Negotiating rent + a couple of other questions.

wez130

wez130

wez130

Soldato
Joined
31 Jan 2004
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Matakana New Zealand
Hi, we are looking at a rental house for the next couple of years before commiting to buying a property, our budget is about 550/month for rent.

My question is, could we look at a house advertised at say £600 and offer £500 in hope of meeting half way at £550 or would that be seen as cheeky lol. Also, any tips in negotiating, i have a few ideas, like paying 6 months in advance, we would laso be long term tenants (2 years), also, i am quite handy at minor repairs and would be willing to do them myself should they be needed, i would also be willing to decorate at our cost and we both have a very good credit rating too which would be in our favour, and we both hold decent secure jobs.

Finally, apart from the likes of rightmove/ globrix, where else should we look for rental property?

Thanks, Wez
 
In most places now there is a lack of rental property so you kind of have to pay what the rate is and expect rises. If however you say a property that had been available for a long time then of course you could offer lower but at the moment that is unlikely. Landlords tend to not like tenants doing their own work but that would depend on your landlord.
 
My place was meant to be £550, which is what my next door neighbour is paying.

My girlfriend told them we wanted it at £500 and we can move in right away, they offered us £530 with a twelve month contract and we took it, moved in within a week.

Saves us £240 a year just by trying our luck!
 
sign up for a longer initial contract, 12 months or 18 if it was a 12 month to start. That's your biggest bargaining tool, paying up front I'm not sure about, I'd imagine it would work well but depends on the landlord. You do just need to be ballsy and up front about it though, say you're ready to take it right there and then for longer than the minimum term if you can have it for x amount.

As for other places to look, gumtree and the local papers, and simply drive around where you're looking. You've probably got more bargaining power with a landlord doing it himself than going through an agency.
 
Depends which part of the country you are in really, some places will be a buyers market and others not so much. You can certainly negotiate though.
 
wez130 said:
Hi, we are looking at a rental house for the next couple of years before commiting to buying a property, our budget is about 550/month for rent.

My question is, could we look at a house advertised at say £600 and offer £500 in hope of meeting half way at £550 or would that be seen as cheeky lol. Also, any tips in negotiating, i have a few ideas, like paying 6 months in advance, we would laso be long term tenants (2 years), also, i am quite handy at minor repairs and would be willing to do them myself should they be needed, i would also be willing to decorate at our cost and we both have a very good credit rating too which would be in our favour, and we both hold decent secure jobs.

Finally, apart from the likes of rightmove/ globrix, where else should we look for rental property?

Thanks, Wez
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Everylandlords dream tenant.
If you don't get some sort of reduction you are a fool.
Any house you view that is currently empty is a prime target for a big reduction.
 
The flat I'm in was advertised at £600, we offered £540 on a 12 month contract, they took it. It can't hurt too put in a cheeky offer.
 
I've always thought that the stated rent was inflated by the agent or landlord to allow for a negotiated discount while still covering their costs and making a return . Lots of people would just take it at that, but from what you've described you're in a good position so you should start bartering.

Personally, I'd say your greatest bargaining tool is the ability to pay 6 months upfront, but you should keep that in reserve and only use it should you be struggling to get them down. The money's better off in your pocket than theirs, but I'd certainly consider it something that is very likely to be able to bag you a discount.
 
I got down from 1300 to 1100 just by offering a 12 month contract over 6 months, shame I now want to move out after 3 months though.

Always try and cut out the estate agents, it seems rare to find one which is more interested in finding somewhere suitable for you than cramming you into anything asap.
 
Well, as luck would have it, a property has just gone on righmove within the last 2 hours, at what seems a bargain price (£500/month) i've phoned the agents up and am waiting for them to return my call with a viewing, i'm not even going to try negotiating that price, i believe i'm the firt to enquire and it will go quick as it's £50 / month less than anything close to it lol. It's a 3 bed semi dormer bungalow with detached garage, block paved front / side and landscaped front and back gardens, it's also in a nice quiet area,, it's like a dream lol. Just need to make sure we get it now haha.
 
wez130 said:
Well, as luck would have it, a property has just gone on righmove within the last 2 hours, at what seems a bargain price (£500/month) i've phoned the agents up and am waiting for them to return my call with a viewing, i'm not even going to try negotiating that price, i believe i'm the firt to enquire and it will go quick as it's £50 / month less than anything close to it lol. It's a 3 bed semi dormer bungalow with detached garage, block paved front / side and landscaped front and back gardens, it's also in a nice quiet area,, it's like a dream lol. Just need to make sure we get it now haha.
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I pay £530 for a 2 bed ground floor flat :(.
 
The bungalow im moving into at the end of the month was up for £650, i lowballed a £550 and we met @ 595, which I'm happy with!

Detached, 3 double bedrooms, completely refurbished throughout, landscaped gardens and views over the valley with no rear neighbours (backs onto a field of horses :)), driveway big enough for 3 cars and an attached garage on a nice culdesac surrounded by much more expensive homes...and takes pets! Couldn't have asked for more really.
 
I may ask for 475 / month just for the hell of it, but i'm even happy with 500. I just wish the agent would hury up and ring me back so i can go and view the damn house before anyone else :D
 
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