Help when renting??

DJRenegade

marliepanda wrote: »

Well that's £250 which is 10% of what you initially said.

Be upfront. Tell them you have bad credit. Explain.

To be honest they'll likely require the rent upfront which you're not going to be able to do either by your reckoning.

Sorry I can't be more helpful. Is a loan a possibility? One which you can repay early once you get your deposit back (the rent you're expecting anyway so should have that ready)

I didnt say I couldnt do it, I said its a struggle to save that much in a short amount of time and an estate agent only needs to say no to put me 10% backwards, £250 is hardly a small amount of money.

DJRenegade

Also I just want to point out, I am not looking for handouts, I was seeing if there was a scheme that helps you pay all these stupid fees that you can possibly repay over time, I wouldnt mind these fees if they were to add them to the rent each month and allow me to pay them off slowly over a year or 2.

sulphate

I don't disagree with the fact the charges are extortionate but I don't think there is another option I'm afraid. Technically the first month's rent doesn't really count as a fee, as you'd presumably be paying a similar amount in rent to stay in your current house, although obviously there will be an overlap period.

itchyfeet123

When does the LL want you out? Are you on a fixed term or a periodic tenancy? If soon + fixed term, perhaps suggest to the LL that s/he provides you with an incentive to get out quickly, like refunding your deposit early or paying you some actual cash for your trouble. Conversely, if it's not urgent to the LL -- eg s/he would like to keep getting some rent over the who knows how many months it will take to sell -- then you have some time to save up for these costs.

always_sunny

eggha wrote: »

so what, would you work for the same rate of pay on a weekend as you do on a weekday? Thought not!

the rent in advance is what it is, the first month's rent. you have to pay that anyway

the deposit is the deposit. OK it is 6 weeks rather than 4 weeks but all the same it is what it is. You will eventually get it back anyway.

the remaining charges are indeed how the letting agency makes its profit. Nothing you can do about then other than a) pay them or b) find somewhere else with a different agent.

What work? The Letting Agency is open on Saturday, most are at least.
Usually on moving day you swing by their office and grab the keys.

I am surprised LL are happy to lose one day rent cause it's Saturday!

Cakeguts

The only way to reduce the fees is to shop round for agents. Small local independent agents will probably charge less than large chains.

itchyfeet123

Cakeguts wrote: »

The only way to reduce the fees is to shop round for agents. Small local independent agents will probably charge less than large chains.

Of course, is not like shopping around for the best priced electronic gadget or can of beans. While the exact same phone or baked beans tin is avaluable from a number of retailers, most rental properties are only available from a single agent. Depending on where you live, there might be some correlation between quality of available properties and tenant-side fees.

So, yes, shop around, but once you find a property you want, you're usually stuck with whatever fees that agent charges.

Pixie5740

I meant to say yesterday that you need to ensure you end your current tenancy correctly to minimise the amount of cross-over time between two properties.

See G_M's guide to Ending & Renewing an AST for more information.

saajan_12

Re fees, that's how it is, but few things you can do:

1) Talk to your current LL about when they would like you to leave, and when you can move in somewhere else. You can come to a agreement to end the tenancy on a mutually convenient date to minimise the time you overlap on rent, but that gives you time to move and clean so you ensure your old deposit return. (Make sure you agree in writing exactly what will happen with the deposit, will you pro rata rent etc)

2) Check the deposit: 1.5 x 700 = £1050 so £950 is slightly less than 1.5months rent.. not a problem, just check you're working off the correct numbers.

3) Ask the LA what their/new LL's criteria is to pass their checks, and be upfront about your situation, so you know before applying if you'll definitely fail.