Rental payment, six months in advance

[Popeyed]

I’m just in the process of assisting one of my children get set up in their first rental property. After agreeing the rental and paying a deposit, the landlord has now advised, via the agent, they want six or twelve months rent in advance. I’ve done a couple of rentals over the years, albeit some time ago, although I’ve never heard of this. Is this the ‘new normal’, or are they taking the pi……

[AndyTR]

If it's not in the tenancy agreement I'd be telling them to jog on to be honest, it's sharp practice and would have me concerned about how the landlord will deal with any issues if they've got several months rent in their pocket. Our daughter is renting and also did so for 5 years at Uni. Rent has always been 1 month in advance plus the usual deposit.

[croyde]

I was just thinking about this as I'm no longer working with no money coming in but luckily decent savings .. for now.

If I have to leave my current rental how would I get another without paying a year up front.

As I understand it, Labour are stopping the practice of paying months or a year up front too.

I did rent somewhere years ago where the landlord was not happy with my freelance status so I paid 11 months straight up.

Quite a few estate agents would turn their nose up at my meagre £45k a year wage, and I was only looking at stty one beds. (London)

Sorry, saw your post and have butted in with my own rant

Best of luck with it.

[FlyVintage]

Popeyed said:

I m just in the process of assisting one of my children get set up in their first rental property. After agreeing the rental and paying a deposit, the landlord has now advised, via the agent, they want six or twelve months rent in advance. I ve done a couple of rentals over the years, albeit some time ago, although I ve never heard of this. Is this the new normal , or are they taking the pi

This practice used to be common if credit checks did not come back as satisfactory. Of course, the other option in such circumstances was to seek a guarantor. As above, this may or may not apply here.

[Blue_star]

Labour are banning this or actually its enforced already. This is why not i. Tenancy agreement.

I would ask some difficult and awkward questions whether I plan to proceed or not. See what agency does

[outnumbered]

Popeyed said:

I m just in the process of assisting one of my children get set up in their first rental property. After agreeing the rental and paying a deposit, the landlord has now advised, via the agent, they want six or twelve months rent in advance. I ve done a couple of rentals over the years, albeit some time ago, although I ve never heard of this. Is this the new normal , or are they taking the pi

I don't know about "normal", but my daughter is currently renting with a friend. Her friend is a student with no income, and her parent is the guarantor.

The landlord wasn't happy with the combination of my daughter's current wages as an apprentice, plus the need for a guarantor, and they ended up paying 6 months in advance to secure the place. It's worked out OK for her, but it's obviously a problem if people can't raise that much cash, or if bad landlords then become unresponsive to maintenance issues due to lack of incentive to fix them.

[Countdown]

I wouldn't say it's "normal" but I have heard of it happening.

[okgo]

It isn’t that uncommon. Usually used as a negotiating tactic to get a better deal/used for people who don’t have references or normal employment etc.

[Sir Bagalot]

If your daughter has passed referencing (clean credit check and earns 30 x monthly rent) then I would advise agent if you cant pay rent monthly in advance then please refund my deposit with no deductions as you've moved the goalposts