Want to rent a house listed for sale

Lollygagger

Can I express my interest in renting a property that's advertised for sale, and, if so, what's the best way to approach the estate agent about it?

RHemmings

Can you not just send them an email asking if there is any chance that you could rent the house? That way you don't have to see the look of incredulity on their face that you might risk seeing if you asked in person. 

theartfullodger

Have you checked it's not already advertised for rent??

Does it have existing tenants or do vendors live there ?? (did you knock on door and ask??)

eddddy

That's a massive long-shot.

Assuming the owners are living in the property now, where would they live instead, if you rent their property? 


Normally, their plan would be to use the money they get from the sale to buy another place to live.

Lollygagger

RHemmings:

Don't think I'd have the balls to approach them in person with such an outlandish request right off the bat, so it'd definitely be a phone call or an email to start with.

The property's been on the market several months, and reduced in that time, too, so I'm hoping the vendor might be just desperate enough to consider my offer.

My question, really, is how to go about it to reduce my chances of being immediately laughed out of the (virtual) room. 

theartfullodger:

Definitely not currently advertised for rent, nor tenanted.

eddddy:

Fully aware this is a strong possibility, but willing to take my chances since the property is so perfectly located (same street as family) and would be within my rental budget. 

Lollygagger

eddddy:

Just to add: from what I've heard, the vendors haven't been using this house as their primary residence. 

la531983

Just ask the estate agent, not sure what else you can do. But as said, be prepared to be sniggered at.

DullGreyGuy

Lollygagger said:

eddddy:

Just to add: from what I've heard, the vendors haven't been using this house as their primary residence. 

The problem is, it's much harder to sell a property with a sitting tenant. You can refuse to leave after they serve you notice and the legal process to evict you takes time and costs money. No sensible buyer is going to exchange until you are gone and so it only really works if the buyer is intending it to be a buy to let but that massively reduces the number of potential buyers and therefore likely the selling price. 

If the property was previously tenanted then there is a small chance that its on the market as they failed to find a tenant to replace the last one in which case they may consider it but even then not necessarily. 

Lollygagger said:

My question, really, is how to go about it to reduce my chances of being immediately laughed out of the (virtual) room. 

Make sure you make a reasonable offer of rent? Dont offer 50% of the going rate because you think you are doing them a favour of giving them some income whilst it's up for sale. 

I'd also avoid making silly promises about looking after the place, letting viewers around or promising to leave when asked. These are all things everyone will claim and there is no way to prove you aren't the type to go back on your word when push comes to shove and the owners want you out and you want to continue living there.

ProDave

My advice to the vendor would be (as polite as they feel able) NO

user1977

I would just ask if they'd consider it and take it from there. I doubt there's any magic words you can use to persuade them to say yes.

Emmia

Lollygagger said:

RHemmings:

Don't think I'd have the balls to approach them in person with such an outlandish request right off the bat, so it'd definitely be a phone call or an email to start with.

The property's been on the market several months, and reduced in that time, too, so I'm hoping the vendor might be just desperate enough to consider my offer.

My question, really, is how to go about it to reduce my chances of being immediately laughed out of the (virtual) room. 

theartfullodger:

Definitely not currently advertised for rent, nor tenanted.

eddddy:

Fully aware this is a strong possibility, but willing to take my chances since the property is so perfectly located (same street as family) and would be within my rental budget. 

How do you know this? The sellers might be willing to rent it to you only at an utterly outlandish price, e.g. two or three times your top end budget.