Long term rentals

BillNBob

Is there such a thing as a company that would deal with long term rentals in the UK?
When properties are advertised they usually say short or long term rental.
How do we know this is true, we had a LL that served S21 3 months after we decorated, relet and put rent up, he said it could be ours for life.
So how can we be sure and feel secure?

thelem

The only way is to buy.

Think about it from a landlord's point of view - they need to be able to evict you if you're causing problems, or if they want to sell the property (yes, you can sell with a tenant, but there is a much smaller market).

Werdnal

The whole problem is you know you are excellent, loyal, reliable tenants, but a landlord will not, so for their own protection, will only grant 6/12 month FT tenancies to allow them to ditch you more easily if things don't work out.

It also allows them a get out clause, if their circumstances change and they need the property back to live in or to sell.

The peril of renting is that you cannot ensure long-term security, unless you go down the HA/Council route, or can afford a "rent-to-buy" type deal.

G_M

Some landlords DO want the security of knowing they have a long term tenant and guaranteed rent, with no voids, for years.

But as others have said, they usually want to put a new tenant on 'probation' for the first 6months in case they turn out to be a nightmare.

After that, they might be happy/willing to sign a 12, or 24, or 36 month tenancy.

But I'm afraid they are a minority.

theartfullodger

You are quite sure you would want, as a tenant, a long-term commitment to pay the rent even if you had to move due to job change, family crisis, illness, getting married/family breakup , hideous neighbours, aircraft noise, mad landlord, unsafe house, etc etc?

Any long-term deal ties both tenant & landlord.

tim123456789

theartfullodger wrote: »

You are quite sure you would want, as a tenant, a long-term commitment to pay the rent even if you had to move due to job change, family crisis, illness, getting married/family breakup , hideous neighbours, aircraft noise, mad landlord, unsafe house, etc etc?

Or even if you died! (though obviously it wouldn't be you paying)

tim

theartfullodger

Died: Good point Tim: in E&W your estate would be saddled with paying the rent: In Scotland the tenancy ends with tenant's death....

paddyrg

I've been renting the same place for 6 years now, the tenant before was here for 40 years(!), so it depends on the landlord. Ask the agent whether the property is being let short term by a reluctant first-time landlord, or whether it is someone with other properties where tenants have stayed for a long time - they are the landlords who take being a landlord seriously and value long-term tenants. In that case, as soon as you can, get onto a rolling tenancy to avoid having silly agency fees every 6 months and just hope/trust your landlord carries on as before (which is likely if you're good, long-term tenants, pay on time, etc - no guarantees in this world, but professional landlords will need you as much as you need them!)

Heliflyguy

theartfullodger wrote: »

You are quite sure you would want, as a tenant, a long-term commitment to pay the rent even if you had to move due to job change, family crisis, illness, getting married/family breakup , hideous neighbours, aircraft noise, mad landlord, unsafe house, etc etc?

Any long-term deal ties both tenant & landlord.

So how does it work in Germany were long term rentals are pretty normal it seems? although the agents fees are astronomical it appears from the little I have read.

markf340

As a landlord I'm happy to have long term tenants, and let the fixed term roll over to a periodic tenancy. Also I've never put the rent up once I have a tenant settled who is looking after the place. I'd rather have a good tenant than put the rent up by £50 and then have a month or more void looking for a new tenant which could take me 18months plus to recover.

I have been asked for longer fixed term tenancies in the past and looked into it. You can do an AST for up to 5 years, but the think that stopped me was my buy to let mortgages all state that I can't do more than 12 months as either an AST or a company let, so that knocked it on the head for me.

newsgroup_monkey

paddyrg wrote: »

Professional landlords will need you as much as you need them!)

Dare I say it, I agree with the above statement.

I was lucky in that I had my previous place for nearly 6 years, but it was inevitable it would come to an end. My LL was an accidental one - their circumstances meant that they would one day eventually return to take up the family home. In the end, they made their move permanent and sold up.

It had the benefit of being a family home - was decorated as such and felt like a home rather than a rented pit.

However, the place we are in now has some interesting foibles, but is not only cheaper, but owned by a professional landlord - they own hundreds of properties and I would be surprised if we were ever kicked out or the place sold. Apparently until recently, there have only been 3 or 4 sets of tenants since the property was built in the 70s.

Previous tenants did a runner and the fella before that appears to have "forgotten" to tell his employer (long-term sick) that he has moved.

I feel a bit bad that we are probably only going to be there for a couple f years (Now the wife is back on career track, we can hopefully sort out our debts and get back on the deposit wagon).

If it all goes the way of the pear for us, I certainly wouldn't rent again from a private LL if there was a chance they might sell up.

People who entirely rely on letting income (as my Parents do), particularly if it's family property, might treat you like a number, but they are also more likely to leave you alone.