Rental market, stupidly competitive

shifty_uk · 19 Jan 2014 at 16:57

For the past 2 months we've been desperately looking to rent a new property, not asking for anything extraordinary just a city centre(or close by) based flat with 1-2 bedrooms that's nice and matching of the price but it's proving impossible.

Really losing the will to live with it, anything that comes onto the market is snapped up within a day. Sick of doing group viewings or constantly booking slots only to get a phone call later in the day saying a deposit has already been placed. It seems unless you phone the minute a place has come onto the market, drop your work to view immediately and place a deposit there and then, you just wont get anywhere.

Anyone else finding it incredibly difficult?

Efour · 19 Jan 2014 at 16:59

its all the unemployed and single mum eastern european muslims

Nitefly · 19 Jan 2014 at 17:08

You may just have to be more flexible. To large extents, a home is what you make of it.

randal · 19 Jan 2014 at 17:12

You should try buying a house at the moment if you think renting is a challenge.

Hades · 19 Jan 2014 at 17:14

Is the issue that you need to up your budget or that other people on the same budget are getting the property first? I've no idea whether this will work but if I were in a similar position I'd go to a couple of local letting agents and offer them a finders fee for getting you to see it first (and on condition you take it). Also be prepared to drop everything and view it within a few hours.

While one view on this is that you shouldn't need to pay this "bribe" (and I agree), the other view is that you are employing an expert in the area to source a property for you.

Pawnless Endgame · 19 Jan 2014 at 17:33

Have you tried the local rag? That was where I had success. I find that agency-let houses and bedsits go too quickly, and like you said, they tend to do it by group viewings. Too much like a job interview.

AndrewNR · 19 Jan 2014 at 17:53

Nitefly said:
You may just have to be more flexible. To large extents, a home is what you make of it.

I'm tempted to rent my garage out as a 3-bedroom bungalow based on this.

xGBHxPegasus · 19 Jan 2014 at 19:52

Must be dependant on where you live I guess.

My new place I'm moving into in 2 week was on the market for 2 or so week (although not through a traditional estate agents), saw it on a Friday and offered on the Saturday afternoon.

Best bit about it was that I only had to pay for the referencing! no agent fee's

Ace Modder · 19 Jan 2014 at 19:56

The house next door to me has been on the rent market since October. Still empty, mind you, its up for £200 a month more than I'm paying for my rent.

It's the same 4 bed layout as mine though, and similiar sort to decor quality. So I'm not sure where the £200 extra a month comes from.

Judgeneo · 19 Jan 2014 at 20:01

When I was looking for this place recently, all of the agents were trying to get me into properties £200 per month more expensive. Its already 1/3rd of my salary....

randal · 19 Jan 2014 at 20:23

Ace Modder said:
So I'm not sure where the £200 extra a month comes from.

Agents telling vendors the market is mental most likely.

Jono8 · 19 Jan 2014 at 20:34

randal said:
You should try buying a house at the moment if you think renting is a challenge.

Dem feels

Energize · 19 Jan 2014 at 21:02

It's the effects of overpopulation caused partly by immigration.

QlimaxUK · 19 Jan 2014 at 21:10

overcrowded homes everywhere is the future, the whole own your own home idea is gone now for many

airwave99 · 19 Jan 2014 at 21:22

shifty_uk said:
Anyone else finding it incredibly difficult?

If it's Glasgow that you're looking at, location has a big impact on how quickly flats go. The west end in particular is very popular and flats in walking distance of the university and the subway will go very quickly.

Theophany · 19 Jan 2014 at 21:23

Efour said:
its all the unemployed and single mum eastern european muslims

You forgot the Jews.

BigglesPiP · 19 Jan 2014 at 21:29

Housing shortage, y0.

shifty_uk · 19 Jan 2014 at 21:36

airwave99 said:
If it's Glasgow that you're looking at, location has a big impact on how quickly flats go. The west end in particular is very popular and flats in walking distance of the university and the subway will go very quickly.

Not looked at the West End at all for the reason you mentioned and secondly not liking it. Initially we wanted somewhere in the merchant city and were willing to pay the price for it but it's been impossible so we quickly branched out to the east end, south side and the surrounding towns on the train lines. Still no luck.

QlimaxUK said:
overcrowded homes everywhere is the future, the whole own your own home idea is gone now for many

We plan on moving country within the next 12 months so a short term let close to my work is the plan at the moment but you're right, that seems to be the case. All the letting agents have said exactly the same thing.

xGBHxPegasus said:
Must be dependant on where you live I guess.

My new place I'm moving into in 2 week was on the market for 2 or so week (although not through a traditional estate agents), saw it on a Friday and offered on the Saturday afternoon.

Best bit about it was that I only had to pay for the referencing! no agent fee's

Hmmm, lucky! Was it a town, city?

Theophany · 19 Jan 2014 at 21:38

airwave99 said:
If it's Glasgow that you're looking at, location has a big impact on how quickly flats go. The west end in particular is very popular and flats in walking distance of the university and the subway will go very quickly.

I'm guessing they're not issues when one is looking at renting a property in the Gorbals?

airwave99 · 19 Jan 2014 at 21:43

Theophany said:
I'm guessing they're not issues when one is looking at renting a property in the Gorbals?

The Gorbals is a strange place these days. A mixture of wasteland, run-down flats, and shiny new fancy ones. The shiny new fancy ones seem a bit overpriced, but do seem to stay on the market longer.