To ask you for reassurance about renting?

[CherriesInTheSnow]

Long story short, currently in HA home where the maximum tenancy is 3 years. 12 month assured shorthold is up next month, from then on it is a monthly rolling contract so in theory could be asked to leave and given 2 months notice at any time (although this is unlikely), and as said already can only stay here for max 3 year regardless.

We are a family of 4 (although DS is due in November so 3 really at the moment!) and me and DH were hoping to get a shared ownership place. However due to maternity leave and the rest of our financial situation, there is no way we are going to have the money for a SO home in such a short space of time.

I've never ever privately rented before, I went straight from living with my parents to moving into our lovely little house here. DH is older than me though and privately rented in a previous relationship; they moved 3 times in the 3 years they were together.

AIBU to need to hear any positive private rental stories mumsnet has to offer? I live in the south east so I am already prepared for the vast costs. I am just getting really worked up over the concept of no stability, of having to move every 12 months and having to finance a move every 12 months. Please tell me some of you have found tenancies where you feel secure-ish and don't have to move around loads? What would we do about schools?? Gahhhh.

I've rented through uni and when I first moved in with DH (then boyfriend) before we bought a house although without children then so I can't comment on that.

We rented the same flat for about 5 years. We chose it by setting a budget and doing lots of viewings of potential properties. You do need to factor in a deposit (usually one month's rent). Generally there were no problems with the landlord although he did once take a long time to get a washing machine fixed and he didn't give us much of our deposit back for things I would consider wear and tear of 5 years living.

Generally (IMO) landlords would like to have a stable tenant so they don't have to deal with re-advertising and all the costs involved. So so long as you find somewhere which suits you and a decentish landlord straightaway and you don't give them too much bother then I can't see why you'd need to move frequently.

Of course things can happen -they might have to sell the house or need to move back into it- but otherwise I don't think you should let that put you off.

I've rented privately in dozens of houses all over the UK and never had to leave after a year. Our last house was 3 years and 5 years before that. I have friends that have rented for over ten years. I would recommend going with an agency rather than directly with a landlord; it can be more expensive, but a large and reputable agency will look after you and the property guaranteed. Landlord not necessarily. Good luck. It'll be fine.

I've recently signed a three year private rental contract. i had two 12 month contracts before that so five years total.

It depends on the LL. Mine doesn't live locally, has a couple of other flats in the same development, and has had long term (for private rent) tenants before me, it's managed by an agency so repairs have been prompt and professional. When my contract came due for renewal after 2 years there was an option for longer term so I took it. I hate moving. It's stressful and expensive. And I love where I am now.

You may get unlucky and have a LL that decides to sell or that they need to move back into the place you're renting. But in my experience, most LL are happy to keep the same tenants long term as long as they pay the rent and don't trash the place.

I've rented for years.

You need to familiarise yourself with tenancy law a bit (this is quite easy - Shelter and .gov have info) so that you can be calm about setting out your rights.

You need to think about red flags if you're ever in a position to choose your landlord. For example, a contract that makes lots of requests such as 'tenants must have inspections every month' or 'you must not light candles in the house' might suggest a landlord who has unrealistic expectations, or who will be a picky pest.

IME, though, so long as you're not a doormat and you stand up to those few landlords who either don't know the law or don't care to keep it, you should be ok. Yes, it's uncertain and you might have to move on, but you just have to suck that up and hope you'll get to stay.

People who have bad experiences in private rents are far more likely to post online than happy renters. As a LL a long term decent tenant is a dream. I've only once needed to ask someone to leave in ten years and we gave her heaps of notice.

Look around and try to meet the LL if possible. Get a lease with a six month break clause but be clear that you want a long let and then keep your fingers crossed. It can work, honest.

I'm in a HA house now but when I was renting privately I moved 10 times in 10 years. To be fair, I was a single parent with a dog which drastically reduced my options and meant that I often had to accept short term lets.

In my experience, a lot of landlords are complete bastards. Take photos as soon as you move in of any damage which they will try and blame you for when you move out.

And if you're going with an agency, check to see how often they come and inspect. One agency was every 3 months, and I found it really intrusive having them turn up so often to nose around. 6 months is more normal/reasonable.

I've had a mixed bag. Four rentals in 9 years. The first one was full of damp and the landlord clearly intending on doing nothing about it so we moved after just over a year. Second was a beautiful terrace house with an amazing kitchen which I loved; our landlord sold it just under 18months into our tenancy.
We then moved to an old terrace which was a pretty dilapidated (really really old carpets which were thin, stained and water damaged, peeling paint, issues with Windows not meeting frames.) The landlord refused to do any big repairs whilst we were there and it took months for the smallest thing to be fixed (issue with light in bathroom a wiring problem which took nearly 6 weeks to fix and as the bathroom.had no external window we had to run an extension in and have a lamp) However on the plus side as he really didn't give a shit about the place other than our rent coming in so we had a lot of security and could decorate how we liked. (everything we asked about was approved and we were eventually asked to stop asking and just do what we liked) We stayed there for 5 years.
Moved to our current house a year ago. Much more open plan and space for our toddler. The landlord is a traveller who is brilliant. He was upfront that the house is part of his property portfolio so he isn't about to sell it and he is happy for us to live here as long as we want. He has also said he would be willing to sell to us if we decide long term to live there permenantly. He is really happy for us to make improvements and also insists on paying us back for any work we've done on the house as he thinks it's great we're adding value to the property/maintaining it well. I dont see us moving any time soon.

