Is this what the rental market is like now?!

[AhBiscuits]

About 10 years ago we decided to keep our flat when we bought somewhere bigger to start a family. Listed it for rent. I think we said yes to the first guy who wanted it, he offered a slightly lower monthly rent, which we accepted.

He's decided to move on now, so we listed it again. We were inundated with people wanting to view it. We pulled the ad after 2 hours. We did one viewing day and they virtually all want it and have made offers. They've offered over the listed rent, they have variously offered to pay 3, 6 and 12 (?!) months rent up front, glowing references. I don't know how we'll choose and I feel bad for the ones we won't pick.

I'm in a city but not London. Is this what it's like try and rent a flat now? It's insane.

(Try and keep the landlord hate to a minimum)

Inside an agent personally. It cuts out a lot of the stress.

Yes! Some landlords (or agents) are demanding 'presentations' from tenants! Obscene.

It doesn’t in my experience- the agents I used rented to the worst non laying, fraudulent people! They failed to reference properly and took people I wouldn’t accept. They didn’t notice inconsistencies in paperwork and with one they accepted proof of income as a letter from a company that the tenant had created that wasn’t trading.

I tried 3 agencies, all dreadful. I do it much better myself using Openrent and haven’t had a bad tenant since.

Yep its mad and people who haven't rented recently don't have a clue
There is always advice on here when people are thinking of moving to a new area or selling their current house doesn't match up perfectly with buying a new one
"Why don't you just try renting for a few months?"

As if it's that easy! Bearing in mind that as someone who has been living in their own home and won't have recent references will be at the bottom of the queue, not to mention the faff of changing all your utilities, bills and contact details multiple times within a year, restrictions on pets and decorating, the undersupply of properties...

And the cost! The last time the identical house next door to me was up for rent (about 5 years ago) it was on for £650, it's just gone back up for £1200 and was let almost immediately. Yes my mortgage has increased as well but not by nearly double!

Do not rent to the most ‘vulnerable’…rent to the best option. Being nice gets you bitten. Been there, done that, the stress is not worth it!

Yes I've rented my London flat every time same day it's advertised. I have an agent who handles it (easy money for them)!
And yes there is a shortage of good rentals! And on here landlords are the devil incarnate but are desperately needed!

I think we're going to go for a couple who are both medical professionals at our local hospital. We both really liked them and I think they'll look after the place.

Best of luck OP, that sounds like a good shout

A quick look at the “to rent” properties on Zoopla and Right Move would answer this question.

Very short supply, high rents.

Oh I’ve created a zombie 🧟‍♀️
I blame my feed.