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Original poster

Anyone struggling to find a rental property?

38 replies

Clarebear81 · 18/05/2023 07:03

Our landlord told us he’s selling a month ago now. House has sold for our 8 weeks notice to leave. In our first week we applied for all available properties and got nothing, sadly there has not even been any new properties gone up since. The estate agent who sold our house is also the letting agent, as we’ve been sick good tenants never missed payment etc the agent said we would get first priority on his listing and gave us a glowing reference but even that has
done no good. We’ve a month left then it’s either court and ruin our perfect renting history of 20 years or homelessness with zero help from council.

OP posts:
Letsdance8188 · 18/05/2023 07:17

Not me personally, but I've got several friends and relatives who have recently been in this position. There's probably one new rental every 6 months, its usually overpriced and everyone scrambles to get it. Most have had to reluctantly move away.

TodayInahurry · 18/05/2023 07:23

The government have been discouraging people from being landlords, so many are selling up. They did not understand this would cause problems

Postapocalypticcowgirl · 18/05/2023 07:24

Yes, I think it is very difficult at the moment.

If he has sold the house, the landlord will likely be desperate for you to leave. Would he offer you some money? If you can pay six months rent up front, that can make you more attractive to landlords.

Don't leave the house with nowhere to go, and do check the S.21 etc has been issued correctly. Keep paying your rent, and explain to the landlord/agent that you are trying as hard as you can, and you will leave as soon as you find somewhere.

If they are in any way half decent people, they will understand and not give you an awful reference (plus if they give you an awful reference it'll be harder for you to move out).

Whatever you do, don't make yourselves homeless - it won't help you find another property, it will likely cause lots of expense and then the council have no duty to help you. Have you spoken to the council yet?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Property
Postapocalypticcowgirl · 18/05/2023 07:25

That said, have you widened your search area at all? If no new properties are going up is there anywhere in the wider area you could move to?

SiouxsieSiouxStiletto · 18/05/2023 07:28

TodayInahurry · 18/05/2023 07:23

The government have been discouraging people from being landlords, so many are selling up. They did not understand this would cause problems

Agree. Conservatives have a policy of no new, or very little social housing and actively discouraging anyone being a Landlord.

ProseccoOnIce · 18/05/2023 07:37

Who on earth would be a landlord these days?

The LL threads on MN are awful - you're automatically a c*unt if you rent out a property.

They're selling up because of taxation changes, increasing regulation & interest rates rising.

Then of course selling up exacerbates the housing crisis.

There's no winners here - LL or tenants.

Chatillon · 18/05/2023 07:37

TodayInahurry · 18/05/2023 07:23

The government have been discouraging people from being landlords, so many are selling up. They did not understand this would cause problems

They should also have been building the homes they promised thereby increasing supply so allowing more people to get on the housing ladder. Instead decisions were made at cosy dinner parties in mansions around Chipping Norton to restrict supply to inflate the profits of house builders. One CEO of a house builder even got a £75m bonus out if it.

At least Keith Starmer gets that and will work to make sure homes are built with home ownership in mind. The more people who own their own homes rather than renting is better for the economy long term.

Original poster
Clarebear81 · 18/05/2023 07:50

Postapocalypticcowgirl · 18/05/2023 07:24

Yes, I think it is very difficult at the moment.

If he has sold the house, the landlord will likely be desperate for you to leave. Would he offer you some money? If you can pay six months rent up front, that can make you more attractive to landlords.

Don't leave the house with nowhere to go, and do check the S.21 etc has been issued correctly. Keep paying your rent, and explain to the landlord/agent that you are trying as hard as you can, and you will leave as soon as you find somewhere.

If they are in any way half decent people, they will understand and not give you an awful reference (plus if they give you an awful reference it'll be harder for you to move out).

Whatever you do, don't make yourselves homeless - it won't help you find another property, it will likely cause lots of expense and then the council have no duty to help you. Have you spoken to the council yet?

They’ve already gave us a stunning reference in the hope it will help getting another property, it hasn’t.

OP posts:
Original poster
Clarebear81 · 18/05/2023 07:52

It would involve taking the kids out of school at GCSE and ALevel ages, new jobs etc although at the moment I’m also about to lose mine so no problem there I guess.

