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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To offer more for a rental house in the hopes of securing it?

44 replies

user1477282676 · 04/12/2016 23:42

Long story short...we live in a village (Australia) which is highly desirable. Rental properties are like hen's teeth.

Our landlady has just told us she wants to sell....nightmare. Our DC are settled here and we don't want to leave the area.

So...a house has come up this week for rent...I just spoke to the letting agent and she says the current tenants are in the process of moving out and won't be fully out till the 23rd....so no viewings till then....she said she would email me an application form and I will be the first she tells when its free to view. (I would move in without viewing frankly)

We thought about offering a bit more rent than is asked for as a way of trying to get in first...would this be a good idea or a bad idea?

The amount wouldn't be more than we can afford...the rent is actually very affordable for the property...I've told the agent that our landlady is very nice and has said that we can take our time to look for a new house but this one will be hard to beat so we want it.

OP posts:
Original poster
user1477282676 · 04/12/2016 23:47

I bloody hate renting sometimes. :( It always feels like you're at the mercy of others.

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Original poster
user1477282676 · 04/12/2016 23:50

I really want some opinions on this so I am shamelessly bumping it.

OP posts:
GravyAndShite · 04/12/2016 23:52

Offer a deposit and to sign the papers now without viewing if you are happy with that. Don't offer more pcm.

Original poster
user1477282676 · 04/12/2016 23:54

I'm not sure they will allow me to take it without viewing. One agent (different one) last week said they didn't allow that anyway.

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SparkleSoiree · 04/12/2016 23:55

To be honest, if rentals are in demand in your area, then the landlord may wait for a few applications to come in and then select the tenant they want based on any number of factors. When we lived in Perth and two dozen people were turning up for a 15minute open house that's what they used to do then.

Personally I wouldn't offer more money but just get your form in quickly with references and everything ready to go on request.

Original poster
user1477282676 · 04/12/2016 23:57

Sparkle but if the landlord wants applicants of their choosing, wouldn't more money in their bank be attractive?

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GravyAndShite · 04/12/2016 23:59

I would be careful not to make assumption based on one other experience (or even many others). It is always worth asking the questions you want an answer to. Just be accepting that the answer might be no.

If not make sure and touch base a couple of days before the 23rd and politely remind her that you are first on the list.

Don't offer extra, I don't know how it would help beyond looking like a bribe Blush

Original poster
user1477282676 · 05/12/2016 00:10

Thanks Gravy....when I get the form, I will fill it in and send it back and call to ask if I can just apply now without viewing. I see what you're saying about the bribe aspect...well it sort of IS a bribe...but not...it's just offering what we think it's worth. Which to us is a LOT. I thought about how I'd feel as a landlord if one applicant was offering more money...if that applicant had good feedback from their landlord and enough income to pay the rent then I would take their offer.

Because turning money down seems daft!

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MissWimpyDimple · 05/12/2016 00:11

I think it's hard to comment as you aren't in the UK so practise and procedures can be different.

In the UK you would be able to put a holding deposit on the house whether or not you had viewed it.

I don't think i would offer more.

ChipIn · 05/12/2016 00:15

OP, DH and I have done that. We're in Perth and with a dog we had a lot of competition from non pet owners as it was a hard market for renters anyway. Many real estate agencies make viewing essential so along with good references I think that helped us to secure the property. It was only about $10 extra pw. It may not encourage the owner but I can't see you getting turned down because of it.

Original poster
user1477282676 · 05/12/2016 00:17

ChipIn yes...we also have a dog! We were only going to offer an extra $20 per week but we feel that it will make up for the dog aspect....though it says "Pets will be considered" and ours is a well behaved outside dog....

It adds up over a year...though it's not a lot extra for us to pay weekly.

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Original poster
user1477282676 · 05/12/2016 00:17

When I say he's an outside dog...that is HIS choice. Grin I have to make him come indoors at night. He sleeps in the kitchen and this is not a slick sort of a house. Its a bit ramshackle and has hard floors luckily!

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CorporalNobbyNobbs · 05/12/2016 00:19

I did this for my house! Offered £50 a month over the asking price. Loved the house and didn't want to have to keep searching. It worked...

Original poster
user1477282676 · 05/12/2016 00:20

Corporal that's comforting! We'd be offering 80 dollars a month over the asking...which whilst isn't a fortune it certainly adds up over the year.

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Glastokitty · 05/12/2016 00:21

I got a rental in Perth by doing this (only offered $20 a week extra, but that was when there were hoards of people viewing every house (2013) and I was worried we were going to end up sleeping in the car. A couple of years later the market was dropping and we asked for a rent reduction. They refused so we moved out (to a much nicer house). It took them four months to rent our old house, they had to drop the rent by $100 a week in the end!

