House sharing

[timbob]

I'm looking to rent a property with a good friend of mine.

Other than estate agents being mostly dozy, and trying their utter best to lose all their business by having awful customer relations, we've come across one other major obstacle:

Some people don't seem to want to go for a shared let. They only want to let to single professionals.

Is this a normal thing? Are two guys going to find it difficult to rent anywhere at all? And if so, is there any mileage in going down the "gay" route?!

[matt12023]

i'm not sure what city your trying to let in, up here is newcastle you'd have no bother at all. infact virtually everyone i know who doesn't own rents with a friend due to the rental being virtually the same for a two bedroom as a one, plus you have someone to do the washing up

[shirt]

surprised at this, its commonplace. its usual that if one leaves before the end of the agreement period you have to find a replacement, and agents love it as they get to charge you both seperately for their application fees.

[Jasandjules]

Perhaps they believe that a shared let means students?

Can you not just confirm the situation and that you are both professionals etc.. but want a shared let for X reason.

[timbob]

Perhaps it's just this one then.

I explained we were both working professionals, and it made no difference. The estate agent on the phone said there was no point in even asking the Landlady, she's been really specific - and had turned away people just like us before.

The guy took the details, and said he'd let me know if anything else fitting the right criteria came up, I was just wondering if this was going to be a constant problem with every house or not.

[andygo]

Just say you are in a gay relationship, tweak his bum and your 'in'.

[Pickled Piper]

Depends on the Landlord. Some are OK with it.

pp