I think overall most landlords just want reliable tenants and provided you pay rent on time are happy to keep that status quo going. It's hassle for everyone if people move once a year.

I've rented for over 20 years on and off in the UK and have never had to leave/not had my tenancy renewed. Where it's possible, try and find out if the property belongs to a 'professional' landlord or an accidental landlord. Professionals don't tend to put their tenants out for no reason. Pay your rent on time, don't loss your neighbours off and take care of your home. That's what lost landlords want.

I think you need to be realistic about private renting. Our landlord said he wanted a 'long term tenant' and then whaddayaknow...15 months later we get our section 21.

I'm not saying that to put you off- it's just so that you don't get lulled into a false sense of security (like we did) and invest yourself too heavily in a particular property. I.e. have furniture that will fit anywhere- not just that particular house. Things that are easy to move, and don't move anywhere that would involve you losing money or possessions e.g. if you have wardrobes, don't move somewhere with fitted wardrobes so that you have to dispose of furniture, cookers etc. I made this mistake so you don't have to!

On the other hand I have 2 friends who are private landlords, and they have rented to their tenants very long term, and are lovely. It can work, but be prepared for it not to.

Piss, not loss.

Say that you looking for long rental .
Don't go for property if someone going to work abroad for a year or two
Go for landlord who is looking for long term
I rented 6 years one flat and might have stayed but the floors collapsed..now in another long term rental and expect to stay as long as I need. Yearly renewal. No increase in. Rent.

We rented the same flat for almost 7 years before buying our own place. They didn't repaint, but allowed us to and they kept up all the bigger upkeep. We were pretty hot on telling them as soon as anything started looking problematic which I think they appreciated. (We didn't whine about everything but would say if a small problem looked like it could get worse)
Basically we were decent tenants and they were decent landlords. I think the scummier landlords tend to rent to more low rent, student type properties.

I'm in London. I've lived in a privately rented place since 2009, and we've had a rent increase of about £200 in all that time.

Our landlady is superb, and we are super lucky to have such a great arrangement. It might be slightly unusual, but it IS possible.

I'm a private landlord (happened through necessity after the recesssion) and one of the things I look for is a tenant who will stay! The worry about a tenant moving out after 1 yr is a constant stress so don't assume that that will be a problem. Good tenants who will look after your property, treat it like their home and stay for a reasonable amount of time are like gold dust. Of course there are some horror landlords, but there are horror tenants too so I would suggest meeting with them in person (not just the agent) and get a feel for what they are like. You may be able to view some properties with the current tenant still there so you could always ask them. Unfortunately having been stung a few times in the past we have had to become stricter with who we rent to and with the terms of our lease, but once we get to know a tenant will always try and be as reasonable as we can in order to make them feel like the property is their home and we have often gone beyond what is "required" in order to keep good tenants.

Of course landlords need to have the ability to give notice, and although I'm sure there are some who don't think twice about it, there are a lot of us out there who are just as keen to find a good, stable tenant as you are a landlord. Happy house hunting!

I've been both a landlord and a tenant. Look for a professional landlord - more than one property, in it for the long haul, unlikely to sell. Preferably not their own house that they are letting out (only a vague rule but people are more 'attached' if it is a house they've lived in). See if they are upfront about things such as gas certificate, deposit protection scheme, smoke alarms, co2 monitor etc. I'm appalled by the number of prospective tenants I've met who have no idea about some of these things as their current landlord never sends anyone to do a gas check or tells them where the deposit is!

Thanks so much so everyone!

Really great advice and stuff I wouldnt have even thought about - have added it all to a list :)

Really great to hear from some land lords too, I feel so much better now.

You need to find a property owner who just has 1 rental that's their pension pot and they'll happily keep you on for years.

You find them through word of mouth, speaking to locals.

Alternatively big agricultural estates often rent long term. I've rented at two, one in Wiltshire, one in Cornwall.

Established farmers can have small properties they let out long term. Again, easy to source through local knowledge. Been there too.

Avoid letting agents where you can, go direct with property owner.

You can research online houses bought decades ago that have always been rented out rather than sold regularly. My current home hasn't been on the sale market for 13 years so I'm confident with the tenancy security. The letting agent has gave us annual tenancy rather than rolling; if you don't ask you don't get.

Before I bought the house I live in now, I privately rented for 4 years in one place, 6 months before that (although that was my choice as it was a complete shithole!), and 3 years prior to that (again, my decision to leave, although it was largely due to a serious mould problem). Most landlords, IME, prefer a good paying long term tenant. Only problem I ever had finding a place was my dog.

I rented for years. Only moved when I needed to move geographically, i.e. my choice not the LLs'.

My rent was never put up and I never felt at risk of being chucked out. What I think in hindsight made the difference is I rented privately from professional LLs, i.e people who had decided to become LLs and weren't letting their own much beloved family home. They were letting out their investments to me, and I was a reliable tenant who paid on time. It was a mutually beneficially arrangement at the time.