What's the rental market like right now?

[hewlett]

I'm thinking about renting for 6 - 12 month, a 3 to 4 bed house or flat anywhere 20 - 30 miles west of London. Does anyone know what the supply versus demand situation is for this type of property to rent? Either way I'll try to negotiate down the rental value, just want to see how much the vendor is likely to need my business/how strong a negotiating position I'll be in.

[NoelWatson]

hewlett said:

I'm thinking about renting for 6 - 12 month, a 3 to 4 bed house or flat anywhere 20 - 30 miles west of London. Does anyone know what the supply versus demand situation is for this type of property to rent? Either way I'll try to negotiate down the rental value, just want to see how much the vendor is likely to need my business/how strong a negotiating position I'll be in.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/af1beb62-1295-11de-b816-0000779fd2ac.html

[Kickstart]

It all depends on how special the house is eg right road, kerb appeal, near transport and good schools and the house will fly out the estate agent's window and there will probably be several families who want it - whereas the more marginal it is the better position you as a tenant will be in.

[Plotloss]

Puts you in or around Windsor.

Where rents appear to be on the slide in terms of asking, with offers being accepted under asking.

[The jiffle king]

If you're waiting until June/July and are into Windsor, I'll be renting a 4 bed place out with off street parking (Rare round here)
PM me if interested.
Rents are on the slide in general, particularly for 2 bed apartments in standard blocks, but there are not so many properties with 3-5 beds. Ask an estate agent... www.hardings.co.uk should be able to help you with the Windsor area

[hewlett]

Thanks, there's a clear message here..ft article was good too. Yes the catchment area is pretty much Guildford/Woking around to Reading/Slough.

[hewlett]

Someone at lunch tells me that there is a buying 'surge' at the moment and people are coming out of rental properties to buy, properties that were being rented are going up for sale. Hmmmmmm.....could this be correct?

[Pork]

I'm looking at renting somewhere else at the moment and have been told by plenty of poeple that there are currently a lot of 'accidental landlords' and that you have to drive a hard bargain for the property your interested in.

A number of properties we've seen, we've been told "they've had an offer already", which I'm taking as "an offer, but not a good one".

As said above, it must be dependant on location, desirability, etc, but I would certianly be putting in a cheeky offer first off. They can only say no!

Also, as an asside, several of the properties in the areas we've been looking have been on for ages and definately look ripe for an offer. One agent told us one property was "new on" despite us seeing it over 2 weeks previously. So, goes without sayin, but take what they say with a large pinch of salt.

[loafer123]

The market depends on your budget.

In Kent, where I am, high end (say £2k+pcm) isn't shifting at all in my experience, and I've seen rents drop 25-35% in the last 3 months.

[garycat]

I have a 4 bed house in Iver that I'm renting out at £1200 pcm. I could probably get £1400 - £1500 but we needed to get someone in quick.

[theboyfold]

I had my place on the market for a couple of months at the start of the year, and got 2 viewings. Ended up staying as there was very little interest, but I'm not my area doesn't seem to have a very large rental market.

O/T Are we still on for the PH TV&S 1st Tuesday Club?