Take room after rushed & restricted viewing?

Jude57

Solarsystem24 said:

You all make good points. I had terrible experience with airbnb. I have extensively researched serviced apartments through other companies like sliverdoor, but they’re too expensive and people write terrible reviews of the flats. They also write terrible reviews of hotels. The hospitality industry has really gone downhill. That’s why I’m stuck in a conundrum. My job is starting so soon, and I’m running out of options. I can’t even guarantee I’ll be able to find a place even if I found something temporary to live, as most people don’t reply to viewing requests and most houses are too far to travel via public transport. I haven’t signed the job contract yet because of not finding accommodation, and it looks like this area just might not be somewhere I can find a place.

Could you not just use a budget hotel for a few weeks while you find somewhere permanent? You should be able to negotiate a reduced weekly rate. Weekends may be more expensive, depending where you are staying. Once you start work you can ask your new colleagues if they know of anywhere, put an ad on the company intranet if they have one or on noticeboards. You could try looking at the notices in local shop windows too, old fashioned but worth a try.

I'd also ask you to consider whether you ALWAYS leave a positive review online every time you have an acceptable meal or an average or above stay in a hotel? If you've ever worked in a public facing role or a service industry, you'll know that it's human nature to be far more proactive when we're unhappy with something than when it's perfectly fine or even outstanding. I do try to give positive reviews where I honestly can but I can't say that I always do, so factor that in, especially when looking at hotel reviews.

RAS

Depending on your new workplace, there may be some way to circulate a request for short-term lodging with a fellow employee? Obviously once you've signed the contract.

MobileSaver

Solarsystem24 said:

I had terrible experience with airbnb ... people write terrible reviews of the flats. They also write terrible reviews of hotels. The hospitality industry has really gone downhill.

I don't know whether you have been really unlucky, are being overly picky or have a somehow flawed method of picking accommodation but my experience is the opposite.

We typically go away and stay in a B&B or hotel at least once a month, mostly just us but sometimes with family and/or friends so multiple rooms. I can't think of a single stay in the last ten years that was poor let alone terrible; with one exception we'd happily book again at every single one. (The exception was where the B&B hadn't made it clear the private bathroom was across the hall rather than en-suite so not ideal but also not something we were going to lose any sleep over.  )

thegreenone

Jude57 said:

Once you start work you can ask your new colleagues if they know of anywhere, put an ad on the company intranet if they have one or on noticeboards. You could try looking at the notices in local shop windows too, old fashioned but worth a try.

I was going to suggest this.  Although, my sister used spareroom when she had a period of working away on a contract (during the week) and found decent accommodation.

AnneMary

In a house share other tenants are as important as the room. You had a chance to meet some - they didn’t appear to ring alarm bells. If you are looking for perfection you will always be disappointed. 

RHemmings

AnneMary said:

In a house share other tenants are as important as the room. You had a chance to meet some - they didn’t appear to ring alarm bells. If you are looking for perfection you will always be disappointed. 

Is it possible/a good idea for the OP to go back and just chat to some tenants without the landlady present. Not to inspect inside the house/rooms, but just to find out more? 

bobster2

Solarsystem24 said:

Hi, I travelled over 4 hours to view a houseshare only for the landlady to not even bother showing me around the house properly. I was told not to take photos, so not to include the tenants’ personal belongings, but there weren’t any outside of the bedroom. Once we entered the common area, the landlady then said she had to check everything was ok and disappeared (I assume she was referring to the bedroom), leaving me to make conversation with some of the tenants. When she returned, she immediately said lets look at the room, and I hadn’t even had a chance to look around the kitchen, living room and garden, which I was looking forward to.

She kept saying she was in a rush because she had other appointments, even though she picked the time. Once I entered the bedroom, she held out her hand and said I wasn’t to go over an imaginary line, preventing me from moving anywhere in the bedroom and I had to stretch my head to glimpse at either side of the long room while my feet remained stuck in a single spot. At one end set the current tenant at her desk, which will not remain in the room. The landlady said she’ll put a desk, but I don’t know what it’ll look like. The tenant kept giving me disapproving looks for trying to have a good look at the area around her from where I stood a distance away, in particularly a large gap under a cupboard right next to her. I asked what this was, neither her or the landlady answered and the tenant was bothered by me paying attention to it. The entire viewing of the house was over in 8 minutes. All other viewings I had allowed me a good look at the house and bedroom, even if photos weren’t allowed (most did allow it). Interestingly the tenant left the room just after I did, which made me wonder if she was sitting there as an excuse for me not to look around the room. The landlady said the photos on her ad are accurate enough, but there are none of the ensuite, of which I remember little of now. The furniture in the photo of the bedroom is different and it’s taken at an angle at which I can’t see details like that gap under the cupboard. I visited the area 5 times to view houseshares and there was always a serious problem which prevented me from taking a room. My new job starts in 1 week and it’s tempting to take this place as I saw no problems, but that could be because unlike the other viewings, it was rushed and very restricted. Could this landlady be attempting to scam me by preventing me from spotting problems?

