Negotiating on a rental listing

[Sunnysuesue]

There’s a flat to rent that I like. It’s quite reasonable for what it is - but there’s a catch.

The adjoining house is being completely rebuilt. From the basement up.

The flat has been on the rental market for two months. The previous tenants seem to have moved out last week.

I’ve got the planning documents and they can’t do loud work on the weekend and start from 8am on the weekend. It’s meant to complete in 6 months.

With this info, I’d probably be tempted to make an offer to the landlord that I’ll rent the flat for 2 years at the current rent (or lower) with no increases. Do you think I’d be able to negotiate this?

You can ask!

Nobody else can answer that for you - but if it includes Rates you may have to have an increase at some point.

I guess it depends on the market where you are. Where I am there is a housing crisis, up to 150 applicants per property and people are offering over and above to secure rental properties.

You can always ask, but for what it’s worth I’d take the planning application stuff with a piece of salt. Noise restrictions are rarely enforceable and completion in 6 months will probably mean 12 at least!
Be careful locking yourself in for too long - why not start at 18 months?