AIBU to think it shouldn't be this hard to rent a house?!

[Someonefindmeahouseplease]

We have been looking for somewhere to rent for the last three months. We don't live in the country we are moving to which makes it all the more difficult.

We have found several houses and applied for them only to be messed about by agents or told the landlord has chosen someone else.

We now have two weeks until DH starts his new job and we have no where to live.

Why is it so difficult!
AIBU to ask for Mumsnetters help to find me a house?

[Hammy12345]

I worked in a Lettings department. The policy was that the prospective tenant had to physically see the property before an application to rent would be considered as there was always a risk the tenant would find fault etc with the property when they moved in, or it wasnt what they were actually looking for. Hardly any Landlords would consider pets, properties always went to those without animals when a few people applied. Could one of you come down for a couple of days and do lots of viewings?

[CitySnicker]

You know you'll have to pay a deposit AND the first months rent before / on moving into a new place don't you?
Even if you do have enough, what happens if your partner's first pay packet comes after the second month's rent is due? Sounds a bit tight really.
Could he house share down there for a few months and you stay with family?

[IamtheDevilsAvocado]

We had similar - it's not unusual.

Of course the landlord will choose from a pool of interested tenants, there's no reason for them to do a 'first person to ask gets tenancy!

In our experience - landlords will only work on face to face contact. It's a real pain to do if you're at a distance.

Can one of you come down and sign up on a property?

[purplecollar]

Try the websites for local newspapers - that's where we found ours.

We're not in Wiltshire but a neighbouring county. There's very short supply of rentals here at the moment.

[LazyDailyMailJournos]

I wouldn't rent to someone I'd not met - how do I know that the person turning up on the day is the same person I've been corresponding with? LL are also responsible for status checks to ensure you are in the UK legally. It's far too risk now to agree a remote tenancy agreement without meeting the prospective tenant first.

As for pets and kids - doesn't bother me. Nor does self-employment and HB. But I realise I am in the minority though (which is a shame because none of these things are indicators that you are going to be a bad tenant).

[Lweji]

Why a single person would need a three bedroom house is beyond me!

I'm going to guess AirBnB, which may backfire on the landlord, but they could also have children every other weekend, for example.

[Lweji]

Could one of you go earlier and find somewhere?

[TheVoiceOfTreason]

You have my sympathy, it can be an absolute nightmare! We had appointments booked and they'd get cancelled because someone had already taken it before we made our appointment.

My tips would be as follows:-

• get on good terms with local letting agents, even if only by email. Make them want to help you, and so they will let you know about suitable properties as soon as they are aware of them, ideally before they come on to the market.
  

• do you have anyone in this country who could go do viewings for you? That might help matters.
  

Worst case scenario, would you have anyone you could stay with temporarily when you first move back here? Letting agents like candidates who can move when in when the property becomes free rather than when it suits the tenants.

Good luck to you either way - hope it all works out for you. Xx

[expatinscotland]

' Its first come first served here, I've never come across this system of the landlord getting to choose. '

Where is this in Scotland, Brigadoon? LL gets to choose everywhere in the UK, they're not running a charity. Your h might have to move there first, get a room in a share or an AirB&B until he's more established in his job - a lot places also don't want someone still in the probationary period of employment.

[diddl]

"Why a single person would need a three bedroom house is beyond me!"

They don't, but if they can afford it why shouldn't they?

[Popchyk]

I agree it might be easier for your husband to move down on his own for the first month or so.

He can find a shared house or B and B for the first few nights at least, while asking his new colleagues if they know of anything. He'll be able to go round letting agents and visit prospective houses in his lunch hour and after work.

Otherwise can you both come down for a week before he starts his job? Stay in a B and B and dedicate the week to finding a place. You'll need someone to look after the cats at home of course.

I wouldn't want to sign up for a rental that I hadn't seen. Too risky.

[specialsubject]

Right to rent checks are difficult without meeting the tenant in person. They are a legal requirement.

Offering rent in advance is a drug dealer tactic - the nice couple you meet dont actually move in , the skanks do and know they then have months to trash the place safe from all interference. They also get free accommodation once the advance rent has run out until the bailiffs, which will be months.

Strange to prefer dogs over kids though. People don't generally leave kids alone all day to destroy the place, excrete everywhere and scream non stop, and if they do action can be taken.

Make sure you read the how to rent guide on gov.UK. lots on here seem utterly clueless about their rights.

[Mummyoflittledragon]

Are you sure there is no relocation package? Has your dh asked?

Dh was working for a company. But we were allowed 2 trips to the country before relocating plus 60 days temporary accommodation. It is essential you physically view a property otherwise you won't be taken seriously.

