to wonder where all the great landlords and flats are?

[greenbottleglass]

We've been given two months notice to find somewhere else to live and are halfway through our notice period but still not found anywhere.

We've seen about 20 flats, most in horrible condition, and the majority with damp problems and mould (how much of that is down to the tenants I don't know).

Most of the flats have had tenants in who clearly don't want people traipsing through their homes on viewings and they're a mess and hard to view with boxes laying around.

Most are obviously very poorly maintained. They've got bits hanging off the walls, 40 year old bathrooms and gross looking appliances and white goods

No one wants to miss a day's rent so move in dates are inflexible meaning we'll have to pay rent on two places at once. No one wants a six month break clause.

We've put in two offers so far. One landlord wanted to tie us in to an unreasonable lease and wanted us in the day after the current tenants are out - how they proposed a full clean, maintenance done and carpets steam cleaned in between I don't know?

One landlord who said the place could be furnished or unfurnished now doesn't want to remove their (bloody horrible) stuff like they said they would.

I'm only grateful we don't have children because this must be a nightmare if you can't be flexible on viewings and if you have to bear school location in mind

Estate agent fees are £300. Reference fees are about £200. With that, the deposit, and first months rent plus moving costs we're looking at about £4500. I need to close my isa down to get this money. What do people with no savings do? We're going to be paying another £3000 a year in rent. Saving to buy while renting is looking unlikely.

Our current landlord hasn't protected our deposit so that's a whole other problem.

Where are all these great rental homes and landlords Mumsnet landlords are always insisting exist?

[MsMcWoodle]

I am a good landlord. I have a place in London that I rent out and I try to make it as nice as possible for the tenants. I ve just spent a fortune on it between tenants. I take pets too. We're not all bad.

[BibiBlocksbergv2]

Not here to gloat OP, just wanted to give you hope that good landlords do exist.

I've rented all my adult life & the majority of LL have been great with high standard properties - not luxurious, just clean & tidy for viewings & always on to any reported problems asap.

Last move was three months ago & i well remember the overpriced, non maintained hovels i saw. It is disheartening but its a bit of a numbers game & you will find a decent place.

Have to say i stay as far away from agencies as i can & only rent from private LL (agree with gumtree search, open rent etc)

[vaticancameos]

Just to reassure you, I'm now five months past my Section 21 date. I'm only just going through the courts now and it's been an absolute doddle because of the landlord's failure to protect the deposit. I don't advocate tenants being difficult but my landlord has been an absolute wanker which has involved HSE, environmental health and local council so my sympathy is zero for him.

[specialsubject]

not protecting your deposit means your landlord has broken the law, and your section 21 isn't valid - so you haven't been given notice to quit and eviction proceedings cannot commence. (assuming you haven't breached the tenancy in any way)

as mentioned; write (not email, not text, write with a proof of posting) to the landlord, stating the situation and offering to help him out by leaving on your suggested date, paying the pro-rata rent. In return he pays back your full deposit and you don't sue him for not protecting it, which could cost him up to 3 times its value.

it worked for someone on another thread; as it should.

please make sure your new place meets all the rules; protected deposit, gas safe, smoke alarms, good repair etc etc.

[greenbottleglass]

Spoken to shelter they said to stay and to negotiate with landlord to avoid court action

[vaticancameos]

Stay there if your landlord hasn't protected the deposit. A section 21 is only a notice of an intention to repossess the property. But really, get some proper advice from Shelter or the council.

[greenbottleglass]

specialsubject (or someone else!) - am hoping you see this and can help!

We've been struggling to find somewhere to move to befote the end of our two months notice. But a place has come up that is available three weeks later. If we need to stay beyond our deadline what do we do? Bearing in mind our deposit isn't protected anyway.

[vaticancameos]

a Section 21 issue without a deposit protected is unlawful. Talk to your council tenancy relations team.

[greenbottleglass]

Flossyfoof - I'm in london

Had a look on Open Rent earlier, thanks for the tip

[OfaFrenchMind]

When I viewed my flat in London, it was disgusting and dirty, but I liked the area and the surface. I told the agency and landlord that I would take it, but only if they bought a new mattress, new appliances, new carpeting, got a new paint, and a professional cleaning, all within 2 weeks, on their own money. They agreed with no problem. This is a good example of a landlord. They actually do exist!

