20th April. However, any houses with a 1st May start date is 10 days.

GAH

Yes it is feasble, once you have found a property and bearing in mind it will be vacant, most agents can do all the necessary paperwork within a week.

But do remember, the tenancy is not conifrmed until both sides have signed tenancy agreements. Up until Landlord signs a tenancy agreement, they can pull out on the deal, which for example is a day before you are supposed to move in, can leave you in the lurch.

But other than that, all very possible.

Wyndham

I did a long distance move, and had a long weekend down there about a three weeks before I wanted to move. Prior to that I'd looked on websites and checked out areas (it's amazing what you can find out by talking to people, and it's amazing the number of poeple you probably know with some connection to the area even if you don't know that at the moment). This then helped me to focus my search in a city I really didn't know.

I set up some viewings prior to the visit, and used spare time to go and visit agents and got a couple of other viewings out of that. However, when trying to set up appointments I kept being told that things I'd seen on the website had already gone, and it felt like a very fast moving market, which is why I think my two pronged approach worked. And I also got to see some properties which were not on the website.

Availability of the properties varied, and the one I liked best wasn't available for 4 weeks, which meant that I started the job, stayed in a hotel for a couple of nights, then moved in at the end of my first week. While I wouldn't necessarily recommend this as the preferred approach, it did work out quite well for me, as it didn't matter that I had an overlap - your circumstances may be different.

I'd also say 'go with your instinct'. If there is something either good or bad about a property, even if you can't quite say what it is, you're probably right.

Wyndham

Also... fees. I paid just over £100 for a retention fee and credit checks, but I think I had a good deal, I've heard some horror stories of fees runing to hundreds!

rentergirl

I would move, put your stuff in storage, and then find a temp place (maybe lodging) via gumtree while looking. Don't rush into taking a place - or you'll regret at leisure...

dimbo61

Check out easyroommate or spareroom and maybe rent a room in a flat or house for a few months while looking for your own place.

[Deleted User]

Be careful with fees. They can vary quite a bit from agency to agency. Most round here charge £75-£125 but one charged £500 lol. Needless to say I didn't proceed any further with the £500 one.