Renting from private landlord via Gumtree

Cakeguts

SlovakianGuy wrote: »

Thank you guys! I asked him a few questions and here's the response:

"The plan is the find a tenant who will look after the property, pay on time, and someone who is able to pay the deposit plus the rent. A credit search will be undertaken however The owner is flexible on the outcome of this as long as the applicant is honest of any financial concerns at the outset. The applicant will pay £40 for this service at the time of applying to become the tenant. A 12 month contract will be then entered upon a satisfactory agreement. Upon the agreement commencing, all contact will be between yourself and the home owner or her family who reside close by. There is no maximum term as long as the vm tract is adhered to.

I do need to know quickly though as I have a few parties interested from yesterday"

Why does it cost £40 for the credit check? What is to say that they don't take your money and then say that you have failed the checks? They could make a lot of money doing this.

davidmcn

SlovakianGuy wrote: »

Thank you guys! I asked him a few questions and here's the response:

"The plan is the find a tenant who will look after the property, pay on time, and someone who is able to pay the deposit plus the rent. A credit search will be undertaken however The owner is flexible on the outcome of this as long as the applicant is honest of any financial concerns at the outset. The applicant will pay £40 for this service at the time of applying to become the tenant. A 12 month contract will be then entered upon a satisfactory agreement. Upon the agreement commencing, all contact will be between yourself and the home owner or her family who reside close by. There is no maximum term as long as the vm tract is adhered to.

I do need to know quickly though as I have a few parties interested from yesterday"

So in what sense is he "representing" the landlord? Is he a professional agent? A family member?

Cakeguts

What is so attractive about this property that is making you want to risk it being a scam. One of the red flags for a scam is a very attractive property in a nice area being let for less than you would normally expect.

SlovakianGuy

OK, I'll stay in my current house for now. Maybe I will miss a good opportunity, but I think I'll look for something else few months later. This is not worth the potential hassle and my nerves.


Btw, the property comes unfurnished so I would have to buy furniture myself. At least the house has obviously a brand new flooring and radiators (which I couldn't check of course, since everything was switched off). The plastering is old though which makes the house looking a bit shabby both inside and outside. On the other hand, monthly rent is relatively low for a 3 bed house (in fact there are 5 rooms in total), I guess it would cost about 200 quids more each month if it was from agency.

For those who would like to see the property,
copy-paste this to google: 3 bed semi detached house for rent in Eyres Monsell 26 Markland

keatergreyhound

I hope you dont mind me asking but have you done your research about this area? I know it very well. That house is very very expensive rent wise. You could rent a house in a much better area but only half a mile away for less. Granted your very close to bus services, a Doctors and theres a large co-op about a mile away for shopping.
Please do your research on this area.

Cakeguts

It is an ex council house in a cheap area. You probably had a lucky escape. It is also expensive for where it is.

dimbo61

I have used Gumtree to advertise a small two bedroom property in the past and had an excellent response from the advert.
Must admit no one asked for ID but we did not ask for payment for reference checks.
Did the normal checks and rented out the property which has been a rental property for nearly 30 years.

keatergreyhound

Just to help you ive a frend who lives just a single street away. The council rent for a three bed is £420 a month and privatly she pays £600 per month for a three bed.

SlovakianGuy

Thanks )

Keatergreyhound, I probably know which large Co-op you mean. Is it the one on Swinford Avenue? I had a viewing for a room there about 6 months ago. That large Co-op was max 1 minute walking from the house. Sometimes I regret I didn't take it. But on the other hand, it was just a woman renting out one room in her own house. I'm not sure what kind of tenancy agreement I would get with her. Eventually I ended up in a share house on Fosse Road North. Not an agency, but the landlady rents out about 20 other houses so definitely knows how to do it properly.

I thought £725 for a three bed was a good price. I've seen people asking £900 for two bedroom houses in Leics. Of course it depends on the area, but still a big difference.

SlovakianGuy

Btw, why most landlords don't agree with legal subletting?

I'm sick of messy or noisy housemates, so now I'm thinking exactly about this. Renting a whole property myself and take in lodger or lodgers that I choose myself. I'm tidy and very very quiet, and that way I would be able to choose like-minded people to live with, and possibly even save some money, depending on how much I would be paying to the landlord and how much they would be paying to me.

Alternatively, I could buy my own house, but I think no bank would lend me enough money since I'm just a warehouseman, working 4 days a week. I would be only able to go for a shared ownership but then I wouldn't be allowed to take in a tenant, if I'm correct. Even if I could, it would be only one tenant. I guess, no one would lend me enough money to buy 3 bed property.

On the other hand, despite me working just 4 days a week, I have enough savings to rent a whole property myself, pay any deposit and even pay rent for a half year upfront if required. This is because I'm a minimalist and a passionate money saver, not passionate money spender like most people, so I have saved over time. Of course I would then take in a couple of lodgers with the consent of the landlord. Like I said, I have enough savings, but low income, so I can pay relatively large sum in the beginning, but I would need to share the costs on a long run.

Unfortunately, most landlords seem to be too afraid when I mention lodgers. I know personally at least 3 people who have rented whole properties and took in lodgers, legally. They pay for rent less than they would normally pay for a room in a share house. But most importantly, they make the decisions about who can move in and live with them. I wonder if they were so lucky or if I have such a bad luck that I can't find a landlord who would allow this.