Trying to secure a rental home

curtis122

Just looking for anyone else's experience with this…

Sold our house, moving into rental to then take our time looking for forever home, been told by the EA after they spoke to everyone that a call will be coming very soon to arrange completion\exchange, they told us to start looking.

We thought going into a rental, other than getting the timing right would be fairly straight forward, how we were wrong.

We looked at one 4 days ago, it got reduced in November last year, we turned up there were 2 others viewing and they said they had had 7 that day, we liked it and sent the email saying we wanted it and put a bit about ourselves and it was apparently going to the Landlord. Here we are now silence, we have sent an email asking if there is any update, nothing. This is just to hear whether they are happy for us to have it before any holding fee, references etc.

We called to view another that we had on our watch list for 3 weeks and got told it had been let that morning. 😒

We have since looked at another, its ok but not as ideal as first. We are waiting to say we would like that one but waiting to hear back from the first one first.

Why is there all this waiting, we are a couple, earn more than enough, no kids no pets. What's the hold up, what are they waiting for? Why would people not go for the first suitable person especially as its been on on since Nov 25. They must have had many other views and other people wanting it in that time.

What we certainly do not want to end doing is up putting a holding fee on several, so what do we do, wait to see if we get the one that suits us better possibly then missing out on others or or just say we are interesting in any that are suitable and wait till one say 'Yes' and then just go for that.

We are getting a bit worried as once we get the call to set completion, we will then be holding people up, just getting a viewing on a rental can be days in advance.

Sorry for the long post!

caprikid1

" Why would people not go for the first suitable person"

Personally as a Landlord I would be looking for someone longer term, you might only be there for 6 months, its quite a lot of hassle and cost to swap tenants in such a short space of time.

I would not class you as suitable to be honest.

gwynlas

(if you have told the letting agent why you are renting they might have been put off as ideally they woyld be looking for long term tenants.

You could offer to pay six months rental up front

WelshPaul

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81874631#Comment_81874631

This!

born_again

It is not just a case of "Suitable". there are checks that need to be made at Landlords end before you might be considered "Suitable"

Credit checks etc.

michael1234

We have landlords ultra-cautious about who they want to let their properties out to and tenants finding it very hard to find properties. Both for good reason. Its a fine mess we have.

curtis122

Anyone could leave after 6 months, there must only be a small amount of people that rent for years and years and we certainly do not say we only want to rent until we find a new home. We are expecting to be renting at least a year or more firstly as we are not 100% on exactly where we want to live and the type of properties we really want are few and far between.

caprikid12:13 pm

" Why would people not go for the first suitable person"

Personally as a Landlord I would be looking for someone longer term, you might only be there for 6 months, its quite a lot of hassle and cost to swap tenants in such a short space of time.

I would not class you as suitable to be honest.

So on that basis everyone should just put I want to rent long term. So what would Landlords be happy with someone saying that would make them more appealing if you had more than one to consider?

From my understanding no 'checks' start until you put a holding deposit down after they say they are happy with your application.

poseidon1

As have pointed out by others if you have declared to agents that you effectively only want a temporary rental whilst seeking your next purchase, you are likely unappealing both to the agent and the landlord.

From the landlord's persective you could disappear at the end of 6 months ( having quickly found your forever home) thereby putting the landlord to new tenant acquisition costs and a potential unknown void period whilst awaiting a suitable replacement tenant.

Perhaps be less than transparent about your real reasons for renting, so that you appear on a similar footing to those for whom renting is their only option.

marcia_

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81874765#Comment_81874765

there are millions of people who will never be in the position to buy a home, they rent. I lived in the same rental for 12 years before being gifted a deposit.

Albermarle

We looked at one 4 days ago, it got reduced in November last year, we turned up there were 2 others viewing and they said they had had 7 that day, 

The rental market has actually cooled compared to a couple of years ago. There were regular stories of queues of viewers outside some properties, each getting 5 Mins to look around. This happened to a friend of mine, when looking for a flat, which took nearly 6 months in the end.

curtis122

I understand from the replies what makes a not so suitable tenant so what would make someone a suitable one? As I said we are looking at renting for at least a year if not more given our circumstances, we know we realistically need to save more to get what we want also, that will take some time which is why we know it won't be just for around 6 months.

How can we improve our chances of getting a rental?