A Tenant's guide to renting

JoeA81

You make a good point tbs624. I will try to contact the powers that be and make sure that this is all above board. Thanks for the heads up, I have to say I wasnt aware of these rules before you mentioned them. I agree, its good to get everything ship shape from the off!

MissMoneypenny

prudryden wrote: »

Agreed! Can only speak for my area. I didn't quite understand your meaning about the rental market being flooded by people who can't sell and decide to rent their homes out- where are they moving to?

From what I have read on these boards, they are moving to different areas of the UK or other countries. Some rent when they get to their new area and others buy another property.

MissMoneypenny

JoeA81 wrote: »

You make a good point tbs624. I will try to contact the powers that be and make sure that this is all above board. Thanks for the heads up, I have to say I wasnt aware of these rules before you mentioned them. I agree, its good to get everything ship shape from the off!

You have my permission to put my contribution on wiki.

MissMoneypenny

prudryden wrote: »

Joe,
a potential renter should be somewhat discreet and not to go demanding copies of mortgage documents etc.

A potential tenant needs to see proof that the landlord has been given permission to rent, from their mortgage lender. From what I have read on numerous threads on this site, the tenant can be made homeless immediately if the mortgage lender repossess the property and they didn't give permission to the landlord, to let. If the lender gave permission to let, then they will honour the terms of the rental agreement and the tenant has time to look for another rental plus they wouldn't lose the rent they have paid up front.

Wasn't there someone who posted on these boards that he had been given 30 minutes to put stickers on his belongings and get out because the lender was repossessing the property and the landlord had never warned him about his financial problems?

For £3 anyone can download any property documents from Land Registry. These will show where the lender has the uk home address of the mortgagee. The landlords home address shouldn't be the listed as being the property a landlord is trying to rent out.

It is never a good idea to rely on someone to be honest if money is involved.

prudryden

I don't dissagree at all. Just saying be tactful about it unless of course it is a place you don't care whether you get or not.
Everytime I have a vacancy, I have two or three appointments a day with young professionals looking to rent. If someone demanded to see proof from my mortgage lender, my first reaction would be -- uh oh - this guy is potential trouble and he is better off getting a council property.
Letting is a partnership between the LL and the tenant - you don't start by questioning honesty and demanding things. A void is better than a troublesome tenant.

He can ask in a subtle way, but never demand.

bobby-boy_2

I agree with joe/ Pru some questions have to be asked tactfully. All my leases state who the lender are and I pont out that if I fail to make the mortgage payments that the bank can seak to reposes the property as set out in the lease. If the tenant was worried I did not have permision to let they could contact the lender directly as the address is on the lease.

MissMoneypenny

bobby-boy wrote: »

If the tenant was worried I did not have permision to let they could contact the lender directly as the address is on the lease.

Is this the best way of doing it for the tenant, so that they aren't thrown out if the house is suddenly (to them but obviously, not to their landlord) repossessed?

• If the LL doesn't show you proof from their mortgage lender that they have been given permission to rent from their mortgage lender, when they show you round the property then
• go to Land Registry online, pay £3 to download the document which will show the mortgage lender.
• If this document shows that the mortgage lender has the landlord as living at the property they are trying to rent out, then they probably don't have permission to rent from their mortgage lender then
• Either write to their mortgage lender as ask if the landlord has their permission to rent the property out, or walk away and find another property.

It is fairly easy for people to fake letters though, so it might be better to go to Land Registry and have a look. It is quick and easy to do and just might be the best £3 ever spent.

jimc_2

OP - I've PM'd you about Security and Fraud issues. This was mentioned just today on MSE but I haven't seen any reference to this yet in the book. I'll be pleased to help with advice on spotting and avoiding fraud if you think it fit for the book.

neverdespairgirl

Glad to see that this has been made a sticky.

franklee

olly300 wrote: »

One thing you reminded me is if possible take someone else, however young they are as long as they can speak in sentences, with you when viewing a property. Other people are very good for seeing the flaws in a property, and children particular if you tell them they can look under/behind/around items are very good at finding trouble spots such as patches of damp.

Fine if a property is empty but not of still tenanted by the current tenant who is still paying rent. Then the property is their home containing their possessions and therefore you can't unleash children to move things about or come to that you can't snoop in their wardrobes etc. without asking the tenant's permission first. Otherwise that is a huge invasion of privacy which if it happened to me would be the end of any viewings!