Aberdeen market - MURDER. Rent 2 bed flat

clkaz

So, I'm currently looking for a 2 double bed flat in Aberdeen (ideally city centre, AB10 area in particular)..

I am a Medical student, and my flatmate is a final year engineering student.

Went today and saw 2 places - one flat we were told have 40-50 viewings, and the other I think was only a few people who viewed it. - us included. Advertised at £950/month, we offered £970 straight after viewing - few hours later got a call to say its gone to someone else. I'd guess they're not a student and full-time employed.

Walked around agents and they literally have nowhere, and nowhere coming up. One agent advised us this is the worst she has seen it. Most places go so quickly that phoning for flats showing as available online, we are advised that either the viewing slots are fully booked, they have an abundance of offers so are taking no further viewings, or that it has gone, and this seems to be happening within the space of 1-2 days. Having difficulty getting viewings, let alone getting an offer accepted.

Just posting here for any tips to be honest. Really desperate at the moment.

I find it annoying being stereotyped into a group as "students". Neither of us drink, smoke or "party". Just wanting to get our heads down and get our degrees.

Would appreciate any help anyone can offer. We live in Glasgow so it is a 3 hour drive up, which makes things more difficult.

Downsizing__for_sanity

Aberdeen is REALLY expensive, to buy as well as to rent. Side effect of the buoyant oil and gas sector I guess. If you go into the actual hospital, go down near the staff dining room and there is a notice board with constant turnover of notices. Alternatively give Student Services a call at the Hub, that's one of their areas of expertise. Halls are a relatively good deal compared with private lets. Sorry I can't be more help, but been in the same situation there a few years ago. Viewed lots of hell-hole flats at silly money!

googler

So, if you're phoning as soon as the flats appear online, and the agents have already filled their viewings or let it to someone else, where do you think the agents are finding all these other people?

Bailey101

I've lived in Aberdeen for just over 10 years, and agree that the housing market here is a nightmare!!

The best bit of advice I can give is to give up on AB10 - there's always going to be hundreds of high earning oil workers looking for flats in prime areas like that, and unfortunately they're a lot more attractive to landlords then students

Try looking in lower demand areas a bit further from the city centre and you might have a bit more luck. I don't know if existing house shares would be an option for you, but it might be easier to find a shared house with other students.

Also, this time of year is always busy with students moving back to Aberdeen and a lot of flats are rented out short term for Offshore Europe - you might get more luck after mid September when the short term rents are being re-advertised for longer lets.

Hope this helps a wee bit

xx

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

clkaz wrote: »

Would appreciate any help anyone can offer.

If you go a bit further out from the city centre, the flats are cheaper and there's loads more of them. 5-10 mins on the bus or 10-15 mins by bike.

Look at a google map of Aberdeen, and find the area to the North of Union Street.

Go up a couple of major roads and you'll see Rosemount place. Anything North of that, from King Street to the East, to Westburn Place to the West, will have good bus services and easy cycle access to the city centre. North of ARI will also have free on street parking, anything south will have residents permits.

2 beds for £750 to £850 all day long.

The other option is the bottom end of Holburn Street and Garthdee. Similarly good access, and similarly priced flats.

Hope that helps.

princeofpounds

So, if you're phoning as soon as the flats appear online, and the agents have already filled their viewings or let it to someone else, where do you think the agents are finding all these other people?

Normally the agents will be running a list of people who have enquired about property. Most of the agencies in London try all these people before they ever put a property up on the web.

The stuff on the web is normally either stock that is dragging for some reason, or 'fishing' (looks attractive, but when you ring up it will be by coincidence 'gone', but they will take your details for anything else that comes along).

It's not so bad when you move up from starter housing.

Most universities have accommodation offices that may be able to help with things like this. Maybe you tried that already?

googler

princeofpounds wrote: »

Normally the agents will be running a list of people who have enquired about property. Most of the agencies in London try all these people before they ever put a property up on the web.

Exactly, and as you've deduced, I'm suggesting the OP get on the agents' 'first call' lists ....

clkaz

Saw several places yesterday. Just saw ANYTING we could. Offers in for 3 of them. 1 unsuccessful last night. 1 offer in Garthdee one is just off Bottom of Holburn.

The one where we were unsuccessful- we immediately offered the deposit and also offered more. He said he just had so many viewings and everyone wanted it so he chose the person who called first... Though we did had the first viewing. Whether that's true or not dont know.

Spoken to loads of agents. They say its mad this time every year but they've never ever seen it like this. There's 30-50 viewings for some properties.

The reason we are having difficulty even getting viewings is because you literally have to phone as soon as the office opens, even then it takes several attempt to get through. By that time they may have too many viewings and essentially tell you it's gonna go. Some extra persuasion seems to be working in some cases. Some other agents seem to only show 3-4 people the flat and not do ridiculously large block viewings.

Spoke to an agent who says he has been in the market for 30 years who said he has never seen it this bad. Another said most people are selling now so there's not much to rent. So landlords are bumping up the prices as they are aware of the shortage. It becomes very clear how desperate everyone really is.

I'm waking up in the middle of the night checking what's gone up then phoning as soon as the agents open. Some agents don't even answer the phone. One flat went the same night it went up. I had a viewing for it the next day- they never bothered to tell me even though I was doing a 3 hour drive up.

Managed to get "friendly" with a couple of agents who have tipped us off about a couple of flats before they go up.

There's not a single "To let" sign up anywhere. They have difficulty updating the websites and shop widows, don't know how they'd manage to take down the physical signs.

It's so difficult and crazy, it's actually surreal.

About getting on the first call list...the agents just tell you to keep checking the website...they're not willing to call us up because they are just swamped with these requests. Martin & Co are disgusting. They are the ones who don't tell you if the flat you're viewing has been taken and last time I went into their shop they weren't willing to talk- they pointed at the computer and we were told to look on their website..

I've tried the hospital ad boards, going into estate agents, posting a wanted ad on gumtree, the university student association.

I've almost had to put everything on hold until I secure somewhere because its almost like a full time job, and just so stressful.

HORRIFIC