Pretending to be gay to please the landlord...
Discussion
Yes, I'm joking, but I'm sorely tempted to do this.
Backstory. Me and a friend (fellow PHer..) have been living together for the past 6 months. It's going well, so we're looking at moving out to another place now with a bit more room for us and the cars (the flat we are in now was only really a stop-gap).
Found a few nice places around here (Harrogate), budget is up to £1k PCM and all we really want is a decent sized bedroom each, with a garage (or two!) and some driveway space.
I thought that would be simple, but the idea of two men sharing is not one that many landlords are keen on at all. I've now found 3 ideal properties to let, from each one the landlord's have said they do not want to let to sharers. One of which specifically said they would only let to a family...
So, my friend who is an Estate Agent in Hull suggests, just say you're a couple. Say you and your partner are looking for a place.
I don't want to do that, lying isn't something I'm good at nor like to do, but how could just those few words be the difference between us getting a nice place to live, or having to live in another flat or terraced house. Every time the estate agents have got back to us with bad news, they've sent us another property they think we'd be interested in, and it's always some s
te place with no driveway let alone a garage.
To end this rant with a question, is there anything I can do to make 2 single men sharing together sound more appealing to a landlord? Other than playing the couple card... I've already stated that we both have good jobs, earn more than enough to cover the rent individually if we had to, etc. But hey, I'm not sure what else to offer...
Cheers,
Dan
Backstory. Me and a friend (fellow PHer..) have been living together for the past 6 months. It's going well, so we're looking at moving out to another place now with a bit more room for us and the cars (the flat we are in now was only really a stop-gap).
Found a few nice places around here (Harrogate), budget is up to £1k PCM and all we really want is a decent sized bedroom each, with a garage (or two!) and some driveway space.
I thought that would be simple, but the idea of two men sharing is not one that many landlords are keen on at all. I've now found 3 ideal properties to let, from each one the landlord's have said they do not want to let to sharers. One of which specifically said they would only let to a family...
So, my friend who is an Estate Agent in Hull suggests, just say you're a couple. Say you and your partner are looking for a place.
I don't want to do that, lying isn't something I'm good at nor like to do, but how could just those few words be the difference between us getting a nice place to live, or having to live in another flat or terraced house. Every time the estate agents have got back to us with bad news, they've sent us another property they think we'd be interested in, and it's always some s
te place with no driveway let alone a garage. To end this rant with a question, is there anything I can do to make 2 single men sharing together sound more appealing to a landlord? Other than playing the couple card... I've already stated that we both have good jobs, earn more than enough to cover the rent individually if we had to, etc. But hey, I'm not sure what else to offer...
Cheers,
Dan
Thanks for the replies so far. 
I've just gone for it with one estate agent. I previously asked why they felt the landlord preferred couples, to which their response was just generic "it's just the landlords preference" garbage.
So I've asked if those preferences excludes gay couples, and if gay couples are classed as sharers. I apologised as well for getting political, as I can imagine the headache you'd get if that email came in...
I've just gone for it with one estate agent. I previously asked why they felt the landlord preferred couples, to which their response was just generic "it's just the landlords preference" garbage.
So I've asked if those preferences excludes gay couples, and if gay couples are classed as sharers. I apologised as well for getting political, as I can imagine the headache you'd get if that email came in...
Marc p said:
My parents are just finalising there latest rental property, 3 Bed (2 doubles and a single), garage, driveway for 2 cars length way, semi-detached, plus it's in the small cul-de-sac opposite mine, so you get me as a neighbor 
Should be ready for renting out in a week or 2, will probably be around the £850-900pm mark (it's near the Mini dealership)
ETA: Garage is the same size as mine and the Corvette fits in fine (so does the Mustang with my toolboxes and stuff at the end and that is a seriously long car)
I don't have any pics of it, but it's joined to the house below, so everything is the same(bar garage hasn't been converted, doesn't have side garden and the attic is still just an attic) it's just a mirror image setup.
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/house-prices/detailMatc...
Rent it!! I need more petrolheads around me
We'd actually be very interested in looking at that. Do you have a contact number or email address? Should be ready for renting out in a week or 2, will probably be around the £850-900pm mark (it's near the Mini dealership)
ETA: Garage is the same size as mine and the Corvette fits in fine (so does the Mustang with my toolboxes and stuff at the end and that is a seriously long car)
I don't have any pics of it, but it's joined to the house below, so everything is the same(bar garage hasn't been converted, doesn't have side garden and the attic is still just an attic) it's just a mirror image setup.
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/house-prices/detailMatc...
Rent it!! I need more petrolheads around me
Edited by Marc p on Tuesday 28th March 13:43
Edited by Marc p on Tuesday 28th March 13:46
We're tied in to the flat until May 8th, and I'm off to the Nurburgring next Satuday, looking to move in to a new place after then so the timing looks promising.
Marc p said:
I think the estate agents are coming to do the photos on Friday as they don't want to manage themselves, but they wouldn't reject you(I can tell them not to anyway), so once it's all finalised with them I'll drop you the details of who to contact.
Nice one, thanks pal. Also if your Corvette is red I definitely saw you down by the stray the other week. Can't be too many Corvettes!
PurpleTurtle said:
Marc p said:
dannyDC2 said:
Marc p said:
I think the estate agents are coming to do the photos on Friday as they don't want to manage themselves, but they wouldn't reject you(I can tell them not to anyway), so once it's all finalised with them I'll drop you the details of who to contact.