[specialsubject]

ok, should have been clearer; mould caused by condensation is a lifestyle thing, IF the tenants have an opportunity to deal with it by opening windows, heating, using extractor fans. It also means normal showers of five mins or so, lids on pans, not drying clothes on radiators and so on.

but landlords who won't fit/fix extractor fans deserve empty properties.

as an aside why on earth are bathrooms allowed to be built with no windows? As insane as designing UK buildings which need aircon.

[londonrach]

As a long term renter i dont understand why tenants allow viewings as you dont have to do it. You do it out of the kindest of your heart. If ea takes you mikey you refuse viewings until you leave. Also op if you desposit isnt protected seek advice as that illegal and huge fine to landlord. Ea do charge fees to both landlord and tenant but from memory (check with cab) they cant change both at beginning and end of a tenancy. Op you right there are some horrible flats out there in terrible condition. I wish id taken photos of some ive seen as it would shock everyone. My fav is the flat with no room for a bed unless you put in the kitchen, dinner and trip over it when you walk into the flat. No idea what the 'bedroom' was going to be used for.... Some of the shower curtains... Keep looking... Talk to cab Re desposit. X

[whois]

Mould in the bathroom? HG mould spray is amazing!

Our internal bathroom def has a tendency to get mould given its got no windows and an extractor fan. At all time swxcept stomping actually being in there we leave the door wedged open and try and then also the door into the bedroom and the bedroom window open to get as much air flow into the bathroom as possible. The trend for internal bathrooms is v annoying.

[Binkybix]

Have you tried using OpenRent? Minimal fees and you may get a different type of owner renting on there?

The flat we rent out gets mold due to condensation but can be hard to avoid - we regularly have it cleaned and repainted but tenants (understandably) don't go to as much trouble as we did to avoid making as much condensation.

[Flossyfloof]

I keep my properties beautiful and do my best to keep tenants happy. Where are you OP?

[greenbottleglass]

Loads of mould in our current bathroom. No window. Extractor not working well. Landlord knows this. Doesn't give a shit. Yes, we clean it!

[CurbsideProphet]

I wish we knew people with family/friends who rent out properties - would be so much better!

[CurbsideProphet]

special this is just an aside: but mould is not always the fault of the tenant. I went through a whole hoo haa with a previous flat. Terrible mould in the bathroom, landlord justvcomplained we weren't opening the window enough. It was discovered (after I arranged for plumbers to give free quotes) that there was a terrible leak behind the shower, plus the guttering on the outside wall. This was the cause of the mould.

[specialsubject]

hopefully everyone is learning something here. Allowing viewings is no more enforceable than saying 'tenants must vacuum the place daily' which has come up on here in someone's tenancy agreement.

landlords and tenants can talk to each other and agree things. For instance, a tenant might be disposed to allow viewings if they were done as 'open house' in one go, or if there was a deal on the rent. But the tenant can say no. In these alleged red-hot markets, the place will apparently be snapped up however disgusting it is so the landlord can do viewings when the previous tenant has gone and only have a few days without rent.

As I keep saying; be informed tenants, know your rights. There ARE protections, use them.

[BarbarianMum]

In answer to your question, I'm in Sheffield. I rent out two flats, both in good condition and at very reasonable rent (which has only been raised by £10 over the past 10 years). I do use an agent and obey both the spirit and letter of the law re deposits, repairs, redecorating etc.

However I should warn you that I rarely have vacancies and when I do they are very quickly filled. And that, I am sure, is true for many landlords like me.

[greenbottleglass]

I just got that via Googling.

Thanks

[TarkaTheOtter]

Yes - see here for example.

[greenbottleglass]

What does that mean, it's unenforceable? If people don't allow it, despite it being in their legally binding agreement - nothing happens??

[grannytomine]

specialsubject, when we let to strangers we did the checks but as I said we don't do that anymore. We either know tenants well or I know their parents or know them from work, just retired HR manager so I knew all about them anyway. I didn't find the checks much use with strangers and just wouldn't want to let to people I don't know. Too much hassle. Quite looking forward to ending my time as a landlord really.

[TarkaTheOtter]

Subject is right, it's an unenforceable clause green.