Offering 6 months rent to a private landlord?

seashore22

My daughter has just changed jobs and needs to move to Bristol and will be finding somewhere with her partner. The Bristol rental market seems to be moving fast and she needs to get ahead of the game. She lost a lovely flat by minutes at the weekend.

She has enough savings to offer 6 months rent up front to the landlord and has found a very good flat on Gumtree. Is this a good idea and how does she protect herself as much as possible because handing over such a large sum is a bit scary?

Any thoughts?

theartfullodger

She can do so & that would be attractive to many landlords:

But beware (I make no slur or comment on your esteemed daughter..) such offers - more so if 12 months up front - can raise concerns that someone may be planning a cannabis farm or a brothel...

Turning up with mum would reassure..

Best be forewarned..

Good luck!

G_M

Young lady turns up with 6 months rent....... Many LLs would run a mile!

As for offering that much cash to a stranger from gumtree..... :rotfl:

pyueck

seashore22 wrote: »

My daughter has just changed jobs and needs to move to Bristol and will be finding somewhere with her partner. The Bristol rental market seems to be moving fast and she needs to get ahead of the game. She lost a lovely flat by minutes at the weekend.

She has enough savings to offer 6 months rent up front to the landlord and has found a very good flat on Gumtree. Is this a good idea and how does she protect herself as much as possible because handing over such a large sum is a bit scary?

Any thoughts?

Hi, why do you propose this? Is it something the landlord has asked for. It will probably be fine but do beware of the scam, quite prolific on gumtree of somebody making out they own somewhere, take the deposit and first months rent and then come move in day are nowhere to be found and the property is full of bemused people who have been on holiday.

If you do pay 6 months upfront I would make sure you see proof that the landlord owns the property such as a mortgage statement.

squeeks

If they ask to see proof that you have the money in a western union account you know you are being taken for a ride. Just don't do it, they'll empty the account by lunchtime.

seashore22

Thanks for the replies.

My daughter lost out on a flat only this weekend because the other person could offer 12 months rent up front. I thought that it was a bit odd at the time because apparently they needed a guarantor, had less income than required and yet had nearly £10,000 knocking around.

I only asked as I had seen this suggested on this very website. Bad idea then?

And yes Western Union would have me running a mile.

seashore22

She's not that young - mid 20's.

Bluebirdman_of_Alcathays

I live in Bristol - there are plenty of other properties out there without resorting to 6 months cash up front.

pyueck

seashore22 wrote: »

Thanks for the replies.

My daughter lost out on a flat only this weekend because the other person could offer 12 months rent up front. I thought that it was a bit odd at the time because apparently they needed a guarantor, had less income than required and yet had nearly £10,000 knocking around.

I only asked as I had seen this suggested on this very website. Bad idea then?

And yes Western Union would have me running a mile.

I just think that giving that sort of money to somebody you have just met before they have you given you the keys is a bad idea.

As I have said on here many times don't leave yourself exposed, and this will leave you exposed. In my opinion bad idea and not some thing I would like to see become a norm. Be patient you will get something soon.