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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU or is this landlord taking the piss?

17 replies

Greenknowe · 14/11/2011 18:17

This AIBU is actually for my dsis who has asked my advice, but i've been out of the London rental market for 5 years, so I need a few more opinions.....

She has found a lovely 2 bed flat to rent in S London, and she and a friend have put down a deposit to take it off the rental market. But the well known and reputable Hmm agency have just got in touch to say that the landlord wants a 3 year contract, with a 30 month break clause.

AIBU or is this just a ridiculously long tenancy? They also want her to pay 3 months in advance to avoid a guarantor. Have things changed so much since I was last renting in London?

OP posts:
grovel · 14/11/2011 18:18

Foxton's?

Original poster
Greenknowe · 14/11/2011 18:21

Ha! No not Foxtons! They were pushing their luck 5 years ago Grin

OP posts:
Bibbo · 14/11/2011 18:22

unusually long contract for a new tenancy - surely they'd want to do a six-month introductory to make sure your dsis is a decent tenant?

Also 3mth deposit is shocking. how can anyone afford that?

lettings agencies have free rein to take the piss imo

Bibbo · 14/11/2011 18:24

mind you some tenants would be glad of the security of a 3yr contract

QuintessentialShadow · 14/11/2011 18:26

Were they not informed about the terms of the contract prior to parting with money for a holding deposit?

6 weeks is the norm.
Most contracts are 1 year. Some have a break clause after 6 months, most of them dont.

TeWihara · 14/11/2011 18:33

Erm that's long! It's normally 6mths or a year to start and then renogtitate after that if you want to.

And 1 1/2mths or 2mths rent deposit.

witherhills · 14/11/2011 18:34

As a LL,this is not the norm.
He can ask for that contract, he can ask for whatever he wants, but it's doubtful he'll get it.
Sounds like he us just chancing his arm. Probably just wants to forget about it, but who wants to sign up for that long?
Why does she need a guarantor? Don't understand that either.

PastGrace · 14/11/2011 18:34

Absolutely not unreasonable - that is utterly absurd. Is the flat the only possible? I really wouldn't bother with all the hassle. When she paid the deposit, was it just a holding deposit? Or was it a deposit having seen a basic contract?

Wouldn't happen to be Ludlow Thompson would it....?

ThisisaSignofthetimes · 14/11/2011 18:38

he can ask, I doubt he'll get though. I'd love a tenancy that long myself but I would have thought the type of client looking to rent a flat wouldn't want a tie in like this, unlike a family who might want the stability. Not sure I understand the guarantor point, does she and her friend not have sufficient income on ppaer to support rent payments? Usually 1.5 months rent as deposit and that's that.

LydiaWickham · 14/11/2011 18:41

She should say no to both. If they can't agree, then she should get her deposit back or at least be able to transfer it to another property with the same letting agent.

This strikes me as being a 'hard work landlord' she should take it as a warning sign and go elsewhere anyway, i'd had landlords who would tricky and I couldn't get them to fix anything. Far easier to get a different flat with a LL who sees her as their customer.

Original poster
Greenknowe · 14/11/2011 18:47

So glad i'm not BU! I didn't think I was that out of touch!

Dsis is a young professional on a good salary and in a secure job (so shouldn't need a guarantor surely!), but her friend will be going back to uni to do postgrad next year- that makes me extra worried about the contract length and dsis's liability.

I'm trying to get more details about if they showed her any paperwork before she put the deposit down but she's not picking up her phone.......

OP posts:
Hissy · 14/11/2011 18:53

Contact Shelter, and/or CAB.

My guess is that this is too restrictive. 3YEARS? with a 30 Month break clause? that's ridiculous!

3m rent up front is about right though, we were asked for 5 here.

Post in Legal Issues, you may get more advice there.

Bibbo · 14/11/2011 18:57

Hissy - 5m rent up front!!! gobsmacked

gallicgirl · 14/11/2011 19:08

I work in local government and see a lot of contracts.

Sometimes we ask to see tenancy agreements for a past period and a 3 year agreement would ring alarm bells for me, mostly because they are so rare.

Original poster
Greenknowe · 14/11/2011 19:14

Update from Dsis:

They put down a 'expressing interest' deposit on the condition that it was a year contract (thankfully they have it in writing as an email).

They like the flat so have offered a 2 year contract with a 18 month break clause as a compromise. The agent/LL are still playing silly buggers and haven't accepted their offer yet, but Dsis is worried that if they just walk away now without waiting for an answer the agent won't give up the deposit without a fight.

You're bang on PastGrace!

OP posts:
JAMW · 14/11/2011 19:20

Our deposit (central manchester) was 6 weeks rent + £100 and a months rent upfront. So Nearly 3 months rent. 3 years is a long contract! Mind you our rent went up by £80pcm so I'd be glad of it!

PastGrace · 14/11/2011 22:39

Green have PM-ed you.

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