Warning signs of a new landlord??!

Out,_Vile_Jelly

missile wrote: »

If you keep hassling him, LL may decide you will be a problem tenant.

Wanting to view and sign the contract more than 2 weeks before moving in is not being problematic, it's an expectation of professional behaviour from a business owner. Harrassment my arris.

TDPIX

Look elsewhere. We've rented a few places over the years. 2 started out well then went downhill fast. (For balance though, our current LA/LL is really good - 1 year in)

Either way, the majority of privately rented agreements do seem to end on less-than-stellar terms (in my experience). If it's started off badly, I would imagine that this is a bad sign for the renting experience as a whole. I've never heard of a case of things starting out badly then getting better.

Anywhoo, as others have said, he may be busy with hospital etc and no LA is involved. What would happen if your boiler breaks and he's in hospital/not in a position to answer your calls?

So yep, I'd look elsewhere.

tbs624

Note that the LL says he has been having hospital treatment. Perhaps he may be unable to take on self management of the property?

Maybe he was considering selling up?

OP - have you offered references/ agreed to have credit referencing undertaken (and to pay for it)? Some LLs who prefer to use an LA will be suspicious of potential Ts who want to cut out the middle man ( even if there are cost benefits to both LL & T from doing so.)

mixenvixen

Wow thanks for all the responses guys, you have certainly given me a lot tothink about.

I'll update you all on the situation, then answer some of your questions:

I contacted my friend, who as I said is the current T. She again seemed verysurprised about his current behaviour as she says he has always been very good.As she was contacting him about another matter (which he sorted out swiftly mayI add) she mentioned us as well. The landlord told her the same story that hehad become unexpectantly ill and had to go to hospital, hence the delay. Hetold her he has all the papers for us to sign now and he is planning oncontacting us this week, to sign next. I think it sounds like he was reallyill, but he also said that he has had his son move back up home to help withhis properties now. I think G_M's is the most practical solution in lookingwhile waiting, which is what we have, began to do. Thanks G_M for your pearls ofwisdom!

I know a lot of the general feedback was completely walk away. However wehave thought it over and I don't think that is the best decision- we really,really love the flat, my friend has had fantastic dealings with this LL, itdoes seem like he really was ill and he has asked his son to move up to help.

In response to some of your individual responses and questions-

Eton Rifle: As explained in our first post the estate agent is not verygood. I have had friends with numerous complaints about them, they wereincredibly unprofessional when we met with them (late, didn't bring keys withthem to show us a house, knew nothing about property...) and the reason ourfriend has got to know the landlord is because every time she has a problemwith the house, they just tell her to ring the landlord anyway!

Missile: No offence but I find your comment a little patronising and itsounds like you didn't really bother to read our post properly. This is not ourfirst rent- we have been renting for 5 years. I don't really think it isunreasonable to want something down in writing. And describing us as 'hassling'him is a little ridiculous and is why it suggests to me you didn't botherreading our post. He said couple of weeks- we rang him after a couple of weeks-he said end of May- we rang him end of May- he said mid-June- we rang him toclarify when in mid-June... I hardly believe tenants wanting to pay a LL, makeyou problem tenants.

Silvercar- Yes, my friend has handed in notice, we wanted the house 18th ofJuly ideally- but offered him 1st of July because we really want the house andshe had given her notice up to that point.

out, vile jelly: thanks for backing us up on Missiles ludicrous comments.

tbs624- We offered the LL references, credit checks without him asking andhe declined. He agreed that he would also prefer to go not through the LA, asreally it's just extra money for both us and the LL. He mainly uses the LA toadvertise the property- however as we had already said we wanted it, for him itwas less hassle.