Renting a place

[timbo343]

Ive just been to look at a house with my partner which we could consider renting, however ive got mixed feelings about the place.

 

Its a 5 year old semi with 2 bedrooms, en suite, built in wardrobes, downstairs toilet, parking for 2 cars, alarm, garden etc.

 

Now, they are asking £650 rent per month and 6 weeks rent as deposit however its fully furnished. The council tax bracket for this house is a C.

 

Does this seem expensive to people?

[jamesreedersmith]

Depends where in the country - lincolnshire - expensive, central london - cheap!

[witch]

You need to ask people who live in your area.

That's pretty cheap for down here

A two-bed flat is about £750-800

[timbo343]

Its in the garforth - leeds - West yorkshire area and the energy ratings on the property are B and the potential are a B.

[featured_spectre]

Not that bad for the area judging by online sites...

[DavidLong]

I would think that is reasonable for leeds at the min. The NHS is moving a lot of its central management structure and staff to leeds at present so there is high demand for property.

[Jamman960]

Sounds like a good place, should be fairly cheap on bills with that energy rating and not in a bad tax band either. I'd expect to pay a bit of a premium for that sort of place.

 

I've never been too keen on fully furnished properties, partly because we've always had pretty much everything we need but also because there's more of the landlords stuff(probaby not brilliant quality either) around to break & have to pay for when you leave

[bushby]

for the place i live at with my parents we had to put 2 months down for deposit, and per month it is £650 and its a 2 bed home (i live in a logcabin in the garden as my sis has the other bedroom dispite being at uni) and its on a farm, we got it as unfernished

[zag]

Nice! that kind of place would cost £1,000pm down here. Count yourself lucky!

[LosOjos]

It's not that bad... I rent a 2 bed, unfurnished bungalow - costs me £550 pcm.

 

As others have said though, it all depends on the area.

 

Also, don't be afraid to ask the agent if they can negotiate a slightly lower price, say £600 pcm. I did that at my previous property (a 3 bed, 2 story maisonette in the city centre) and got the rent down from £750 pcm to £650 pcm just by agreeing to move in within one month and sign a 12 month contract. They usually have some room to negotiate.

[Love_Sausage]

Seems reasonable for fully furnished with ensuite etc. I don't think you're getting ripped off.

[timbo343]

Thanks everyone. I never thought about asking for a lower price but the person showing us around was like a wet lettuce anyway to the point where i had to introduce us, they were very arrogant and was told the owner didnt live in the country. IF i wanted to use my own stuff we would have to put the original items in the house into storage which i guess is more costs per month. Also, i guess if things break we have to replace them which is dead money. however if things were ours we could replace them and keep them. I guess there are 2 sides to everything. Looking at it from a 12 month contract, i guess moving into an unfurnished at £550 a month instead of £650 we would possibly be saving 100 a month which over a year is £1200 which can buy all sorts.

[Michael]

If you still have doubts, visit Rightmove and enter the first part of the post code. This'll give you a good idea of prices in the local area.

[LosOjos]

@timbo343 alarm bells would be ringing for me; arrogant "wet lettuce" agent and landlord who lives abroad? I lived in a property like that. It was nigh on impossible to get any repairs done because the agent wouldn't arrange anything without the landlord's consent and they could never contact the landlord when you wanted them to. I ended up doing a lot of repairs myself out of my own pocket. You have to go with your gut on these things. You could try sounding the agent out about whether they are happy to make decisions on the landlord's behalf and how much contact they have, but obviously they're not going to want to put you off the property. Go with what your gut tells you

[cobra427col]

A mate of mine rented a place in Garforth (past the train station and near the school) and that had a garage but think it was 3 bed.. Anyway he was paying about the same as the one you asked about.

[zag]

The rent can usually be negotiated down by at least 10%. I would never pay what they ask.

 

Every month they have it empty is worth 10% to them.

[CHR1S]

 

Does this seem expensive to people?

 

That would be cheap to normal for Birmingham, considering its a band C property and fully furnished.

Use Righmove or Zoopla to search the area and see what others are like for the same money.

[timbo343]

Just been to see a flat.. £525 per month. To start off with, for that price i would get washer, fridge freezer, table and chairs, sofa and chair, coffee table, 2 bedrooms, located on the second floor (top) bath/shower (seperate), builtin wardrobes, electric hob and cooker. The only thing is this place has storage heaters. I was wondering how much it would cost to run the storage heaters as there is no gas to this place and it is situated next to the railway lines.