Nice one, thanks pal. Also if your Corvette is red I definitely saw you down by the stray the other week. Can't be too many Corvettes!
, parked up near Betty's?
It was actually at night, think I was in my E36. I'd just done the driveshaft in so was limping it home.
Estate Agent has gone quiet on my gay question btw.
Marc p said:
Ah yes, night time through town is one of my favourite times in the Corvette, really lets that Borla system sing
I may be putting 2+2 together and getting 5 here, but your flat mate isn't a chap named Charles perhaps?
Haha, typical Harrogate ponce showing off I may be putting 2+2 together and getting 5 here, but your flat mate isn't a chap named Charles perhaps?
get it out in the hills man! Yeah that's true and also quite worrying that you knew that! Explain yourself
Marc p said:
Oh I can assure you I did, took it out over the moors for a few hours the other day, however, I stupidly followed a friend who took me down a narrow track that I would call 'tricky' in a defender
I used to work with Charles up until he left a couple of months ago(although I worked in a different office) and he mentioned you a couple of times, what's he doing now?
ETA: I have photographic proof that it left town
Looking good man! GTR, 235i, Corvette... not baaaad.I used to work with Charles up until he left a couple of months ago(although I worked in a different office) and he mentioned you a couple of times, what's he doing now?
ETA: I have photographic proof that it left town
Edited by Marc p on Wednesday 29th March 21:39
Small world up here isn't it, everyone knows everyone! He's working over the road from me now on Hornbeam.
Back on topic, I received a reply last night to my question in which I thought I had done a good job at "coming out the estate agent's closet".
My email:
Me said:
Hi XXX,
Does that exclude gay couples? Are gay couples classed as sharers?
Sorry to get political.
Thanks,
Dan
Read between the lines ey... this was their response.Does that exclude gay couples? Are gay couples classed as sharers?
Sorry to get political.
Thanks,
Dan
Estate Agents said:
Hi,
No, the difference with sharers is that it may be 2 of you to start with but then if you both get partners and they want to move in it then becomes 4 and can lead to more wear & tear in the property for this reason landlords prefer to keep it as a couple sometimes.
Kind Regards
No, the difference with sharers is that it may be 2 of you to start with but then if you both get partners and they want to move in it then becomes 4 and can lead to more wear & tear in the property for this reason landlords prefer to keep it as a couple sometimes.
Kind Regards
sealtt said:
If that's the problem why don't they just put a clause in the contract saying partners can't move in?
More risk of a regular couple moving in and 9 months later having a baby or twins!!
I guess common sense doesn't really apply here, especially as this is in Harrogate where the average age is 1970.More risk of a regular couple moving in and 9 months later having a baby or twins!!
Marc p said:
dannyDC2 said:
Marc p said:
It's up with Hunters now Danny, £925 a month.
Thought it was that one when I looked yesterday! Will try to get a viewing arranged today.. it will have to make room for another JDM icon if we go for it!Marc p said:
dannyDC2 said:
Marc, the properties vanished from Rightmove? I did make an enquiry yesterday, was waiting to hear back..
Someone may have already rented it, I'll find out for you.Edited by dannyDC2 on Wednesday 5th April 13:52
I was flat out working on the Integra all weekend so didn't have chance to check the site... didn't think it would be up and go so soon. Pretty gutted but oh well, got a month to find another place now!
Made my first gay enquiry too today. Me and my partner would like to view the property etc. Going to fire a few more off in the morning!
KarlMac said:
dannyDC2 said:
Made my first gay enquiry too today.
Would it be fair to say you're curious? PorkInsider said:
Should we expect the vlogs to take on more of a 'soft furnishings' angle in the near future, Danny?
Haha, I reckon I can pull off the luck so long as they don't see the interior of my Integra!Update!
Finally found a really promising place yesterday, so went for a viewing today. I told the chap it was for me and my partner, as I didn't want to take any chances after receiving negative feedback towards sharers from previous estate agents.
I kinda messed up the gay thing. I referred to my pal as my flatmate rather than my boyfriend once or twice, but I think I pulled it off. I got the impression that it didn't really matter though, and that the landlord wouldn't mind either way.
I really liked the place, plenty of room for the cars which is the main thing of course! We're considering going for it, but now my conscious is telling me to come clean about our relationship.
I've been doing some digging and found out that the landlord, who is said to be a nice chap, ran for local election 20 years ago for a political party with very strong beliefs regarding abortion, and other issues relating to that. Issues that I would probably put him in the 'bit of a nutter' category, and perhaps the thought of 2 gay men living together in his property might put him off the deal.
What a pickle I've got myself in to...
Thoughts?
Finally found a really promising place yesterday, so went for a viewing today. I told the chap it was for me and my partner, as I didn't want to take any chances after receiving negative feedback towards sharers from previous estate agents.
I kinda messed up the gay thing. I referred to my pal as my flatmate rather than my boyfriend once or twice, but I think I pulled it off. I got the impression that it didn't really matter though, and that the landlord wouldn't mind either way.
I really liked the place, plenty of room for the cars which is the main thing of course! We're considering going for it, but now my conscious is telling me to come clean about our relationship.
I've been doing some digging and found out that the landlord, who is said to be a nice chap, ran for local election 20 years ago for a political party with very strong beliefs regarding abortion, and other issues relating to that. Issues that I would probably put him in the 'bit of a nutter' category, and perhaps the thought of 2 gay men living together in his property might put him off the deal.
What a pickle I've got myself in to...
Thoughts?
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