How to impress landlord and get house we want?

[TrillianAstra]

Looking for your help here please :)

Be enthusiastic, be completely upfront about money, offer to leave a holding deposit while references are sorted out, bring some sort of ID (passport, driving licence) so that s/he can start credit checks, say how nice it is and how you will appreciate it.

We had to rent a particular house and offered to pay the first six months' rent up front (we were very lucky that we had it in savings, I appreciate not everyone could do that). It is also a risk because, of course, once the LL has your money, you have no leverage but it worked for us.

Thanks, I had thought of holding deposit - it is near a cashpoint and I have just been paid for January so will offer to do that.

Make sure you get a receipt - and details of what the money is for, eg: "TrillianAstra paid Mr LL #250 as a holding deposit towards such and such property. Monies for credit checks will be deducted from this and the balance will be used against her first month's rent" or whatever the arrangement is.

Another thing that would sweeten it for me (I rent out a couple of flats) is if the tenant wanted a minimum 12-month contract, no break clause but, again, that might be a risk for you.

This is the second time in 6 months that we've had to leave because the landlord wanted to sell up - we DO want a 12 month contract if possible. Definitely no plans to move again.