Renting

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How common are short term tenancies? Or long term tenancies with a 6 month break clause? We're looking to rent before we buy our next home but are finding that letting agents aren't even allowing us to view a property once they suspect that there's a possibility that we might be there less than a year. We've offered to pay six months rent in advance, but even that isn't an incentive. Is there any way round this?

Six months is effectively the england /wales mimimum - the law doesnt allow eviction before then so the landlord takes an enormous risk with less. A year with a break at six is quite common.

Negotiating a 6 month break clause is standard - but usually it is written as give notice at 6 months, move out at 8.

Just don't give any hint that you thinking of buying you own place, but make a 6 month break clause a condition of your rental offer.

I've had the opposite problem, I want 18 months if I'm moving into a rental ... Nobody will give me that security

If you are a new tenant, correct - no landlord will give you 18 months without a break at 6. Blame the legalities and insurers.

6 month break is normal, and definitely DONT tell them you'd be moving sooner rather than later!!

Thanks so much everyone for your help and insights, I'm learning fast!

So you want to rent somewhere for 6 months -ish?

Im surprised agents wont let you view properties, IME you're just the sort of tenant they want to pass off to landlords (who want long term tenants). They get you in take the fees (from you and ll), then 6 months later you leave and they find someone else, take fees again.....

Is there any other reason your may not be the ideal tenant? Pets, CCJs, DSS

Nope, nothing untoward at all in terms of CCJs, pets etc.Both have professional backgrounds. But sometimes I haven't even got that far as the first question is about the length of tenancy we're looking for with some landlords even looking for 12 months + which is contrary I know to your experience Pissssed

Sadly I think it's a case of maybe being a bit too honest about what we're looking for so will just have to be bit more circumspect and look for a 12 month tenancy with a 6 month break clause built in. Can you tell we've never rented before ?!

Thanks for your help everyone.

As an ex landlord it's too expensive to have people move out really quickly. You hardly make a profit on the day to day stuff even more so with tax changes. Because we are also ex renters and lived in other countries we would do a rolling month by month tenancy after 12 months because we think that's fair. But I think most landlords choose the status quo unfortunately. I would say don't tell agents your intentions. A fast sale of a house with no chain takes 2 months anyway, so you may be in rental longer than you intend.

Although long term tenants are the ideal, Id still rather have a decent short term tenant than wait around for another one or take a long term one that sounded a potential problem - so dont give up.

And as a previous poster said these days property purchase is far from easy and you could be there for 12 months anyway. Whilst I dont advocate lying, I wouldnt be as blunt as saying you def only want 6 months. Perhaps...... new to the area, looking around, getting to know the villages, lots of decisions to make etc etc...

As far as looking like a great tenant goes - get all your paperwork together. 3 months bank statements, names of references, photocopy of passport, driving license, name, address. Put it in a neat pack. Go into the rental agent, look smart and professional give them your details and ask to view x or y property. You are interviewing their ability to rent you a safe home as much as them checking you.

Landlords need tenants and vice versa - IMO agents sometimes make it all just a little harder for both sides!!