Short term let.

Westminster

Long story short(ish).

Anyone have any suggestions (or experience of similar) on where we can find somewhere without a 6 month commitment?

We are pretty flex on location and currently are looking throughout Buckinghamshire but can throw the net wider if required.

We are selling our house and the house we are buying needs some pretty heavy modernisation. Our buyers (locally renting) would like to complete prior to Christmas and the place we are buying is a granted probate and they have indicated they would like to exchange in the first half of December.

The main issue is that my wife is in a wheelchair and we are trying to get our heads around finding suitable temporary accommodation for us and our 2 young kids for 2-3 months (my rough estimate) while the messy work is done.

Most letting agencies are telling me they have a minimum 6 month tenancy and I have never rented so no direct experience. One agent was very helpful and suggested we try finding private landlords on gumtree (also advised to take particular care on that website).

So far 1 agent has shown us a place which looked pretty good and the owner will have the flexibility we require for a month-by-month but its nearly £1500 pcm which is quite a bit when we are also paying the mortgage on our new place but it is at least 1 possible solution.

fairy_lights

In rural/touristy areas lots of holiday cottages get rented out for a slightly longer term over winter once the season has ended, so you might be able to find somewhere for three or four months.
Do you have any family or friends you could stay with short term?

G_M

I too would be cautios on gumtree. There are genuine landlords there..... but also scammers.

The law does not allow a landlord to start legal proceedings for possession within the 1st 6 months of a tenancy, hence most LLs offer minimum 6 month contracts

Additionally, the costs associated with changing tenats makes it uneconomic to offer short lets unless the rent is at a premium.

Try negotiating long-term rates at a B&B, or even some budget hotels. I've heard Travel Lodge will heavily discount rates if booking for weeks.

clw1

I'd suggest looking for a holiday cottage and approaching the owners to agree a low weekly / monthly rate.

Westminster

I had also considered the holiday property route and will continue to do so - unfortunately there is no unified website for that sort of thing unlike Rightmove etc so will take lots of research.

We will definitely have to delay our (admittedly nice & short) chain till after Christmas for the holiday house option - something I am not adverse to as I think we are unlikely to get much work done on the new house over the festive period.

Family is not an option as none of them have downstairs bathroom etc.

Another option was serviced apartments which at 3 bedrooms, come in at around £500pw.

I think hotels / B&B will be a stretch with a young family in the winter, we will go stir crazy in a couple of days ;-)

Strapped

Any good for you?

http://www.nethouseprices.com/index.php?con=view_property&id=A53D23FD0D8D75_R1948&source=adzuna

Westminster

Good find - will have to keep that website bookmarked.

2 beds is too small for us unfortunately but encouraging to know that these sorts of places do come up!

Could I ask how you came across that listing?

Madmel

Try your local Tourist Information Centre. They generally know which properties are open over the winter and will almost certainly be able to advise which are auitable for guests needing wheelchair access. Hope you find something suitable.

carefullycautious

Have you thought of trying holiday sites like this one


http://www.sykescottages.co.uk/wheelchair-friendly-cottages-for-the-disabled.html?rfx=3&mkwid=sy7XRvLJe_dc&pcrid=34416644178&pkw=disability%20cottages&pmt=b&gclid=CNv22Pya0sECFQoUwwodhTIAjA


Owners direct is another, look for Buckinghamshire area and if you see voids for the weeks you need you could ring up and ask if they would rent to you


THey may know of one that has low booking figures and be able to negotiate a price for a few weeks for you. I have only picked the above from googling it and know nothing about them or work for them. You could try a variety and see if anything comes up.
Also disablility sites specific to your wifes diagnoses may know of somewhere. It is always worth a try.


Facebook, another avenue to explore

Westminster

All good tips - thanks.

PasturesNew

There are places out there, I'd look for holiday lets for a winter let. The trouble is you've a mix of circumstances that will lessen your opportunities. 3 bedrooms is larger than a lot of holiday lets, needing wheelchair access is often a problem with such lets.

I'd make the kids share for 4-6 months, get a 2 bed (take the small bedroom for yourselves) and take a 6 month regular let as your project might over-run anyway - the cheaper 2-bed rent will offset the longer term.