Been Offered a rental house , but landlord wants 12 month contract not 6 ?

MoroFenrir

After over a year of searching for a rental we've finally found a house that has accepted our application .
We put in our interest for a house we viewed , and the landlord came back saying that he's willing to accept us as tenants (providing we pass the necessary checks etc etc .) and has offered it to us .

However this landlord wants us to sign a 12 month contract , whereas most we've seen initially offer a 6 month contract , what are people's opinion's on this ?

We're only hesitant as we've spent 5 years living with the neighbours from hell , and it's taken us over a year to find a property in a nice area, that is willing to accept us (DSS & Pets ) , but we're just very nervous of having a 12 month contract , instead of a 6 in case we have problems when we move.

MoroFenrir

Just to note , my partner cannot work , they're on ESA , and though I care for my partner I am not technically a "Carer" as they are not on disabillity , we are trying to get moved from ESA to Disabillity (now PIP) , however as it's a mental health issue and not a physical problem , it's very difficult to do so .

Because of this we are just generally classed as DSS , the same as jobseekers which means it's been very difficult to find a landlord willing to accept us.

AnotherJoe

Seems to me you are looking a gift horse in the mouth

Very difficult circumstances, most LL's wont take you, taken a year to find somewhere, now you have plus its guaranteed you'll be there for a year and most likely longer if LL wanta 12 month initial contract ..... and yet you are having second thoughts !

Go and park outside for a while one evening see if the area seems OK.

MoroFenrir

My parents went round and spoke to the neighbours on either side , both of whom said it's a lovely area and they never had any trouble .

I think we're just so frightened , we literally have neighbours from hell where we are
( Think purposely leaving a motorbike outside your living room window , and leaving it with the engine running / revving while they go inside for an hour )

but you would never imagine it looking at the area we live in , lovely old stone build cottages etc .

So frightened to move and end up with bad neighbours again I guess .

[Deleted User]

You won't get moved from ESA to PIP, PIP is an additional benefit as far as I understand it. You get income support (jobseekers allowance ) or ESA or nothing and PIP if you are successful claiming it (claiming seperately).

I think you need to get some advice from the CAB on benefits.

A year contract does have its advantages, many people would be delighted to grab the opportunity to have a 1 year tenancy agreement rather than 6 months. You have already done what you can to see if there are similiar problems in the neighbourhood. We can't really do anymore than that to reassure you.

beanandbean

MoroFenrir wrote: »

My parents went round and spoke to the neighbours on either side , both of whom said it's a lovely area and they never had any trouble .

I think we're just so frightened , we literally have neighbours from hell where we are
( Think purposely leaving a motorbike outside your living room window , and leaving it with the engine running / revving while they go inside for an hour )

but you would never imagine it looking at the area we live in , lovely old stone build cottages etc .



So frightened to move and end up with bad neighbours again I guess .

Better the devil you know that the devil you don't? I don't believe that's true. You have been looking for such a long time, I'd say go for it.

MoroFenrir

We've applied for it , fingers crossed .

Landlord has accepted us so it's just the checks now