[Someonefindmeahouseplease]

I have been renting in Scotland for ten years and I've never met my landlord at any property or come across anything other than - you go and view a property, if no one else has got in before you you pay a holding deposit and it's yours unless there's a problem.(In various cities across Scotland so it must not be that unusual)

We have been down twice to view things but we can't afford to keep coming down. DH will have to stay in a hotel when he starts and try and look when he is down there.
There seems to be a lot of hostility and suspicion towards renters which is a shame, all most people want is somewhere to live and enjoy their lives. I'm not trying to contact anyone into renting me a property, my children and cats are not going to destroy the place. We work hard to earn a living and are just trying to start a new stage in our lives.

[glitterfarts]

We moved here from Australia with 2 kids and a cat and had to pay 6 months rent up front to be given a place. Plus bond of 6 weeks, plus £700 each for "reference checks". They never called either of our referees. Thievery. We had to pay nearly £14,000 up front, and that was before buying furniture etc.
Luckily, work gave an interest free loan....

[astoundedgoat]

Why a single person would need a three bedroom house is beyond me!

When we moved in to our decent sized two bedroom flat in central London, our neighbours both expressed surprise that anybody with children would want to live in a large two bedroom flat - surely it could only possibly appeal to a single person living alone? We stared in amazement. Madness.

I rent out a house in a city popular with overseas people because of the nature of the major employers, and would have no problem renting to a family coming from overseas. The agency I use does Skype viewings all the time. I'm surprised that some landlords are weird about this, but I guess it depends on what the norm is for your local market.

I'm sorry you're having such a stressful time.

[balsamicbarbara]

To be honest it's more down to the agent than anything. A decent agent would operate in the way you anticipate but going direct to a landlord leaves you more at their mercy.

[MrsPandaBear]

I looked at renting 3 bed houses as a single person. 2 bed houses were going a lot faster than 3 beds, so the landlords could be more picky and wouldn't take me as I had a cat. 3 beds I had a chance.

Have you tried looking at 4 beds, they'll go more slowly than 3 beds so the landlords may be more flexible?

[expatinscotland]

You got lucky with renting then. It's definitely not first-come, first-served at all in many places in Scotland. It's a LL's market. Definitely better for your h to go down first so he can at least have a look at the places and make sure they're not dumps first.

[Eliza9917]

What damage do people think kids will do?

My sister had to pay a bigger deposit because she has kids. All I can think that they would do is draw on the walls, and that's easily rectified.

I rent my house out and it wouldn't occur to me to say no kids, but then it also wouldn't have occurred to me to ban pets as I have dogs myself and A LOT of people in the area have a dog/s.

We did meet applicants though and choose who we wanted to let to.

[itshappening]

I am in London so it may be a bit different, but mostly in my experience it is first come first served, provided you meet their basic requirements, and if being let through an agent you won't meet the landlord. Many times I have been pipped to the post while on my way to a viewing, often by someone who on paper is a less suitable tenant.

The market is slower now. Where I live many properties are on the market to rent for some time and end up being reduced at least once before being let. It used not to be that way but the market is changing in both sales and lettings.

Having said that, with both the last two properties I have actually taken I was the first to view. The good ones can still go quickly. I would speak to local agents and sell yourselves a bit in the hope that if a property comes up they will present you to the landlord as a good option.

[purplecollar]

Offering rent in advance is a drug dealer tactic - the nice couple you meet dont actually move in , the skanks do and know they then have months to trash the place safe from all interference. They also get free accommodation once the advance rent has run out until the bailiffs, which will be months.

We had to offer rent in advance because dh is a contractor. We're not all drug dealers, I assure you.

[5rivers7hills]

Why a single person would need a three bedroom house is beyond me!

That makes you sound a bit silly. Why wouldn't they have one if they can afford it?

Perhaps they like the location? The garden?

Bedroom. Study. Spare room so they can have guests to stay. Done!

[Sprinklestar]

What damage do people think kids will do?

It's the general wear and tear on the house, isn't it? More people = harder wear on carpets, washing machines etc. If had the choice between a single adult/couple and a family, I'd choose the adults! That said, we rent (as a family) and our landlord wanted a family as we were likely to be stable, stay a good few years and generally make the house a home, which was his preference. We actually spoke to her about works she was planning on the properly and agreed that she wouldn't repaint before we moved in, on the proviso that when we move out, there'll be no issue with scuffs on walls etc (there were some already). I obviously don't actively let my children damage the house but I didn't want to spend the next couple of years paranoid about the odd scrape/scuff/spot where one of them marked the wall with food. It's worked ok so far.

[specialsubject]

FFS, forgot the MN bleeding obvious over sensitivity disclaimer. Of course not all people who offer payment in advance are drug dealers. But some are so it is too chancy, and certainly too chancy without meeting the tenant, trawling their social media and so on, plus references for what they are worth.