How difficult can they make renting a flat!?

Redkiwi

I’m trying to rent out an apartment as I’ve just gotten a new job and am moving cities. Because I’m starting a new job the letting agent has said I will need to provide a UK guarantor who owns their own property. This is difficult for me as my friends in the UK mostly rent, and my family are all in Ireland and they can’t be used as guarantors because of this.
I’ve rented for 4 years in the UK, paid all my bills and council tax on time and am moving to a new job with better pay but it’s still difficult for me to rent – does that seem unfair? If anybody has any ideas on what to do I’d be grateful.

The agents initial fees are £150 per person & VAT – so over £350 for myself and my partner – which also seems steep.

Depressed.

fwoodles

Did you ask if they'd take a larger deposit in lieu of a guarantor? That's what I had to do with renting in NI but parental units in England, past references weren't any good. Okay one agency wanted 12 months up front (no way) the place I went with has 2 months rent as deposit.

Made me feel like a student again having to provide guarantors though. No fees at least though.

Gingernutmeg

If you can't provide a guarantor, you'll probably have to offer some rent in advance. That's what we ended up doing, as my mum is self-employed (which wasn't acceptable), OH's dad is retired (which wasn't acceptable) and OH and I were recent graduates who didn't have the requisite length of work history (which obviously wasn't acceptable ...) Paying rent in advance was the only solution for us, as the new letting agency wouldn't even take references from our previous agency (which kind of shows how much their word is worth lol ).

And yes, I agree the fees are extortionate. Not a lot you can do about that, unless you try to find another flat through another agency with lower fees.

PasturesNew

When I moved I had no job and no guarantor (elderly parents/nobody I could get hold of for at least a week and all 200 miles away).

I offered 6 months' rent up front and it was accepted.

Offering rent up front is a decision that is taken by the landlord, so it is an individual decision they make based on their past experiences and how happy that makes them. But, be aware, if you pay 6 months' rent up front and the landlord's not been paying their mortgage and didn't have a proper BTL mortgage then there is a small chance it will be repossessed and you'd lose your money and have no home.

As for agent fees. Yes, those seem fairly typical. Robbing gits, eh!

It's not the end of the world if you don't get it. With 2 of you to share rent, you've even got the short-term option of staying in a cheap hotel or holiday lets. For two sharing this can work out affordable (for one it's way too much).

Redkiwi

Good points, I'll try offering some rent up front (though deposit is 2 months rent already).

Dying to save enough so I can actually buy my own place and get away from the letting agents though!!

Thanks all.

Snooze

Redkiwi wrote: »

I’m trying to rent out an apartment as I’ve just gotten a new job and am moving cities. Because I’m starting a new job the letting agent has said I will need to provide a UK guarantor who owns their own property. This is difficult for me as my friends in the UK mostly rent, and my family are all in Ireland and they can’t be used as guarantors because of this.
I’ve rented for 4 years in the UK, paid all my bills and council tax on time and am moving to a new job with better pay but it’s still difficult for me to rent – does that seem unfair? If anybody has any ideas on what to do I’d be grateful.

The agents initial fees are £150 per person & VAT – so over £350 for myself and my partner – which also seems steep.

Depressed.

Letting agents are just leeches on society. They've only become what they are today from mugs paying their stupid fees. They are the renters version of estate agents. I would never use a letting agent for neither renting nor letting, even if my life depended on it.

As a landlord, an ad in the local rag suffices just fine and the same works just as well for those looking to rent. Granted, you don't get any pics but careful wording of the ad should give you a general mental picture of what it the property will be like.

Most private landlords who don't use letting agent's also don't require 18 years rent as deposit :rolleyes: and are generally fairly realistic, down to earth and will consider each individual on their own merits and make their own considered judgement on whether the person is suitable.

My advice to the OP would be to forget the letting agent's, go and buy your local rag on the 'property' day and check out the classifieds.

Rob

Redkiwi

I'd love to avoid the agents, but I'm looking in Brighton, rather than a very big city like London, and I've only seen a tiny number of private ads. There were literally 2 ads from private landlords in the local newspaper on property day last week - and 4 pages of agents ads. I'm keeping an eye on Gumtree too...

Snooze wrote: »

Letting agents are just leeches on society. They've only become what they are today from mugs paying their stupid fees. They are the renters version of estate agents. I would never use a letting agent for neither renting nor letting, even if my life depended on it.

As a landlord, an ad in the local rag suffices just fine and the same works just as well for those looking to rent. Granted, you don't get any pics but careful wording of the ad should give you a general mental picture of what it the property will be like.

Most private landlords who don't use letting agent's also don't require 18 years rent as deposit :rolleyes: and are generally fairly realistic, down to earth and will consider each individual on their own merits and make their own considered judgement on whether the person is suitable.

My advice to the OP would be to forget the letting agent's, go and buy your local rag on the 'property' day and check out the classifieds.

Rob

epz_2

i agree with snooze, there are plenty of places that not only dont ask for references but also dont charge £300 for a £7 equifax report, look on gumtree.

SquatNow

When you do find a place WITHOUT the help of LAs, make sure you go back and tell them.

And anyone else in their office.

And hand out leaflets outside telling everyone what you have done.

i1189

Redkiwi wrote: »

I'd love to avoid the agents, but I'm looking in Brighton, rather than a very big city like London, and I've only seen a tiny number of private ads. There were literally 2 ads from private landlords in the local newspaper on property day last week - and 4 pages of agents ads. I'm keeping an eye on Gumtree too...

Could you put in a "wanted" ad?

moneygrowsontrees_2

Hello all,

I am also new on here and looking to rent in Brighton around November/December. Having graduated this summer, this will be my first non-student renting experience. Does anyone know what typical rent is like for an above average 3 bed in a central location?

I am budgeting to pay £500 including money for bills and council tax. What will that get me? Good luck finding a place Redkiwi!