OP posts:
Overthebow · 18/05/2023 07:55

ProseccoOnIce · 18/05/2023 07:37

Who on earth would be a landlord these days?

The LL threads on MN are awful - you're automatically a c*unt if you rent out a property.

They're selling up because of taxation changes, increasing regulation & interest rates rising.

Then of course selling up exacerbates the housing crisis.

There's no winners here - LL or tenants.

Yes, it’s not attractive to be a landlord anymore. It means those who have the ability need to buy houses and those who don’t will really struggle as not enough rentals to go round.

We were considering buying a buy to let in a couple of years as an investment, but won’t now as it’s not worth it.

mondaytosunday · 18/05/2023 08:43

Rentals come up regularly near me but are snapped up (terrace houses renting for £3000-3500/month). It took me a day to find new tenants for my London flat.
Where my son lives there's nothing. Luckily another tenant of mine gave (two weeks! After nine years! Suited me so accepted it) notice so my son moved in there otherwise he'd be in a tent!

RavenclawDiadem · 18/05/2023 08:44

Only going to get worse if the legislation about banning no-fault evictions goes through. Has happened in Scotland already, huge fall out for students who just can't get accommodation at all

SquashPenguin · 18/05/2023 09:01

ProseccoOnIce · 18/05/2023 07:37

Who on earth would be a landlord these days?

The LL threads on MN are awful - you're automatically a c*unt if you rent out a property.

They're selling up because of taxation changes, increasing regulation & interest rates rising.

Then of course selling up exacerbates the housing crisis.

There's no winners here - LL or tenants.

I’ve noticed this too. You can’t win. Landlords are so despised yet if they all sold up tomorrow (which a lot seem to be), they’d get blasted for not providing homes to live in!

Some areas are definitely worse than others, I genuinely feel for anyone looking to rent now. I struggled when I rented in Bristol and I know that’s got so much worse.

onefinemess · 18/05/2023 09:42

Landlords are scum, didn't you know that OP?

They're so inhuman, that both renters and the government decided they needed to be exterminated.

Well, congratulations, you got what you wanted. Very soon there won't be any. If you need a place to live, TOUGH SHIT!

But hey, at least those pesky Landlords aren't around anymore.

What a monumentally stupid piece of legislation. What the fuck were they thinking?

Fifteen years ago anybody could get a cheap place to live, it might have been a damp, cockroach infested hovel, but there were plenty to choose from and everyone had to start somewhere. If you wanted a nice place, there were loads around, you literally got what you paid for. Rent a shithole converted garage from "Dave" for £250 a month, or pay "Janine" from your friendly local EA, £750 a month for a flat "in the bay. The choice was yours, but getting a roof over your head just wasn't an issue.

Can anybody explain how all the new rules are making things easier or cheaper for renters?

NevillesLeftNadger · 18/05/2023 09:58

I love how every thread about the despair of tenants facing homelessness turns into one about how hard things are for landlords. It's like if you posted 'my dog is dying' and the whole thread got derailed into how hard it is being a vet. Maybe just offer some sympathy to the OP who is looking at being homeless?

evtheria · 18/05/2023 10:04

@NevillesLeftNadger Too right.

OP, as a renter with a family I can imagine how awful this is. We'd be screwed if it happens to us, we'd likely have to move to a different town. I really hope something works out for you.

Original poster
Clarebear81 · 18/05/2023 10:26

There should have been some scheme set up, say for tenants who can’t get a mortgage because they apparently can’t afford a mortgage, say 5 years without a missed payment proves affordability, the government just shafted landlord and many tenants like myself still can’t get a mortgage “can’t afford it” my 20 years renting say’s different

OP posts:
EncephalitisSurvivor · 18/05/2023 10:29

Clarebear81 · 18/05/2023 10:26

There should have been some scheme set up, say for tenants who can’t get a mortgage because they apparently can’t afford a mortgage, say 5 years without a missed payment proves affordability, the government just shafted landlord and many tenants like myself still can’t get a mortgage “can’t afford it” my 20 years renting say’s different

Skipton Building Society has just set up this scheme - 100% mortgage (ie no deposit necessary) if you can prove that you haven't missed a rent payment for three years.

