Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

aibu to be annoyed letting agent dropped rent by £50

382 replies

toohoottoday · 30/05/2020 10:34

I have just found out my letting agent has dropped the rental for the property I rent by £50. This rental income represents over half my income, and I can't really afford a drop. He had chatted with me about rental but we didn't agree to drop it. He had said we may have to, but then rents had increased since our last tenant came in, so the drop due to the covid situation may even it out to the current rent level, and that he already had three households interested before it was even advertised. So given that, and being as we never agreed a decrease, I wasn't expecting it to be dropped. There are now several tenants who all want to rent it and he has asked me to choose this weekend. I am therefore surprised therefore after checking his website to see he has advertised it as lower than the previous rent.

AIBU to be annoyed about this? I don't suppose there is anything I can do about it now. That is £600 a year that I will be poorer off and I am already on a low income with two kids to support.

OP posts:
SummerDayWinterEvenings · 30/05/2020 11:18

If he phones you and says no I think it is worth the reduction. Your choice is there -say ok look that's a shame but I actually think it is worth £x more per month so I'm going to put it on with another agent, thank you for your time. Job done. Keep your cool.

thedancingbear · 30/05/2020 11:20

Lot of really stupid comments on here and it is worrying that people this foolish and jealous have probably bred.

Bit harsh. I own my house outright. Mortgage lending is exploitative too.

Seventybillionnamechanges · 30/05/2020 11:21

I'm not that worried about the property being empty for long periods - its a popular property type in a popular area.

This is a mistake. It doesn’t take much for this to change. Say it’s a flat and a brand new block is built next door and bought up by commercial landlords who don’t care too much about rental income - your flat becomes less appealing.

A friend was in the middle of selling a house in a lovely area - next door neighbour murdered a random woman - she couldn’t sell for a long time.

House floods during a void period - no tenants.

I’m not sticking the boot in, I’m trying to tell you to plan for the unexpected. If a £50 drop is a problem that you’re looking for how to make savings to your outgoings - you need to look at whether it’s a goof investment for you.

I owned a flat overseas that we let out and it just became a money pit

ChicCroissant · 30/05/2020 11:21

So you have contacted the Letting Agent and said that the rental amount is wrong? If not, do that. There's no point in arguing with people on here about it when the issue is the letting agent. If you didn't agree the rental amount it shouldn't be advertised at that rate - ask them to readvertise it with the correct rate.

HeckyPeck · 30/05/2020 11:21

@SummerDayWinterEvenings

Just email him and say you didn't agree any drop and can he please correct the rent and let the people know that it is x per month. Say you can't afford a drop of £600 a year especially as you didn't agree. Hold firm, here with the agent. Polite but courteous.

Dear X

Having looked at the listing I think there has been a possible miscommunication here. I know we discussed a possible drop, but we didn't discuss amounts or confirm this and I had decided not to when I reflected on it. I think it is a more than fair rental price as it is is. I assumed this was the case with you too, as we didn't discuss it further. However, I see you have dropped it by £50 on the site which is a drop of £600 a year for me in terms of income. As we have several interested parties and in line with my earlier decision -could you please change the rental amount back to original and make any interested parties know they was a mistake in the advertising and it is £x per month. Any problems please give me a ring.Have a nice weekend.

Thanks

Ms Y

Not agressive just assertive.

I’d send this.

Landlord haters are almost a numerous here as step mother haters.

Ha yep. Imagine a step mother who’s a landlord. They’d be the antichrist!

SummerDayWinterEvenings · 30/05/2020 11:21

Rents round here are going up. Not down.

Original poster
toohoottoday · 30/05/2020 11:22

@thedancingbear

let's face it, there are very many people who, if they could, would love to make a living out of exploiting others whilst not really contributing anything to society through hard work, intellect, etc

Actually I work for a small charity, where I use the specialise skills I gained from my MSc to support people to improve their lives, but don't that stop you from being a wanker to people you know nothing about.

OP posts:
LesleysChestnutBob · 30/05/2020 11:22

let's face it, there are very many people who, if they could, would love to make a living out of exploiting others whilst not really contributing anything to society through hard work, intellect, etc.

Just like you're contributing nothing to this thread except unnecessarily cuntish comments.

It's not the OPs fault that other people don't own a house, and she's entitled to rent it out. Should she let poor people live in it for free then?

1forsorrow · 30/05/2020 11:22

Sorry haven't read the full thread but just wanted to say you won't actually lose £50, I am assuming you pay the agent a percentage or the rent but I suppose you might manage it yourself. Are you a tax payer? Less profit less tax. I know you will still lose but might not be the full £50.

If the prospective tenants are keen can he negotiate for you, if they are that keen will £50 put them off, or split the difference and make it £25.

It is annoying, I made the stupid decision to end a tenancy and sell my house that was let, it has now been sitting empty for 3 months, had two offers but due to work situation both mortgages failed so I'm not sure what to do now.

Good luck.

