To think that there’s some dark secret about this house?

[Ohlookatyou]

I’ve been recently trying to find a property to rent in my area and not many come up often so it’s been tricky. A lot of the rents are also around the 800-900 mark on average and as being a single person, it ends up costing a lot.

So, around a week ago I saw this gorgeous cottage on Rightmove for £550- 2 bed, new kitchen and beautiful large garden. It’s also in a lovely picturesque village nearby which has a school, takeaway, pub, shop.

I went to view it and it was nice, I’ve made an application and it’s been accepted but now I can’t help but feel something is off. The rent is so low for that sized cottage in the area. The exact same sized one next door was rented for 950 and in a worse condition from the picture (which sounds about right rent-wise). The estate agent also told me the last tenant only stayed 6 months and it had been on the market for 4 months.

I want to take it as a win, cheap housing in a good area but I cannot help feeling there’s a reason nobody else has taken it or gone for it. It’s near great transport links and has parking. It is from the late 1600’s so I’m thinking that perhaps it’s because the heating costs may be more? Though it’s well insulated?

So what could be the reason? Haunted? Ex murder house? I wasn’t worried until my mum kept hinting that there MUST be a reason it’s so cheap.

Go and have a pint in the local pub and see if you can get the locals talking.

I had this with the flat I rent.

it was £200 a month under market value and it’s a huge flat, in a great area in one of the most desirable places in the uk. It’s surrounded by gardens and we have a gardener and property manager. The reason it’s so spacious is that its a converted mansion house so it’s very peaceful with no nearby neighbours.

When I first applied it was only available for working professionals with no children, the estate agent kept questioning if I’d be ok living there and I was quite offended as I was assuming they meant financially (I was quite young and a single woman) I assured them I’d be fine.

I found out from the neighbours that they had several tenants leave after the initial 6 month lease as they were terrified about being in a “spooky” old mansion in the middle of nowhere. One woman even insisted a neighbour walk her from her car if it was dark to her front door!

I’ve lived in the same flat 15 years and it’s now full market rate! I still love it though.

You’d be surprised at what affects a rental rate, my dad was an estate agent for years and my best friend’s dad has several rental properties. They have had to reduce rents for reasons that you might not consider but that aren’t anything to worry about. I’d check out the neighbours though because that’s usually the biggest issue.

My first thought was nightmare neighbours too OP. Much more likely than being a murder house or similar!

Why not ask the real estate agent why there is a difference in rent between yours and next door?

It’s more likely to be damp, a crap landlord, or unexpected noise or nuisance from neighbours or farming noise.

@Ohlookatyou is it the village near the Goatman?

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4486761-What-did-we-see-last-night

It might be helpful to know which area you are in?

if it turns out to be a woo house would it bother you?

Is it just something dull, eg is the council tax on the cottage mega, and next door for some reason isn’t? When I first rented, the LL kept the rent below market value because the CT on it was wild and I think they struggled to get anyone otherwise.

Edit to add. Struggled to get the preferred single person or couple, rather than a group who could share the cost.

It will be infested with malevolent spirits. At least you will have some company!

Ghosts don’t exist, so that’s that sorted. And murder doesn’t leave a ‘shadow’ or malevolence behind it, so that’s sorted.

It’s probably just a bit dark and cold. Enjoy the cheap rent.

There's that expression - if something looks too good to be true, it usually is.

I'd ask the estate agent why the rent is out of kilter for the area and see waht they say first.

Then if you get waffle, specifically ask by email so you've got it in writing' is there anything about living in this property that a renter needs to know before they move in that may cause them difficulties such as disputes or structural issues or anything else?'

The last house we rented had subsidence issues and was underpinned.

Some cracks in the walls, here and there, as a result of structural issues.

That was 550 too, under market rate for the area.

Shame, it was a lovely place and I was sorry to say goodbye to it.

It's connected the Kray twins that road 😖

Am I right in thinking that you'd only be renting it?
If so, what's the issue?
Some people will find anything to worry about!

Wouldn’t bother me: you can leave if it’s wrong.