AutumnDragon · 18/05/2023 11:10

NevillesLeftNadger · 18/05/2023 09:58

I love how every thread about the despair of tenants facing homelessness turns into one about how hard things are for landlords. It's like if you posted 'my dog is dying' and the whole thread got derailed into how hard it is being a vet. Maybe just offer some sympathy to the OP who is looking at being homeless?

As an intelligent person I like to know why a situation has arisen. In this case, it has arisen because landlords can no longer afford to be landlords due to the rising costs and the over done regulations put into place by this and previous governments.

Some councils are recommending that you stop paying your rent until the landlord evicts you, the council will then be duty bound to rehome you (I'm not sure what then happens when they realise they do not have enough social housing to do this, and there are no private rental properties left). This takes approx 6 months. In the meantime, the landlord still needs to pay the mortgage - with no money coming in. This has happened to a number of our clients in recent months, and has caused extreme hardship to some of them. 99% of landlords are nice people, but as with all keyboard warriors, you only want to talk about the bad element.

My biggest frustration with ALL governments is that they do not communicate with other departments. So one department makes big sweeping vote winning legislation and causes untold harm in another area. So Landlords are bad, lets make it difficult for them. Oh hang on, we don't seem to have any rental properties left.

RosettaTheGardenFairy · 18/05/2023 11:27

I'm sorry OP, that sounds stressful and scary. It's awful that you risk ruining your hard earned reputation as a reliable renter to avoid homelessness.

My parents are landlords and have sold 3 of their properties in the last 6 months, all sold to people living in the property not renting out. I know a lot of people will say landlords are villains etc. but that doesn't change the fact 3 rental properties have been lost to the market and this is happening on a significant scale everywhere, and the party hirt the most is renters.

caringcarer · 18/05/2023 11:28

TodayInahurry · 18/05/2023 07:23

The government have been discouraging people from being landlords, so many are selling up. They did not understand this would cause problems

I know a LL who has 19 houses. He sold 4 last year and told me he will sell 4 this year and 4 each year until they have all gone. He said he is retiring and the new legislation about EPC certificates will make it not worth his while because his houses are mostly Victorian terrace so can't have cavity wall insulation and the internal wall insulation makes rooms smaller, they would all need redecorating after and he has been quoted almost £15k per house. This to save the tenant £64 per year on utilities. They are a high D rating but to get to a C would need either solar panels or internal insulation on the walls. They are not damp or anything either. This government does not think of long term implications of their policies. It would not be so bad if they were on a large building programme new social housing but they are not.

caringcarer · 18/05/2023 11:30

Where abouts in the country are you OP?

AzureBlue99 · 18/05/2023 11:35

I own my own flat. I am not a landlord. I am shocked at how hard and how expensive it is to rent these days. Flats in the same block as me for rent, nothing special, outskirts of London, are extortionate. Its mind blowing. How are people expected to live, especially with the cost of food and utilities these days. And you go into London, thousands of shoe boxes being built snapped up by overseas investors so they can rent them out at inflated rates.

MelonsOnSaleAgain · 18/05/2023 16:10

I’m a landlord and when my tenants lease comes to an end we’ll not be renewing and will be selling up. I intend to give him a huge amount of notice and say that if he finds somewhere before the tenancy is up we’ll release him from the agreement with us.

it’s just not worth it anymore. It’s stressful, and constant changes in regulation. Make it harder to be the good landlord I want to be.

That will be yet another rental property out of circulation.

OP I really hope you find somewhere soon!

Chatillon · 18/05/2023 22:20

MelonsOnSaleAgain · 18/05/2023 16:10

I’m a landlord and when my tenants lease comes to an end we’ll not be renewing and will be selling up. I intend to give him a huge amount of notice and say that if he finds somewhere before the tenancy is up we’ll release him from the agreement with us.

it’s just not worth it anymore. It’s stressful, and constant changes in regulation. Make it harder to be the good landlord I want to be.

That will be yet another rental property out of circulation.

OP I really hope you find somewhere soon!

That will be yet another rental property out of circulation.

What will happen to it:

A)
B)
C)

Fill in the potential outcomes.