WWYD? Rental Situation

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DH and I rent our current home from his Aunt. We’ve been very fortunate in that she has allowed us to live here for 7 years at very reasonable rates. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, she needs the home back. Our contract ends in December but she is flexible and we could stay a short while beyond this.

A rental property has unexpectedly become available on the doorstep of DC’s school and nursery. We could walk there in under 3 minutes and the local secondary school for DC1 is also within walking distance. DC1 currently gets a short bus ride.

DH and I had a showing of the home and it’s not the size we would have hoped for (it’s a new home) but the closeness to all DC’s nursery and schools is a big draw for us. It’s more expensive than our current rental but that’s to be expected.

DH is nervous about moving so soon in case something better comes along. I am of the view that we have little chance of finding something in the same area and being guaranteed to secure the rental as demand is increasing. DH feels we should benefit from the lower rental costs until the end of our contract and then start the process. I’m worried if we bypass this rental, we may not find another with such a huge draw. There’s no guarantee we will also get this rental, but I think we should apply and take it if successful.

His Aunt has said we can leave our contract as soon as we find something and she won’t hold us to the remaining payments (she’s a gem).

WWYD?

I'm with your DH, you have until December to move. Don't rush into the first property you see especially as it's not exactly what you want. Use the opportunity to save your money.
Can you not buy instead of renting again?

I’m also with your husband and would enjoy the low rent for a few more months before looking in the Autumn for somewhere else to move to

Where I live rentals are so rare coming on the market, I would take it as low chances of something else in the timeframe locally. Only you know the local area to know if this is the case for you.

As it's convenient to schools I'd probably take it and try to arrange to move in beginning of July. Tell them you have to give a month's notice. Most people will have to give a month's notice. Ask DH if you wait until Xmas what happens if nothing around at this point?

Depends what the rental situation is like in your area. Here it is next to impossible to find anywhere so I would be trying for it.

I’ve come back to the thread to add some details and noticed the replies, TY. Buying is not an option for us.

I’m inclined to side with DH too if it wasn’t for the issue that securing a rental may also be difficult for us as we only have one income (although DH is a high earner). One of our DC is disabled and I’m their carer full time.

We also have two cats and I’m aware we would not be favoured over pet free tenants. I feel there are factors against us which won’t allow us to be ‘choosy’.

We’re in the South East so rentals here are highly sought after.

I would try and get it OP.

If rentals are highly sought after and you have cats then I think you may find it hard to find another rental.

I would snap this one up.

I wouldn’t think the one income aspect would matter as long as your husbands salary is high enough to meet the affordability check. You come as a family after all.

Cannot comment on the cats issue as simply don’t know if LLs are allowed to discriminate against cat owners or not. If they are then maybe you do need to go after every suitable property that comes up. But the other side of the argument is that you don’t NEED to be out by Christmas as per the question asked by @caringcarer so you have more flexibility than an average renter if you leave looking until September, say.

My job means that I deal with a lot of rentals and my advice is usually to apply for a property if you like it.
It depends on where you live but in a lot of areas there are more prospective tenants than properties, plus you having pets means that some properties wont even allow you viewings
I know that its slightly different as your H's Aunt isnt't going to be as strict about leaving dates etc but if it ticks most of the boxes I would seriously think about going for it.

You should do everything you can to get it in the SE rentals are in very,very short supply and as it is close to a nursery and school it will be in demand.

Additionally many won't consider you with pets despite the law changes so jump to it if you are accepted.

Do not underestimate the value of being close to nursery and school if you have a disabled child, it could be life changing

Additionally as your aunt has been so very helpful to you, it would be selfish to delay moving out later if you cannot find what you are looking for later on.

I agree with you

I think beggars can't be choosers in this rental market. I don't rent myself but I have friends who do and they have all had a terrible time. Houses stay in the market for a very short time & you can apply to many and get absolutely nowhere & no feedback either. In the meantime the date when you have to move gets closer and closer and more stressful.

I wouldn't tell a prospective landlord about the cats either. That may make me unpopular with some but the reality is all things being equal they will pick someone with no pets. No need to stack the dice against yourselves.

That’s a good point.

Guys you’re convincing me to change my mind, don’t know about OPs husband

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

if it works take the rental.
i hear it’s a nightmare getting a place from friends who rent and you don’t want to be stuck in December scrabbling about

Rental market is brutal at the moment, so many applicants that anywhere decent gets snapped up in days (if that). If it basically ticks your boxes, I'd go for it.

I would go for it to be honest as the rental market is just bonkers at the moment. Unless its loads more than he current rental there is nothing to be gained by waiting.

Take it - Christmas would be an awful time to be house hunting with no guarantee of finding anything.

Try to get the rental. You've benefitted from your aunt's kindness for long enough.

Don't lie about the cats or it will be grounds for immediate eviction once discovered.

The rental market is brutal and getting worse. Whilst the size isn't ideal, it ticks all the other boxes you need so I'd go for it.

Apply for this house, and frankly any others that meet your essential criteria (if you're unsuccessful) from this point onwards. We had a 6 month notice period thanks to Covid when our last landlord sold and we only just managed to secure our current home in time to move out. Despite being a double income family with no pets we just weren't making the short list for anything.

Better to choose somewhere you want than be pushed into taking something you don't want because you have to leave the current property.

We actually overlapped two tenancies by 2 months to secure what we wanted rather than be pushed into a property we didn't want and we didn't have children to consider and a school run to accommodate.

Take the new property now, you can always look to move again if this doesn't work out. But location is everything when it comes to ease of school runs for both primary and secondary.

You have benefitted from the Aunt's low rent kindness, yes it would be lovely to eke it out as long as possible but I would still move.

The rental market around here (Zone 3) is hot. But there's always a few coming on - so while they go in a day or two there's likely to be another soon. Terraced houses so similar in size (and walking distance to three good primaries). If you don't take this one then be sure to get yourself on all the lists, stress your keenness and then keep in touch (don't wait for agents to call you or for a board to go up).

Although I am in The North I agree.
Many of my clients end up in properties that haven't even gone on the Rentals market yet as I have EA contacts or we get early viewings.
The market is pretty brutal with up to 10 people wanting each property in some cases.
As for you not working I am afraid that might count against you as most LL's would prefer 2 working adults over 1 even if the 1 earns enough.
You can usually apply for free up until the point of paying a reservation fee, which usually comes after the LL has accepted you and before Referencing so if thats the case here you could apply and then make a final decision before handing over any money

Just had a conversation with builder working on our place - he's desperate and struggling to find a rental. We've got an empty property next door (which will go up for sale not rent) and he said he needs somewhere so much, 'it'd be a yes' without even looking.

I appreciate you don't want to keep moving, but at least renting you haven't got a vast amount of fees to find each time you move, so if it isn't right for you in a year or more, you can consider somewhere else.