I've no idea why you want to look under a cupboard - seems weird.

But if you have not viewed the kitchen and living room - and were not able to walk around the room you plan to rent - this is also weird. So probably best to walk away.

One thing that does not seem weird - the fact the tenant wanted to be present when someone looked around their room. They probably just want to ensure that people aren't nosing through their stuff.

Section62

bobster2 said:

Solarsystem24 said:

Hi, I travelled over 4 hours to view a houseshare only for the landlady to not even bother showing me around the house properly. I was told not to take photos, so not to include the tenants’ personal belongings, but there weren’t any outside of the bedroom. Once we entered the common area, the landlady then said she had to check everything was ok and disappeared (I assume she was referring to the bedroom), leaving me to make conversation with some of the tenants. When she returned, she immediately said lets look at the room, and I hadn’t even had a chance to look around the kitchen, living room and garden, which I was looking forward to.

She kept saying she was in a rush because she had other appointments, even though she picked the time. Once I entered the bedroom, she held out her hand and said I wasn’t to go over an imaginary line, preventing me from moving anywhere in the bedroom and I had to stretch my head to glimpse at either side of the long room while my feet remained stuck in a single spot. At one end set the current tenant at her desk, which will not remain in the room. The landlady said she’ll put a desk, but I don’t know what it’ll look like. The tenant kept giving me disapproving looks for trying to have a good look at the area around her from where I stood a distance away, in particularly a large gap under a cupboard right next to her. I asked what this was, neither her or the landlady answered and the tenant was bothered by me paying attention to it. The entire viewing of the house was over in 8 minutes. All other viewings I had allowed me a good look at the house and bedroom, even if photos weren’t allowed (most did allow it). Interestingly the tenant left the room just after I did, which made me wonder if she was sitting there as an excuse for me not to look around the room. The landlady said the photos on her ad are accurate enough, but there are none of the ensuite, of which I remember little of now. The furniture in the photo of the bedroom is different and it’s taken at an angle at which I can’t see details like that gap under the cupboard. I visited the area 5 times to view houseshares and there was always a serious problem which prevented me from taking a room. My new job starts in 1 week and it’s tempting to take this place as I saw no problems, but that could be because unlike the other viewings, it was rushed and very restricted. Could this landlady be attempting to scam me by preventing me from spotting problems?

I've no idea why you want to look under a cupboard - seems weird.

The OP explained - they were concerned the gap may contain something like the boiler, water pipes, energy meters etc which could cause disturbance.

Seems completely reasonable to me.

Honeylife

As a LIL I can tell you when you have carefully lined up applicants and one person runs late (not saying you did) it can mess up the entire viewing schedule.  You have to hurry through one, while you have another waiting in the kitchen and yet another at the door! In the end, you get frazzled and annoyed with all of them and want to abandon the entire process for the day!

Taking photos of an occupied room is hit-and-miss.  If there are personal photos prominently on display or some very personal things on the walls I don't allow it.  Boys' rooms are usually quite bland so I will say yes, but girl's rooms have stuff everywhere and so I won't allow anyone to take pictures as I don't know where they will end up!  Not an issue if the room is empty.

If the current occupant was hovering around, then that makes things more awkward for your viewing and s/he may feel uncomfortable with people going through her room intensely.  The LL should pre-warn the occupant and ask them to tidy up and put away, then wait in the kitchen when the room viewing takes place. If they refuse to do that, well there isn't much else the LL can do to force the issue.

No one has ever asked to go out in my Garden, never, in 20 years! E.g. I have shut down viewings when an applicant has asked for the third time if she can have her boyfriend stay over. Her priority is clearly him and it's not mine, so let's wrap this up and not waste each other's time. Next!

However, it seems that you were essentially being hustled out of the property.  If that happens it's clear that you two would not be a good match. I am not sure about your angst. Just Move On.  Doesn't matter about your schedule and need for accommodation.  That place sounds like it wouldn't work.  Bad vibes.

I agree with the suggestion that you should briefly stay in an Airbnb, Youth Hostel or similar, and/or ask around at work if anyone can help with finding suitable accommodation.  I got my first Lodger through my daughter.  A young guy at her workplace on a student placement put out a general email asking if anyone knew or had accommodation for rent, and she called me. My youngest had just left for Uni the week before.  The lad came to view that night and moved in the next day.  He couldn't believe his luck. (I couldn't believe the money!) He is still in touch all these years later! 

tooldle

Maybe the tenant was working and had confidential information on their desk / screen, or maybe they are social distancing. Lots of possible explanations, not all of which are concerning. 

Nothing to stop you asking follow up questions.