CorporalNobbyNobbs · 05/12/2016 00:23

I did it at viewing time, there were about 10 other applicants so I think that swung it for us.

FlowerOfTheValley · 05/12/2016 00:29

If it's not already on the application form as a requirement I would ask your landlady for a reference. I would be more interested in knowing a tenant paid on time, kept the property in good order and didn't cause any problems. Put the reference in with your application and maybe a note saying how keen you are on the house. If you're able to move straightaway mention that too as that will go in your favour than someone who may need to give notice.

Personally if I was the landlord or estate agent I wouldn't see the suggestion of higher rent/deposit to secure first viewing etc etc as a bribe but as someone who really wanted the house. Others may view it differently. Perhaps an informal chat with the agent saying you would be prepared to go higher to secure the property before the 23rd or would pay higher rent if others interested. The agent could then mention this, if necessary, to the owner to increase your chances. Good luck!

Pluto30 · 05/12/2016 00:31

Also in Australia. Also in a rural area with a shortage of rentals. But definitely do not offer more than they're asking. It's unethical.

It's akin to an owner accepting an offer on their house, and then having someone else offer more and accepting that offer instead. It's unethical and totally unreasonable.

The landlord is asking what they they think the property is worth. If they'd wanted to ask more for it, keeping in mind the shortage of rentals, they could've done so. Putting your offer above others who may not have the same ability to offer more is plain unfair.

The rental market is cut throat. That's just part and parcel of living in Australia at the moment. Put in your application, turn up to the showings, and your rental record should speak for itself. If they choose someone else, that's just tough luck. Sorry for the bluntness. Having a rental application rejected is something virtually everyone goes through at least once.

Glastokitty · 05/12/2016 00:55

Its not unethical, anyone is free to make a higher offer. And when I did it I didn't have a good rental record, or indeed any rental record at all, not one in Oz anyway. So needs must. Its not the same as gazumping at all, as that happens after an offer is accepted. I don't feel at all guilty, it was desperate measures to avoid sleeping in the car. As you say the rental market can be cut throat here, I'm so glad its softened in Perth.

CorporalNobbyNobbs · 05/12/2016 01:17

It's akin to an owner accepting an offer on their house, and then having someone else offer more and accepting that offer instead.

It would only be akin to this if the landlord had accepted someone else to rent the place and then revoked it and gave it to someone with a higher offer. Surely it is more akin to an owner asking for $500k for a house and then giving it to someone who offers $525k?? Which is fine.

Original poster
user1477282676 · 05/12/2016 01:40

Corporal that's what I thought...it's not like pushing in after someone else's application has been accepted. It's more about showing that we've something to offer them in addition to them having something to offer us!

Anyone is free to offer more after all. If someone on a market stall was selling the last of their stock for 40 pounds and a few people said "I'll take it!" but one person said "I'll take it and offer 60 pounds!" then that's them using their power to the best of their ability.

We're not exactly rolling in cash but this is a desirable area and we're willing to pay more and lose that small amount of income....because we want it that much.

Maybe we want it more than others?

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Original poster
user1477282676 · 05/12/2016 01:41

My landlady has just told me on the phone that she will be happy to put in writing that we're good tenants who pay on time. So hoping that goes some way towards us getting the house.

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Pluto30 · 05/12/2016 01:46

Well, it's not exactly like people are "free" to offer more. Nor does your ability to offer more mean you want it more. It just means you have more money than others who may not be able to offer more than the asking price. Perhaps that price is their ceiling. It doesn't mean they don't want it as much as you.

But I mean, go ahead. Just sits uncomfortably with me. Glad I'm not renting anymore.

MrsDrSpencerReid · 05/12/2016 01:56

The last two properties we've rented (I'm in NSW, rental market is insane Shock ) I've written a personal letter, to go along with our references from employers and previous agents, telling a little bit about ourselves, our volunteer work in the community, and the DC's sports clubs and school and how much we'd love to be able to stay in the area. It's worked both times and both agents said it was a great idea. We've never offered extra money, but I can't see how it would hurt?
I know the feeling of having your rental sold and scrambling to find somewhere new in time, it sucks Sad

Original poster
user1477282676 · 05/12/2016 02:01

MrsDrSpencer...thank you. I will do that too...it does suck having to move as we would have bought this house had it come up for sale in two years time when we will be ready to buy... but this is how it is sadly.

The landlady has been lovely though and keeps reiterating that they're not rushing it out on to the market immediately and they will work with us to make sure we're not shoved out before we've found somewhere.

She's also just told me that she will make sure that the agents know she's a property manager by profession but that this house is a family house...so she;s in the business so to speak and not afraid to put her professional reputation on the line to vouch for us.

I think it's going up for sale in February....and houses here don't seem to sell fast for some reason despite it being a desirable area.

The house next door's been up for sale for 9 months now with no buyers.

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