I did the "rent first" payment for the first week to boost my application but it was returned immediately and the chat was cancelled by the landlord! Has this come across as arrogant and ruined my chances?

Tenant Discussion
21

I didn’t press the + and went straight to the help centre where it doesn’t say about prior agreement with the LL.

It just says “The landlord has 96 hours to accept or reject the holding deposit - if they take no action, we automatically refund the holding deposit. The property’s advertising is not suspended until the landlord accepts the holding deposit.”. Which I think is also a little misleading and doesn’t help!

Maybe they could collate both sets of information.

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22

I agree completely. And I will raise this with OR

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23

Thank you so much for your help and advice! It’s greatly appreciated!

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24

It blocks off the account and shows the property as taken. Its a glitch that lies with Openrent, but highly inconvenient.

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25

I usually inform prospective tenants from doing that and eliminate those that do it from the shortlist

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26

Openrent still arnt listening, this issue has been going on for ages now. Another example of how flawed this “feature” is. Keen tenants getting rejected simply for following Openrents instructions….ridiculous. I for one have lost alot of faith in the platform having been a user for over 10 years.

Given the fact there are now multiple credible alternatives to OR that are gaining traction you would think they would stop peeing off so many of their users.

Next time round I’ll be trying Hello Neighbourhood instead I think. Properties listed even get to be a “featured property” on RightMove.

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27

I always treat it as a sign of desperation and return the deposit.

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28

I understand that but OR promotes it as a “show the LL you’re ready etc” and even encouraged me to “press the button”, again, the day after my deposit had been sent back.

People are desperate at the moment too, due to the current climate, so OR really should make it completely clear that LLs neither like nor appreciat it.

29

they think it is an important part of their marketing mix to potential tenants, they know LLs don’t like it, but they think it attracts tenants to the platform.

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30

I have now had a quite lengthy telephone discussion with someone from OR and explained to situation about the Rent Now issues. They gave promised me that this will be looked at seriously and that they will respond back to me when this has been done. For the present I think the best solution is to include the text I use (see my earlier posting above) or something similar to warn applicants not to use Rent Now until and unless they have been selected by us as the chosen applicant. At least then we feel justified in immediately instructing OR to return the holding deposit of anyone who ignores this. It has always worked well for us.

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31

You got thru on a telephone ??? How did you achieve that?

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32

I am surprised you did not get a phone number for the landlord to keep in touch regarding your viewing.

However, this is unfortunate and a distinct failing in OR’s system / procedures.

OR please take note, landlords do not like this and tenants are disadvantaged also, you are doing no one any favours, including yourselves. You and we would be far better served creating an option for the tenant to register their intent to proceed, with phone number for contact by the landlord to confirm acceptance or rejection, or a link to your application process for the landlord to attach the applicant.

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