Renting without viewing

HJH07

We need to rent a property due to a relocation but it is going to be very difficult for us to be able to view any owing to the distance involved. Has anyone ever rented without viewing first and are there any tips?
Thanks

tbs624

HJH07 wrote: »

...... Has anyone ever rented without viewing first... ....

No, not ever, except for holidays

HJH07 wrote: »

.....and are there any tips?...

Yes, don't do it. I can see the dodgy element of the LL fraternity lining themselves up for your business now. If you really can't make the time/journey to look for yourself and you are moving for work, is there not anyone there whom you could reasonably trust to view properties on your behalf?

obsessed_saver

Why don't you book yourself into a B&B for a week when you first arrive and look for a place then?

kunekune

We have done this twice. The first time, we didn't have any pictures, just a brief description from the local newspaper and some assurances from the LL. We got there and it was amazing - it was in Wellington, New Zealand, and looked out over the Cook Strait, it had the most fantastic views from the deck. We stayed there for 9 months and never regretted for a second having rented unseen. The second time we were moving back from NZ to the UK, and I found the advert on the internet. This time, technology being better, I was able to see pictures, a floor plan and have a long chat with the landlord (we swapped family photos). We both googled each other and were satisfied we were who we said we were. That was also a success. Though it was terrifying sending off the deposit by international bank transfer along with a signed AST.

My first tip would be that you will have to go through a private landlord, most agencies wouldn't consider this kind of transaction. When you make contact, make it personal: in both cases, we told the LLs a lot about ourselves, and I think it convinced them we really would turn up when we said we would, etc. Private LLs don't always do credit checks and rely a lot more on gut feeling - that was to our advantage both times. I would advise seeing plenty of pictures and floor plans, and if necessary use room planning software (like Icovia) to check everything will fit.

At this time of year, holiday cottages and B&Bs aren't going to be so easy to get anyway.

becky_rtw

I've done it to - although I had lived in a house further down the road previously so I did know the area etc. I went through an agent, explained the situation (i.e. that I was moving cities and had no time to get up to see the flat) and they were fine with it. I think they added a small clause to the contract about renting the flat unseen and that was it.

Have you thought about a specialist relocation renting company? I have no experience of them, but if you don't know the area you're moving to perhaps they can help?

SteveyLomas

I'm trying to do this too at the moment and it is quite intimidating. I could just be sending money into the ether unless I am 100% correct. I am trying at all times to be incredibly suspicious and not being too polite to ask lots of probing questions.

It is a pain.

PasturesNew

I moved 200 miles a year ago. I booked into a cheap private Hotel to enable me to look around and get the lie of the land.

You might be better off doing that. Especially if there are two of you as it's even cheaper per person per night to stay in most places.

If you say where you're going, people here might be able to help with where's good/bad.