Rental - what to expect

robt1966

I am expecting exchange on the house I'm selling to happen very shortly, hopefully this Monday (last I heard from the solicitor was that they were aiming for "end of July"). My wife and I are going into rental accommodation. We decided to do this firstly because we got an offer very quickly on our house at several thousand above the asking price on condition that we "break the chain", and secondly, because we're probably (not definitely) going to move to a different area to buy our next house, so we thought renting for a while first before buying might be sensible. Our plan is, as soon as we get notification that exchange has taken place (or is about to take place), to drive up to mid-Cheshire (Northwich, Middlewich, and surrounding villages) where we intend to rent, spend a few days there in a hotel, and view rental properties that we have seen on zoopla, rightmove, and local agents' sites. Of course we will ring first to arrange viewings before we drive up there.

We asked for 6 weeks between exchange and completion to give us time to find a rental place, and, frankly, at the time we agreed the sale I thought 6 weeks was ample time, and I was unaware of the current so-called "rental crisis". Now, having read a bit more about this supposed "crisis" we are both getting anxious. We hear scare stories about "every property having 20 offers", but, to be honest, several prospective properties we have seen on rightmove/zoopa have been there for several weeks. Some have even been reduced in price. We're willing to pay up to £1800 (possibly even beyond) a month for the right property.

So what will we realistically expect to achieve in a few days up there? Is there a chance we will come away having secured a property (which is the aim), or will the agents tell us we're having a laugh, and to get to the back of a very long queue for every single property we view?

We both have visions of having to put all our stuff in storage and live in a hotel because we can't find anywhere to rent. Please reassure me that things are not this bad.

Flugelhorn

I have been helping someone in another part of the country and there were up to 10 viewings in an evening and most took the application form (this would be for a property priced at about 1500) - places for viewings were booked up within  hours of the advert appearing. There were a few that were listed as apparently reduced - though when contacted it appeared they had already gone.  Very difficult from a distance, much better if you are living in the area already eg airbnb or spareroom or at least aim to be there for at least a week or two 

grumbler

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-66246223

MultiFuelBurner

There is great demand for rental properties but st above average rents you might be ok.

Best to make contact with a few rental agencies first with your budget and expected timescales.

theoretica

Rental market really varies depending on the part of the country.  I suggest you find the names of a couple of agents advertising properties you think have potential and ring and ask them about what you can expect and their current experience of the local market.

dimbo61

Well the good news is that you will have a huge choice of properties available to Rent in the Northwich and Middlewich area.
The rental crisis is mainly in the big cities like Manchester, Liverpool and of course London.
Out here in the countryside that sort of budget should get you a nice modern four bed detached house.
Location, Location, Location !!!
Now transport links may be important to you ?
WFH or fifty mile commute to the city ?
Home office, parking, garage, garden, schools, layout, style, 
Start with rightmove, openrent, and local lettings agents.
Cheshire is a lovely part of the country
Just be careful out driving as you don't want to meet me!
🚑

lookstraightahead

Always rented when I've sold and moved areas / broken the chain etc and never had a problem securing something and never had a problem with making the money back on a subsequent purchase because we've been in a position to buy. You just need to show in all aspects that you're serious (in my experience).

I think there's lots of scaremongering about finding somewhere to rent. I've no doubt there are problem areas but I've never lived in one of them (I think cities as another poster says is probably more of an issue as my daughter is in London and it's been harder for her). You've got a healthy budget too - maybe look at how many bedrooms you really need as a bigger budget for less bedrooms might give you a nicer area / better options.

Good luck - I moved areas three years ago, rented for a year while we found the property and area we wanted (made friends next door where we rented who told us about all the areas) and then we negotiated on the property we bought as we were ready to move, and made our rental money back. Had a month overlap so there was no stress to move out on one day, and got our new house a bit more comfortable before we moved in. By the time we moved in, we knew our 'new' neighbours who kept us watered and fed. 

We actually rented a huge two bed apartment in a mansion house with a garden, which what absolutely beautiful and cheaper and bigger than a lot of houses. The rooms were all off the hallway so you could easily have changed one of them into a third bedroom. It was probably the nicest place I've ever lived, all our neighbours were lovely and sone have become friends now. Even the landlord who owned it was really nice and has continued to stay in touch with us.

Oh - the other thing we did was have a bit of a cull on our possessions. We rented with no white goods included and got rid of our very old ones and bought new good quality ones at the rental that we could then take with us. We gave away a lot of old furniture and this reduced the cost of moving. We also bought new mattresses etc when we moved (as we needed these anyway). 

It took all the stress away of moving areas as we knew deep down if we didn't like it we could move back. Never happened though. 

Oh 🤣 while you're up looking - spend the first few hours driving round and anything you see or roads you like get in touch with the agents, so that you've got a chance to see them over the next few days you're there. 

MultiFuelBurner

lookstraightahead said:

Always rented when I've sold and moved areas / broken the chain etc and never had a problem securing something and never had a problem with making the money back on a subsequent purchase because we've been in a position to buy. You just need to show in all aspects that you're serious (in my experience).

I think there's lots of scaremongering about renting. I've no doubt there are problem areas but I've never lived in one of them (I think cities as another poster says is probably more of an issue as my daughter is in London and it's been harder for her).

When was the last time you did this?

It's a really strange rental market right now.

lookstraightahead

MultiFuelBurner said:

lookstraightahead said:

Always rented when I've sold and moved areas / broken the chain etc and never had a problem securing something and never had a problem with making the money back on a subsequent purchase because we've been in a position to buy. You just need to show in all aspects that you're serious (in my experience).

I think there's lots of scaremongering about renting. I've no doubt there are problem areas but I've never lived in one of them (I think cities as another poster says is probably more of an issue as my daughter is in London and it's been harder for her).

When was the last time you did this?

It's a really strange rental market right now.

Two years ago ish. But our area is still similar (not a city). Quite a lot of rentals available. 

But DD in central London it's not the same. 

Richard1212

Has O/P considered a small but rated guesthouse to live in ----there are so many which are affordable and provide home-cooked meals, no hassles and have all the comforts of home. A cursory look on google for Middlewich guest houses showed many fine places with meals for much less than your £1800 budget limit for renting. I suppose you are storing your furniture in any case till you buy a house ? Good luck