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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

6 months rent in advance?

84 replies

spookshowangellovesit · 28/09/2011 14:44

beautiful new house, we saw it and loved it and made and offer which was accepted. we then went through the application process. i passed, my dp didnt on the basis he is on a temporary contract Sad but then we are told the land lord get the last word and can sign a waiver. the landlord agrees to this if we agree to two months deposit.
its a stretch but we agree because we love the house and want to offer some security and build a good relationship with the land lord who was burned by the last tenants.
all is agreed, then the land lord has a wobble and decided that its not ok and now want 6 months rent in advance.......that would be about 12 grand give or take aibu to think this is ur. if i had that kind of money to hand i would be buying not renting and whilst i understand that they have had bad tenants previously and are offering us a chance rather than just saying "no we have changed our minds" this is a really odd demand?

OP posts:
Original poster
spookshowangellovesit · 28/09/2011 15:30

its a three month contract that will end after christmas. not one that will end tomorrow. i agree with you but thats why the land lord was asked if they wanted to sign the waiver. we also would not take on the rent if we were not able to afford it in the event of him becoming unemployed after that time, but the land lord has no knowledge of that i suppose, i understand its a risk for them.

OP posts:
breadandbutterfly · 28/09/2011 15:30

Find somehere else - the fact that the landlord said one thing then changed their mind and went back on their original word says all you need to know = nightmare landlord. Possibly landlord with financial difficulties hoping to do a runner with your cash. Really wouldn't dream of risking it - if your landlord goes bankrupt you'll never see that money again, deposit scheme or not.

Sorry - you need to stop this landlord playing games with your cash. Either they stick to the original agreement or you walk - which is not in their interest either, as the worst thing they can face is a long void between tenants. Can't imagine many tenants have a spare 8 grand so he could be waiting some time. Grin

Seriously, have had a nightmare landlord and no matter how lovely the house, having a bad landlord can seriously ruin your time there and place a great strain on your mental health and indeed your physical health if repairs not done promptly, gas checked etc.

It's not worth it.

Vallhala · 28/09/2011 15:40

I have had this, my problem being that I own pets. It's a bloody nightmare.

I agree with breadandbutterfly - tell the LL to stick to the original plan or walk. From the sound of it he's not going to have a host of other tenants queuing up, especially not decent ones, so he's got much to lose by being insistant.

I'd be wary of dealing with a LL who is difficult from the start and tbh, if he doesn't budge I think you might consider yourself to have had a lucky escape in some ways.

Look around for alternatives, consider a house which is not via an agency (charlatans, the lot of 'em!), perhaps put some ads in local shop windows and local free ads? My current house, in a beautiful country village which I could never afford to buy in, was found via Gumtree of all places. There are a lot of dodgy ones on there but not all are.

Vallhala · 28/09/2011 15:41

Sorry! Blush I've just re-read and realised that it sounds like I'm ordering you to look for alternatives. Whoops, sorry, sorry, sorry... Blush

LaWeasel · 28/09/2011 15:43

I still recommend deposit protection schemes though! SIL has just been stung by a complete con man who wasn't paying the mortgage on the place they were renting they are down a lot of cash in lost deposit too.

Original poster
spookshowangellovesit · 28/09/2011 15:46

i thought all land lords had to put deposit in separate account now until the tenants move out?

OP posts:
LaWeasel · 28/09/2011 15:47

I thought so too, but well, con man. And I guess SIL didn't realise she should have demanded it.

Vallhala · 28/09/2011 15:49

SIL can take matey to court and have 3 x the deposit awarded to her IIRC, LaWeasel. Not what you want to have to do, admittedly.

Original poster
spookshowangellovesit · 28/09/2011 15:55

i dont think they would be a nightmare land lord per sa i just think they were really burned and are scared, really the place was ruined and they last guys hadnt paid rent for a while either.
i am just a bit sad its gone this way as was very excited but thats prob my own naivety on these types of issues assuming it was all done and dusted with the agreement

OP posts:
LaWeasel · 28/09/2011 15:56

Problem is he keeps declaring bankrupt and setting up new businesses, so although she'd win, I doubt she'd actually get any money unless she was incredibly dogged with repeat cases. Probably not worth it. (bastard)

plupervert · 28/09/2011 15:57

Even if you decide you have to look for another place, you could always make yourselves feel better by going back to the agents and pretending to negotiate, saying, "Right, well, we can do six months up front, but only if you agree to a rent reduction overall." They will either splutter and say no, in which case they look grasping and you look more in control; or they will agree, and then you can turn them down anyway, saying you found something for less, in better condition and with less attitude.

