Can You Haggle with Letting Agents?

bintie22

Hi

My partner and I are hoping to move soon-ish, long story but we're trying to sell our house (Pah -fat chance I hear you cry!) and when we eventually do, we'll be renting.

I was just wondering whether anyone had ever successfully haggled with a letting agent over the rent. I've always assumed the price that's stated is the price it is, but just got to thinking whether it is possible to knock 'em down?

Cheers

foofi22

I suppose it depends how desperate the agent and landlord are to get someone in paying. Probably more likely to get a deal if the property has been available unoccupied for a long time, or if the landlord is desperate for cash - otherwise I wouldn't hold your breath.

Generali

I've paid less than the advertised price for the last 3 places I've rented. The place I'm in now wanted £1400, we paid £1050pcm.

The best thing I've found is to find more than one place that you are pretty much split between and then put in a very low offer. Someone will bite. If the LL likes the rent you're paying too much!

foofi22

Well done Generali - I would love your negotiating skills! :T

lexi

in my experience - i am a letting agent - the only time a landlord will be negotiable on rental price is if the property has been empty for sometime or if there just hasnt been any interest whastover. It basically boils down to how desperate the landord is. The toughest kinds are ones who have several properties so dont budge especially if they know they can let to multiple applicants - which we dont do -. However my best advice wud be to go to the agent & simply tell them what you can afford to pay & if there is summat you like than ask them to speak to the landlord and see if they will take less.

Riq

My uni room was advertised at £60/week but I got it for £45.

So yes it's possible and I am the most shy person you could ever meet. But I felt strongly the room was tiny!

ruggedtoast

Yes you can make an offer. Saw a place on for £1050pcm. Liked it and wanted to live there but based on our understanding of the market for that area £1000 was a fair price , and about what we would expect to pay for the property.

I called the agent, explained this and put in an offer for £1000. Which was accepted. The worst they can do is say no; I really wouldnt go into what you can and cant afford though. The LL is not interested in your financial problems and it wont help your case if they think youre asking for a discount because youre skint!

bintie22

Thanks guys, that's positive news - i'll get my haggling head on, if and when we ever sell our house!

Alleycat

Our letting agent negotiated with the property management company without us even asking him. Managed to knock the rent down from £1290 to £1225! Well chuffed!!

We were thinking about trying to negotiate but it was already on at a good price for the area, we were only the first people to view and it was so much bigger than all the other rabbit hutches we had looked at that we did not want to risk losing it.

Still a lot of money, but can't wait to be in our own place again! Been living with the folks for nearly 13 months now and sharing a bedroom with our 3 year old.

lil_me

If the worst they can say is no, it's always worth asking. Mine was over £700 and we pay £625.

Generali

foofi22 wrote: »

Well done Generali - I would love your negotiating skills! :T

It's Mrs Generali that does it. She takes the kids and goes to look at everywhere that's possibly suitable (maybe 20 places). She shortlists a few and takes me. We decide on the final 2 or 3 and she hits them with low offers.

It's like the minicab rule - if you've negotiated a fixed fare and the cabbie is chatting to you on the way home you're paying too much!