Renting a house advice
Discussion
Hi guys
My wife and I are taking a leap into dreamland next year and are building our own house. We have sold our house to release the equity in it in order to fund the build. During this building, we will move to rented.
There's not too many in the region that suit our needs, but a brand new build popped up last friday. Short version is farmer sold his land to a developer, but kept 3 plots back and has had 3 built (one finished at moment) to rent out.
We went to see the house today and it's ideal, cheaper than others we have seen and has the all important dbl garage so I don't have to move my 996 on.
The thing is, it's quite popular, the agent hosted an open day today and at least 5 viewers were seen by a friend who has just bought one over the road.
The agent says they will take all applications in up until friday, then let the farmer choose who to put through all the background checks etc. My question is, how can i make myself more attractive as a renter? We have top notch credit scores, we could in theory pay more rent upfront, we will treat the house with respect (of course) and not look to change anything.
Is there anything else i can do? Or is it just down to pure luck?
Any landlords who can comment would be ace.
My wife and I are taking a leap into dreamland next year and are building our own house. We have sold our house to release the equity in it in order to fund the build. During this building, we will move to rented.
There's not too many in the region that suit our needs, but a brand new build popped up last friday. Short version is farmer sold his land to a developer, but kept 3 plots back and has had 3 built (one finished at moment) to rent out.
We went to see the house today and it's ideal, cheaper than others we have seen and has the all important dbl garage so I don't have to move my 996 on.
The thing is, it's quite popular, the agent hosted an open day today and at least 5 viewers were seen by a friend who has just bought one over the road.The agent says they will take all applications in up until friday, then let the farmer choose who to put through all the background checks etc. My question is, how can i make myself more attractive as a renter? We have top notch credit scores, we could in theory pay more rent upfront, we will treat the house with respect (of course) and not look to change anything.
Is there anything else i can do? Or is it just down to pure luck?
Any landlords who can comment would be ace.
Thanks so far chaps.
TVR - we have not mentioned the short term nature of our requirement. we've simply said we want to move in and get a feel for the village areas before we commit on a house - that and we can't find what we want in budget.
Having a guarantor seems to double the fees - and i don't really have anyone who's in a good financial position (at least not better than we are currently) - what makes a good guarantor? My mum, despite owning a house and living well within her means,has a terrible credit rating because she doesn't have a mortgage and refuses to take any credit.
Good points on what landlords care about. I;ve not rented since i was a student so i've zero experience here
TVR - we have not mentioned the short term nature of our requirement. we've simply said we want to move in and get a feel for the village areas before we commit on a house - that and we can't find what we want in budget.
Having a guarantor seems to double the fees - and i don't really have anyone who's in a good financial position (at least not better than we are currently) - what makes a good guarantor? My mum, despite owning a house and living well within her means,has a terrible credit rating because she doesn't have a mortgage and refuses to take any credit.
Good points on what landlords care about. I;ve not rented since i was a student so i've zero experience here
eltax91 said:
Thanks so far chaps.
TVR - we have not mentioned the short term nature of our requirement. we've simply said we want to move in and get a feel for the village areas before we commit on a house - that and we can't find what we want in budget.
Having a guarantor seems to double the fees - and i don't really have anyone who's in a good financial position (at least not better than we are currently) - what makes a good guarantor? My mum, despite owning a house and living well within her means,has a terrible credit rating because she doesn't have a mortgage and refuses to take any credit.
Good points on what landlords care about. I;ve not rented since i was a student so i've zero experience here
Do they credit check guarantors? Wouldn't her house be the ultimate security against a debt? TVR - we have not mentioned the short term nature of our requirement. we've simply said we want to move in and get a feel for the village areas before we commit on a house - that and we can't find what we want in budget.
Having a guarantor seems to double the fees - and i don't really have anyone who's in a good financial position (at least not better than we are currently) - what makes a good guarantor? My mum, despite owning a house and living well within her means,has a terrible credit rating because she doesn't have a mortgage and refuses to take any credit.
Good points on what landlords care about. I;ve not rented since i was a student so i've zero experience here
TVR Moneypit said:
Eltex, if I may be blunt with you for a moment, how badly do you want that house? How ideal is it for your current circumstances?
OK, now how much extra is it in £'s to have a guarantor? A couple of hundred quid perhaps? I know you don't need a guarantor. You know you don't need a guarantor, but Farmer Gilles doesn't know that you don't need a guarantor?
From everything that you have written in your OP, if it were me in your shoes, I'd be doing everything that I could to make sure I got that property. If a family member or a friend can't act as a guarantor, then could your bank possibly act as one?
It's a fair point you make. I will speak with the agent tomorrow and offer up possible guarantors. OK, now how much extra is it in £'s to have a guarantor? A couple of hundred quid perhaps? I know you don't need a guarantor. You know you don't need a guarantor, but Farmer Gilles doesn't know that you don't need a guarantor?
