Where to find temporary rental accommodation between sale and purchase?

crow22

We have our property on the market in Oxfordshire and are looking to purchase in the north/borders. We've had some unusual bad luck and have had a couple of sales fall through. We have decided that the only thing we can do now is to move closer to our target area and rent. As we are mortgage free that would put us as cash buyers. 

So thats our situation. We have been looking for short term rental accommodation over the winter. Probably somewhere in the region of 3-6 months. We've found a very few (not many) short term rentals on places like Rightmove but these are usually 3 months max. That bothers us because what if we are not sorted in three months time? 

We've placed some adds on GumTree but nothing suitable so far has resulted. We keep trying. We've also tried Facebook local groups but nothing so far. The problem with both Gumtree and Facebook groups is that you have to choose local locations to post, and you can only do so many before you get accused of spamming!. Since we are both self employed and work from home we would be willing to consider a potential rental in a very large area of northern England/Scottish Borders. 

Does anyone have any suggestions of anywhere we can look that we haven't considered so far?

Thanks!

twoLou

I’m not sure if you’ve tried Airbnb or any of the holiday cottage type rental companies? 

There may be some owners who would like to have someone long term over winter, however I’m not sure whether this would then be classed as a tenancy and they would need to comply with lots of regulations?

The only other suggestion and again you may have tried this is the local letting agents/estate agents. They tend to know lots of people etc.

The very best of luck with all of your move.

Cairnpapple

A normal (not specifically short term) rental in Scotland may be suitable for what you want.  A Scottish private residential tenancy can't impose a minimum term and you just have to give 28 days notice to leave. 

We rented in Scotland between house sale and purchase and ended up staying for just under 5 months. 

Martico

Unless you've already started looking and have identified somewhere suitable to buy then 3-6 months might be optimistic. Purchases take time (as you're finding out from your sale) so I wouldn't discount a 6 month rental moving onto periodic tenancy

youth_leader

I'm in Northumberland, how far up are you moving to?  There is a local popular agency called Hotspur Residential based in Alnwick that advertises on FB Marketplace.  I used them when I sold my property at auction - although I did have to rent a month earlier than I needed, and had to pay for two properties for three months.  I've had a look and they do go as far as Berwick, on the Scottish border - Properties to rent from Hotspur Residential - Alnwick | OnTheMarket.  

I also had to rent for over a year, do be prepared for this.  Luckily I had a garage so didn't have to put my stuff into storage.  A very wet garage, unfortunately, I hadn't anticipated the condensation!.  I sold at auction in the March but the buyer (mortgage!) wanted 'eight weeks' which took me into May.  I found a property to purchase in October, but the vendor lied about her retirement date, we didn't actually complete until March 2021.  Luckily the landlord was approachable, I was able to give five weeks notice.  I did have to interview prospective tenants and he liked the first that came.  

Albermarle

As we are mortgage free that would put us as cash buyers. 

Do you mean you have sufficient cash in the bank to purchase a new home outright? Or do you need to sell your own house first/at the same time?
In the former you are 'chain free' which will give you some advantage as a buyer and gives you more flexibility. In the latter case you are same as most other buyers, the fact you will not need a mortgage is not really an advantage.

If you have to wait to sell your own house, then 3 months is going to be too short, even 6 months could well be.

youth_leader

Do be aware that savings do not count towards income if you wish to rent.  I had my house sale funds in cash savings in the bank, but was refused a property because I did not meet the 'annual income' calculation of 30 x rent.  I was very disappointed at the time but it was fate, as I then managed to rent a cottage about 120 steps away from the house.  

subjecttocontract

From a landlords point of view 3-5 month lets are one of the worst scenarios. The landlord has all the same costs and work involved in letting the property but for such a short period of time he has do do it all again when you go. That's probably why you can't find any. My suggestion would be sign up for a 6 month tenancy and if you have to leave early just factor into your costs the full 6 months rent due.

Mr.Generous

subjecttocontract said:

From a landlords point of view 3-5 month lets are one of the worst scenarios. The landlord has all the same costs and work involved in letting the property but for such a short period of time he has do do it all again when you go. That's probably why you can't find any. My suggestion would be sign up for a 6 month tenancy and if you have to leave early just factor into your costs the full 6 months rent due.

Yep, 2 years is a reasonable stay, anything less hinted at during viewings and they don't get the property. Landlord has to pay agent finding fee, pay deposit protection, change utilities and council tax etc, not many would want a short tenancy unless boosted rent.  Rental market has cooled somewhat, only 20 after the last place we let, the one before it was over 100. So basically landlord can pick and choose. Until the new law (RRB) comes into force you can enhance your prospects by offering 6 months rent up front for a 6 month initial tenancy. 

crow22

youth_leader said:

I'm in Northumberland, how far up are you moving to?  There is a local popular agency called Hotspur Residential based in Alnwick that advertises on FB Marketplace.  I

Yes Northumberland is certainly in our target area. I'll check them out. Thanks!

crow22

Thanks for all comments much appreciated!

A bit more on our situation. We are likely to accept an offer on our property as of news this morning. Need to think about it overnight. But if we accept the buyers need to proceed quickly which we can certainly do. Or as least as quickly as the solicitors make possible!

We have been considering holiday lets over the winter but the problem is finding them. Contacting multiple properties one by one???

Also problem in that a lot seem to have little bits blocked out particularly over Christmas/New year. 

Albermarle said:

As we are mortgage free that would put us as cash buyers. 

Do you mean you have sufficient cash in the bank to purchase a new home outright? Or do you need to sell your own house first/at the same time?
In the former you are 'chain free' which will give you some advantage as a buyer and gives you more flexibility. In the latter case you are same as most other buyers, the fact you will not need a mortgage is not really an advantage.

If you have to wait to sell your own house, then 3 months is going to be too short, even 6 months could well be.

We do have substantial savings in the bank. But we envisage selling this property and having the cash in the bank when purchasing the new one. Thats why we want to rent over the winter. Happy to pay six months up front.