How negotiable are rents these days?

[fruitstick]

Our property woes continue and we are looking for a new place to rent.

We took on the place we are in now 6 months ago and knocked £40 a month of the rent (£1,000 per month).

Trouble is the places on the market at the moment for the same money seem tiny by comparison.

Surely rents haven't gone up in the last 6 months? How negotiable can you be do you think?

Depends on what the landlord has to cover in the way of costs.

We accepted 200 quid/mth less than we needed to cover costs as we knew we were getting a very good tenant. So it can happen.

We knocked £100 off our current rental (£1450 to £1350) the lease started two months ago so pretty recent.

I think it pays to 'scale up' when looking at property (to buy or rent), as most people will be open to offers.

depends on the area. i've just put mine up £50. and could have still filled the place 5 times over.

Herhonesty & Souviens - whereabouts are you?

london.

thanks honesty, we are in the West Midlands so hopefully rents are a bit more flexible

in the north, all the best with your search

The property trade press think rents are rising - buy to let landlords forced to sell by their mortgage companies, so less stock available.

Rents are falling and have been doing so for the last year. It is nonsense that letting agents are putting about that rents are rising. They are not. Indeed, in London they are collapsing.

Demand at least 12 months tenancy with no break clause on either your side or the landlords side. Landlords like to be sure they wil get a tenant for at least 12 months. Do not go for a 6 month tenancy as they is likely to be a nervous landlord looking to sell in the Spring or an agent just looking for a renewal fee every 6 moths. Keep making lots and lots of offers and see who bites is my best advice.