I know that doesn't immediately help your housing situation, but you do sound as though you could do with humiliating these arseholes back!

EricNorthmansMistress · 28/09/2011 16:04

YANBU :( It's absurd. Who has £8k to hand????? There is another thread about inequality in housing somewhere here today. It's a bloody shambles.

Has DP served notice on his flat? I assume he's homeless from next week? I think you may have to wait it out til he's on a permanent contract. It's weird that they didn't go for the guarantor though Confused

Original poster
spookshowangellovesit · 28/09/2011 16:05

having already negotiated a rent reduction i think it unlikely they would even splutter or entertain the idea but i like the thought process Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
spookshowangellovesit · 28/09/2011 16:06

yeah i thought it odd eric.

OP posts:
plupervert · 28/09/2011 16:24

Even if they've already graciously made a reduction, they have also ungraciously moved the goalposts, so why not come back with another demand, let them see how they like it?

Smug twats. If it weren't for lettings, estate agencies up and down the country would be shutting.

Please, please, do keep in mind the difference between a pigeon and an estate agent: a pigeon can still make a deposit on a new BMW!

fizzyelderflower · 28/09/2011 17:02

We had a complicated situation with our recent tenant. We all agreed on a 12 month tenancy but we insterted a 3 month and 6 month break clause that we could only enforce if the tenant had not paid the rent. This works well as we can get them out if we don't get the rent but they have the security of knowing that if they pay their rent then they have a 12 month tenancy.

Could you suggest this?

anewmotivatedme · 28/09/2011 17:43

I used to worked as a letting agent, and sometimes asked for 6 months rent in advance, not everyone would agree to it.

Just say no. If he has not got any other interest, he'll agree to two month deposit.

anewmotivatedme · 28/09/2011 17:49

I recall letting one property in the middle of nowhere, and an applicant offered six months rent in advance CASH - I thought he was dodgy, and that there would be a cannabis farm or brothel at the site, so sent him packing.

A landlord, who'd just put an advert in the local papers, to save on letting fees, did let a country cottage to him. The cannabis farm made the local papers.

Original poster
spookshowangellovesit · 28/09/2011 20:08

so thats the way forward, start a cannabis farm and you can afford a six month rent advance.

OP posts:
littlegreenapples · 28/09/2011 20:40

Saw an advert today for ?letting negotiator?

Over 25 with car and UK licence. Must speak excellent English plus be punctual and on time [sic]. Permission to work in the UK. Apply within.

Letting agents along with BTL landlords are maggots in the whole. Anewmotivatedme statement ? ?..Sent him packing? says it all.

OP play them at their game. Negotiate ?..And once in pull them up on every point. I can assure you that firstly they do not tell the mortgage provider they are renting so hence the insurance is invalid so hence in the event of fire/death you are not covered. 70% do not use the deposit schemes as the law changed in April and most believe that it is theirs no matter what happens. Learn the 2004 Housing along with the big white book and at the end of your tenancy play them at their own stupid game.

Original poster
spookshowangellovesit · 28/09/2011 20:45

and dont forget prompt.

OP posts:
RhinoKey · 28/09/2011 20:59

Letting agents along with BTL landlords are maggots in the whole

Thats a bit of a sweeping statement and quite insulting.

breadandbutterfly · 28/09/2011 22:53

No, pretty accurate.

RhinoKey · 29/09/2011 07:49
Hmm
Firawla · 29/09/2011 14:26

apples do you know what was the change about the deposit thing in april??
mine has not protected it, despite agent keep telling us yeh of course we have protected, they so havent.. cos they never get round to sending the certificate and we phoned up the deposit agencies & it is not with any of them, so pretty sure they are bullshitting & have kept it. so think we;ll be having to sue for it?

tbh i would not say that btl are necessarily any worse, some of them might be more professional. i think all my landlords have been renting out places they previously lived in and only 1 of them has been alright

rhino its a sweeping statement but when u have to put up with unreasonable & crappy landlords they cause a lot of stress, understandable people are gonna get annoyed with it. you would be very lucky to get a good landlord there are so many crap ones. it needs sorting out, not right for them to be allowed to exploit people by charging high rents then not doing any repairs etc