Question for those who rent...how fussy were you?

aliasojo

Idle curiosity more than anything.

I'm viewing a new rental property soon and I'm really undecided at the moment as to whether it's for us or not. I'm hoping a viewing will help sway me one way or another. The pros and cons of moving to the new rental v's staying put seem very evenly balanced and it's hard to know what to do for the best.

OH reckons as long as it's clean and tidy, it's fine and we should move, simply because it's a bit nearer to school/work.

I feel there's more to it than that but maybe I'm being unrealistic holding out for the 'perfect' place that ticks more of my boxes.

Just wondering if others grabbed whatever they could as long as it was in the right area, or waited until they got just the right place?

girl_withno_name

aliasojo wrote: »

Idle curiosity more than anything.

I'm viewing a new rental property soon and I'm really undecided at the moment as to whether it's for us or not. I'm hoping a viewing will help sway me one way or another. The pros and cons of moving to the new rental v's staying put seem very evenly balanced and it's hard to know what to do for the best.

OH reckons as long as it's clean and tidy, it's fine and we should move, simply because it's a bit nearer to school/work.

I feel there's more to it than that but maybe I'm being unrealistic holding out for the 'perfect' place that ticks more of my boxes.

Just wondering if others grabbed whatever they could as long as it was in the right area, or waited until they got just the right place?

This, but our first rented place we had to find with quite short notice (once I'd had a job offer and start date confirmed) and the second we had to find following our two month's notice, which was also over the Christmas/New Year period. I now realise that we could have probably stayed at the first place longer, but I knew no better at the time.

I guess it also depends how long you're planning to stay there? We were looking for 1-2 years tops, so "it'll do" was fine.

Just to add - that if you have the luxury of holding out for somewhere you really like, in a good location then I'd do that! We're extremely thankful that this is a short term situation for us because, although the property itself is a good size, it's a road leading out of the city centre and there drunks galore!

Soot2006

We waited till we found the "right" place and were then asked to leave after 6 months fixed was up Grabbed the next one we could find in area, didn't like it much at first but location was good and LL was nice ... It soon became home and we ended up staying over 2 years!

cherylim

We knew we wanted a quiet road in a nice neighbourhood, and ideally two miles from the office. Other than that, we didn't mind too much.

We'd been in a very modern apartment before we moved, but it was built between a university campus and a chavvy estate. We were subject to vandalism and abuse, and eventually it reached a point where the doorbell ringing or a slight banging noise would have me crying. For that reason, we weren't as picky as we might have been if we were moving from somewhere nice, but ultimately I base my home decisions based on the lifestyle rather than the building. I can cope with an under-par house, as long as it's safe and comfortable, if I get to live somewhere good.

What we ended up with is a three-bedroom semi-detached house on a family-orientated cul-de-sac, complete with a garage and large garden, a five-minute walk from a beautiful park, a few roads from a narrow country lane with traditional pubs and a short walk up a tree-lined hill from the town centre. In return, we have a house with slightly worn carpets, patches of mould, small amounts of missing skirting board and 60s decor including mint green walls coupled with burgundy carpets. Outside, the house looks incredible. Inside, I guess I've learned to love it. It needs work, but I'm happy.

aliasojo

cherylim wrote: »

What we ended up with is a three-bedroom semi-detached house on a family-orientated cul-de-sac, complete with a garage and large garden, a five-minute walk from a beautiful park, a few roads from a narrow country lane with traditional pubs and a short walk up a tree-lined hill from the town centre. In return, we have a house with slightly worn carpets, patches of mould, small amounts of missing skirting board and 60s decor including mint green walls coupled with burgundy carpets. Outside, the house looks incredible. Inside, I guess I've learned to love it. It needs work, but I'm happy.

We're similar in that the place we are in right now has it's internal issues but it's a large detached house with a large garden in a rural area. (Good - lovely area, no noisy neighbours/screaming kids etc....Bad - bit isolated, miles from school/work, only one village shop.)

The new place would be much handier, beside school, bit closer to work, more modern inside BUT...it's link detached, neighbours all around, smaller house, only one loo, no study- not sure if our furniture would fit etc etc.

Cost wise, both houses work out at only £6 a month difference between them but the possible new place would mean we could get rid of one car and save money and also daughter could walk to school instead of being run every day.

Not sure if I could handle being bang in the middle of a scheme now though. :undecided

Flibsey

we thought this was the right place. we thought it was nice. it was only after we moved in that we found out the boiler was condemnable, the wallpaper in the front bedroom was being held up with mould, the bathroom sealent wasn't actually sealing, kitchen diner carpet was mouldy, the LA is less than useful and finally the landlord is a complete.... erm.... no. can't put my true feelings because this is a public forum and I don't wish to be fought for defamation of character.

arbrighton

We moved into rented as 160 mile move for OH new job and we didn't want to spend every weekend making the round trip to look for house to buy, nor was our house anywhere near sold. I looked at 6 or 7 houses over about 2 days. Our only real criteria were shortish commute for him, garage or v secure shed for the 4 bikes and room for our accumulated stuff.
Unfortunately, around here, people don't seem to think people who rent might need a garage so the house we got was really the only option. THe upside was it was newly refurbished, and the landlord is pretty decent about sending builder round when necessary etc. Shame the garden is just a weedfest.
We're now beyond the 6 month AST and happy enough, although we are in the process of buying now the sale of our old house has gone through to completion etc.

Panda78

I'm more inclined to agree with your OH. I got very settled in my first rental, had 5 years there and it felt like "my home". It was hard to find another place when my landlord gave me notice, as it felt like such an upheaval to move without wishing to do so.

If you plan to buy within the next few years, i'd say choose convenience over anything else and try to be practical over choosing somewhere that you really like for other reasons.

LittleMissAspie

We were looking for somewhere as cheap as possible who would let us have a cat, so we weren't in a position to be fussy. We were saving for a mortgage and the house being small and grotty was good motivation.

If you want to stay there long term then I'd be pretty choosy.

cran81

This thread's pretty interesting as it's made me stop and be more organised about choosing a place. I'll be getting notice very soon so I need to find a family home asap. I want to live somewhere around my current location as I'm used to it and it's on the nicer side of town but I realise now that I can't afford to be picky with a short time scale. As long as it's clean and no major issues then that would be cool. I don't think we'll find anywhere as close to the school as this one. But, I'm hoping the next place will motivate me to sort my head out and get onto the property ladder so that I don't have to be waiting for the notice to come through.
Have got really attached to this place though -been here awhile and kids have grown up here from when they were babies.

aliasojo

Well the 'problem' was soon put to bed after having viewed the place.

We're staying put!

At least until something decent comes up.

Thank you all for your replies.