[Flatpackhamster]

Just been to see a flat.. £525 per month. To start off with, for that price i would get washer, fridge freezer, table and chairs, sofa and chair, coffee table, 2 bedrooms, located on the second floor (top) bath/shower (seperate), builtin wardrobes, electric hob and cooker. The only thing is this place has storage heaters. I was wondering how much it would cost to run the storage heaters as there is no gas to this place and it is situated next to the railway lines.

 

Storage heaters are a crock. Electricity is only going to get more expensive as the Renewables Directive and the shutdown of our coal-fired power stations begins to bite. The flat seems to be all-electric, which means you might see a doubling of your bill over a 10-year period. GFCH really is the only way to travel. With storage heaters you'll be cold all winter, and you living in the Northlands, I don't reckon the winters end until about June.

Also, by the railway lines? Mmmm. I would avoid if you can. I suppose it depends on your budget. How much does the £650 a month stretch you? I think that the house is a better option because it'll be quieter and more private but it depends on your funds.

A couple of thoughts about renting a house (which I did for nearly 8 years while saving to buy):

What does the contract say about maintenance? Is there a specified contractor for work? Get to know your letting agent. Take a look online at other houses which have been let through that agent, and go round to the houses and take a look at the outsides. Are the gutters in good order, the window sills painted and clean, the lawns mown, the brickwork in good condition? If this is the case, then the agent probably keeps the landlord on their toes with regard to maintenance.

Check your contract to ensure that there are response times (SLA's basically) for fixing of stuff like electrical, gas problems. Our landlord had a British Gas 3* contract. See if the landlord will include something like that in the contract because that means you are independent of them for major faults which could leave you without hot water or power.

Never accept a verbal agreement. Written down and witnessed is the only way to go.

It isn't always good to have a fully-furnished place. The landlord will have bought the cheapest stuff they can find and they'll charge you over the odds to replace it.

 

IMO, anyway.

[timbo343]

Well i guess i have biten the bullet and decided to rent a 125 year old house, made of stone which has had a complete refurb to to. Im talking, new electrics, new carpets throughout, new UPVC windows, new electric fire with new mantal piece, new kitchen with new electric hob, oven and extractor fan, new combi boiler, new bathroom with wetroom tiles, new power shower (hope thats not going to be expensive to run), mew loft ladder, loft to be boarded out with i think if we meed to, loft insulation. They are providing curtains and freezer and a drivr to be completed for 2 cars. All this for 450 a month.

[laserblazer]

What's the neighbourhood like? Are you likely to find cars parked in your spaces. Does nextdoor have teenage kids with drumkits? Is it on the main route from town to the estates?

[timbo343]

The neighbourhood seems fine and quiet, its not too far from where im living now. The parking is to the rear of the house within the grounds of the house, its a patio leading down slightly to a drive way. The neighbours, to the left (if you are looking at the house) is an elderdly couple and to the right is a quite family with a couple of young kids. The route is on a quite road leading through the village with the occassional bus passing.

[pcstru]

Sounds like a bargain! A power shower shouldn't be at all bad to run - well, unless you like to spend half an hour (plus) in there.

[laserblazer]

made of stone

 

Good thinking. That third pig got it right.

[Mullaney18]

Something for you too look at:

Similar:

2 bedroom semi detached house to rent in Hazel Mews, Garforth, Leeds LS25 - 19103151 - Zoopla (Garforth)

2 bedroom house to rent in Woodview Close, Horsforth LS18 - 28186320 - Zoopla (Horseforth)

 

Cheaper:

2 bedroom property to rent in Belle Vue Avenue, Oakwood, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS8 - 27976240 - Zoopla (Oakwood, I likey!)

3 bedroom property to rent in Wellstone Rise, Bramley, Leeds LS13 - 27746235 - Zoopla (but Bramley, though not bad)

 

And what you can get in Bradford...:

4 bedroom property to rent in Rawson Street, Low Moor, Bradford BD12 - 26865242 - Zoopla (About same price per month)

3 bedroom semi detached house to rent in Moorville Drive, Birkenshaw, Bradford BD11 - 28272714 - Zoopla (Cheaper nice price. check street view for area)

 

Just for perspective

Edited March 26, 2013 by Mullaney18