From everything that you have written in your OP, if it were me in your shoes, I'd be doing everything that I could to make sure I got that property. If a family member or a friend can't act as a guarantor, then could your bank possibly act as one?
Part of the ID requirements we have is the usual "official letter with your address on it", so we will take one with from the solicitor confirming our house sale, price and mortgage redemption fee, hoping that this shows us in a good light as a non risky renter
Talk of guarantors would put me off - I'd question why you might need one. A nice hand-written note saying why you're interested in the property and how you'll look after it plus, rather more importantly, 6 months rent in advance, would see me give you the tenancy.
What have you got to lose? You'll be paying it anyway, just make yourself his new best friend.
What have you got to lose? You'll be paying it anyway, just make yourself his new best friend.
Yep, you can do all the niceties, send the letter, maybe pop round to the farmer, but at the end of the day, cash up front for the duration that you are guaranteed to be there however long that is is the best way to go about it.
Drop a letter in to the farmer telling him this is what you are doing, just in case the agent "forgets" to pass on your offer, just in case they have a vested interest in another renter.
Drop a letter in to the farmer telling him this is what you are doing, just in case the agent "forgets" to pass on your offer, just in case they have a vested interest in another renter.
talksthetorque said:
Drop a letter in to the farmer telling him this is what you are doing, just in case the agent "forgets" to pass on your offer, just in case they have a vested interest in another renter.
Interesting. I’m totally green here, but what vested interest would the agent have here?From our point of you, we would prefer a 6 month contract and then roll on after that, but if we had to we could commit to 12 months as we think the build will take us to month 10 anyway.
eltax91 said:
Interesting. I’m totally green here, but what vested interest would the agent have here?
From our point of you, we would prefer a 6 month contract and then roll on after that, but if we had to we could commit to 12 months as we think the build will take us to month 10 anyway.
They might be selling and nearing exchange on one of the other renters houses. From our point of you, we would prefer a 6 month contract and then roll on after that, but if we had to we could commit to 12 months as we think the build will take us to month 10 anyway.
If they don't get them a rental to move in to, then they don't get their wedge for the sale.
They could literally have thousands of pounds worth of commission dependant on it.
Estate agents work for estate agents first and foremost. Then the seller/landlord, the tenant/buyer are at best an awkward necessity that they have to deal with.
I've recently been through this, albeit my approach is of little use given the stage you are at now.
I spoke to the letting agent the day at 9AM. Asked them to email me all the application forms and then completed them and delivered them by hand to the agency that avo. I explained my standpoint and that should the viewings match the description, I was ready to move on it immediately. This gave me the chance to build a relationship with the agency manager prior to the block booked viewings and meant I wasn't another joe bloggs.
Went to the viewing that pm and felt slightly awkward as most others there also wanted it, and most requested application forms be e-mailed out the following day. Waited for them to leave and gave the agent the nod, she called the owner from her car on the way home and then called me to say it was secured for me subject to checks coming back satisfactorily.
I viewed on Monday and picked the keys up Friday morning.
Not sure if the above is useful to you now, but it may be in future. Best of luck!
Note: excuse rubbish speeeling and grimmer. It's late and I cba
I spoke to the letting agent the day at 9AM. Asked them to email me all the application forms and then completed them and delivered them by hand to the agency that avo. I explained my standpoint and that should the viewings match the description, I was ready to move on it immediately. This gave me the chance to build a relationship with the agency manager prior to the block booked viewings and meant I wasn't another joe bloggs.
Went to the viewing that pm and felt slightly awkward as most others there also wanted it, and most requested application forms be e-mailed out the following day. Waited for them to leave and gave the agent the nod, she called the owner from her car on the way home and then called me to say it was secured for me subject to checks coming back satisfactorily.
I viewed on Monday and picked the keys up Friday morning.
Not sure if the above is useful to you now, but it may be in future. Best of luck!
Note: excuse rubbish speeeling and grimmer. It's late and I cba
Hi CTO
I tried that. I called 3 hours after the sign went up as the friend living over the road messaged me saying it had gone up (carpets were not even down).
I was told I could not view it before the open day and that any application would be accepted and placed in the pile with all the others on the Close date (Friday)
I tried that. I called 3 hours after the sign went up as the friend living over the road messaged me saying it had gone up (carpets were not even down).
I was told I could not view it before the open day and that any application would be accepted and placed in the pile with all the others on the Close date (Friday)
eltax91 said:
Interesting. I’m totally green here, but what vested interest would the agent have here?
From our point of you, we would prefer a 6 month contract and then roll on after that, but if we had to we could commit to 12 months as we think the build will take us to month 10 anyway.
How you pay your rent, determines how long the roll over, Periodic Tenancy last,, pay so if you pay your rent every month, the Periodic Tenancy period is for a month, pay rent six monthly, then the Periodic Tenancy must/is for six months. Not many LLs, Agents know about this, and can givea tenant an extra security in tenancy.From our point of you, we would prefer a 6 month contract and then roll on after that, but if we had to we could commit to 12 months as we think the build will take us to month 10 anyway.
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