OVienna · 30/05/2020 11:23

The comments on this thread are ridiculous.

OP: change agents. Competent rental agents are rare. Can you manage the property yourself?

Hecky lolGrin

Seventybillionnamechanges · 30/05/2020 11:23

Problem is this landlord specialises in the area my property is in. Anyone interested in renting in that area would go to him first.

Assuming you are the U.K. this really isn’t the case - people just go on Rightmove - they don’t give a fig who the agent is

HeckyPeck · 30/05/2020 11:23

let's face it, there are very many people who, if they could, would love to make a living out of exploiting others whilst not really contributing anything to society through hard work, intellect, etc

Ha yep ok then. Charging £100 less than market rent is so exploitative 🙄🙄🙄

bonsaidragon · 30/05/2020 11:24

He should have asked you first but it's better to have the property rented out earlier than sit empty waiting for a tenant.

LesleysChestnutBob · 30/05/2020 11:25

[quote toohoottoday]@thedancingbear

let's face it, there are very many people who, if they could, would love to make a living out of exploiting others whilst not really contributing anything to society through hard work, intellect, etc

Actually I work for a small charity, where I use the specialise skills I gained from my MSc to support people to improve their lives, but don't that stop you from being a wanker to people you know nothing about.[/quote]
I bloody hope you don't get a wage OP - some people don't have jobs and it's not fair that you should have one when they don't.

Honestly what a bunch of sour faced jealous hags on this thread

Original poster
toohoottoday · 30/05/2020 11:25

@thedancingbear

Let's face it, in the situation the OP is describing, if the boiler breaks, the tenant is going to have to manage without hot water for good while

Let's face it you haven't read the full thread. Why let facts get in the way of a good hating session. eh?

You sound like the sort of people who hates in the name of compassion.

OP posts:
thedancingbear · 30/05/2020 11:25

It's not the OPs fault that other people don't own a house, and she's entitled to rent it out. Should she let poor people live in it for free then?

How about not buying it at all, thereby not driving property prices up by commoditising basic needs, and letting someone else buy and live in it for a more reasonable price.?

ArgumentativeAardvaark · 30/05/2020 11:25

He is in breach of his contract with you by listing it at a price lower than you wanted.

Tell him these are his options:

  1. He gets one of the three interested parties in and deducts the reduction in rent from his commission.
  1. He relists it at the higher price and deducts from his commission the money you lose while it sits empty for a couple more weeks.

You need to read him the riot act for acting without authorisation, and find a new agent for the next time the contract is up.

Needtheadvice · 30/05/2020 11:26

*Well good for you that you make a profit from exploiting the rental market.

So what are people IN the market for a rental supposed to do if there’s no such things as landlords?* Well more houses on the marked as there is less landlords mean more people have a chance to get on the property ladder as the house prices would likely be forced down. I don't like the concept of landlords as they are taking far too much, I think the price of rent needs to be less than a mortgage repayment and not more which seems to be the norm.

SummerDayWinterEvenings · 30/05/2020 11:26

Having rented properties out for years, I now don't -do it yourself it is easier and cheaper. One of my agents wanted £1000 a year etc -for what. Get insurance. Get references, get pay slips etc. easy enough to do yourself. Get a good handyperson, get boiler insurance etc job done. None of my tenants ever went more than 24 hours with a problem. It works both ways.

WotsitWiggle · 30/05/2020 11:26

How often is the rent reviewed? Could you compromise on the lower rent for 6 months and then it goes up £50?

Littlepond · 30/05/2020 11:26

Agent shouldn’t have done it. But if you have 3 potential tenants that all want it surely one of them will be prepared to go £50 higher than advertised rent to secure it? The old “ah I’ve got two other people interested...”

People struggle with landlords because the housing situation is so pants which is why you’ll get a negative reaction on here. The whole market set up is exploitative and it leaves a bad taste in people’s mouths.

Maybe tenants in your area would struggle to find the extra £50. Then it becomes who is more deserving of that money...

HermanHermit · 30/05/2020 11:27

Ok - so if this is the one landlord that specialises in the area your house is in(unusual), what makes you think that you know market rate better than them? Doesn’t alter the fact they can’t act without instructions but maybe you’re not listening to what they’re saying? It’s hardly in their interest to secure a lower rent

Fallsballs · 30/05/2020 11:27

@mencken not nice language re sillybitch comment. Says more about you than the people you’re aiming at.

Fact is op says she cannot adjust her finances over £50 monthly deficit - then she says her finances are no ones business 🙄
So op how come you have enough if the roof/boiler/accident happens. If you have savings why is £50 so important ?
Surely if finances are so tight you should sell property ?

SummerDayWinterEvenings · 30/05/2020 11:27

There is a middle ground here -it's called being assertive.

SunshineCake · 30/05/2020 11:28

The agent needs reminding it is your property not his and if you don't want to accept his decision then don't. Can't complain if you don't do anything about it.

Swipe left for the next trending thread