Has anyone found a tenant through Gumtree?

greenjellybean

I am about to become a LL for the first time (I have read the suggested guides on here - very useful. I have also ordered Renting out your home for Dummies - waiting for it to arrive) and just wondered if anyone has ever had any success, or nightmares, using Gumtree to find a tenant?
I like to think there are more honest people out there than dishonest - why shouldn't a genuine person post to find a flat in the hope of not having to pay agent fees? It feels like this method should work...

:idea:

G_M

Just be careful of scammers - there are lots on gumtree, though it tends to be fraudulant landlords scamming prospective tenants.

atppkr

Sorry to jump in here but can u point me in he right direction for the guides you mention above please?

G_M

atppkr wrote: »

Sorry to jump in here but can u point me in he right direction for the guides you mention above please?

Start here.....

Callie22

As a tenant I've never looked on Gumtree and I probably wouldn't bother - you just hear too many stories about dodgy stuff going off. I do use the local papers etc so that might be something worth trying?

nick_

an old boss of mine used gumtree exclusivley for his tenant finding and as far as i'm aware still does.

I think like anything you have to be careful and use your common sense - take references, deposits etc in case the unforseen happens. There will be some scum bags on there but then what's to stop them going to a letting agent? I suppose the kind of person you will attract will be largely dependent upon where the house is located and what it is like - obviously you're more likley to get a better class of person from a professional let.

Don't let the nay sayers put you off using it. I've had many housemates from there and one even turned out to be a best friend in later life.

fridaypassion

I would avoid gumtree. An ad in your local free press is the way to go or use Visum or similar to get yourself on rightmove. Gumtree is completely useless for property rentals.

nick_

i really don't know where all this negativity comes from!? it really isn't as bad as people are making out.

perhaps in london it's worse than here up t'north.

sitesafe

greenjellybean wrote: »

I am about to become a LL for the first time (I have read the suggested guides on here - very useful. I have also ordered Renting out your home for Dummies - waiting for it to arrive) and just wondered if anyone has ever had any success, or nightmares, using Gumtree to find a tenant?
I like to think there are more honest people out there than dishonest - why shouldn't a genuine person post to find a flat in the hope of not having to pay agent fees? It feels like this method should work...

:idea:

Im in the same boat as you; I have advertised on Gumtree and had responses but feel like sometimes no matter what you write on your ad eg 'No Smokers/DSS/PEts' etc people still apply to you and then ask if you mind if they have a pet. They don't always say they are not a smoker so I always ask them if it has been avoided in a reply.

I have also noticed quite a few replies say 'i'm interested in your house to rent - please telephone me' but they say little about themselves. These are usually agents in the guise of propspective tenants so I always say can you please confirm you meet the criteria and you are not an agent too.

I also don't give my phone number out straight away. The good thing about Gumtree now is during your initial email contacts you don't have each other's real email addresses until you see fit to as you go through a Gumtree system instead. so it's a good way of not having to give your email to potential scammers etc.

nick_

sitesafe wrote: »

Im in the same boat as you; I have advertised on Gumtree and had responses but feel like sometimes no matter what you write on your ad eg 'No Smokers/DSS/PEts' etc people still apply to you and then ask if you mind if they have a pet. They don't always say they are not a smoker so I always ask them if it has been avoided in a reply.

I really don't think that is confined to gumtree or even property rentals! If you've ever recruited for a job at work you'll know the amount of applications you get from people who will never match the description but who will apply anyway. Annoying nonethless.

I think unless you're going to rent out your property through an LL, you have to expect to deal with some of the rubbish that comes your way. The trade off you make to save little cash i suppose.

kmmr

I used to use Gumtree for my London flat, but now they have started charging it's no longer worth it. I have also in the past rented flats through gumtree and it is a good way of finding private rentals if you want to avoid estate agents, but as I said, I think it has changed.

I used UPad's basic service, and that puts you flat on Gumtree, as well as the better portals - Rightmove etc. I hate to say it but you do get a 'better' type of tenant. More professionals, young couples, and less DSS and students. It depends what market you are looking for.

I think the cost of putting an ad on gumtree and regularly refreshing it (which is necessary) is getting close to UPad, so for me it was a no brainer.

eta: And it is full of scammers, which may be less now though with the charging. Easy to avoid if you know what they do - ie anything that involves western union.