Very disappointed with quality applications on openrent. People the estate agents would reject ciz affordability, ref etc. had to resort to high street agent to find candidate and pay their exorbitant rent , approx 6 weeks rent and that’s find tenant only. Openrent needs to position themselves as professional agent not catch all for unsuitable tenants or dodgy candidates. Have used openrent for 4 properties and candidates getting worse. Need better pre qualification upfront from Openrent before passed to landlords. Waste of energy
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It’s a self managing platform, the idea is you weed out the chaf, because you’re not paying an agent to do this for you!
If you want an agent to select your tenants, then pay an agent to select your Tenant.
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Are you using auto reply screening questions? Usually cuts out a few time wasters.
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Yep, I have a few flats. Just saying. Agents also not great. I’d say to
An agent, am
Lookin fir - single person, furnished fjst, no pets and agent say? Hey I have a great potential, a couple, want unfurnished and btw they have a dog and will pay £xx.
Can’t wait to be sell up when the market allows me to do so.
Yep, have cd a few who lied to get through screnjng
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Some tenants believe that self managing landlords do not do due diligence or fully consider affordability.
Make it clear on your advert that the tenant will need to meet affordability, that checks will be carried out, and that anyone with adverse credit will not be considered.
Next set the pre-screening questions to provide you with much more information before offering any viewing.
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Openrent or Rightmove, you are subject to the same applicants and i for one would rather choose the best tenant for me rather than a pesky agent who won’t care who they put in…and they’ll charge you the earth for the privilege! Not sure why you think an Agent will do a bettter job than you
Most are clueless and focused only on their% not your investment
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Agree totally. Dec quiet month and just had hip replaced so I couldn’t do any viewings. Hope this chap leaves after 12 months so can be released from agents claws of second year fees.
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I have used an agent and they have screened out quite a few unsuitables .but the final choice is with me . I always but always meet them and “ponder” for a weekend before choosing
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Hello
I have recently rented a lovely one bed furnished flat in devonshire place, Brighton. By sea front. High end flat. £1500 , previous years, £1700, £1650. I would not allow an animal as no outside space and solid wood walnut floor throughout so no way! Had pets before in London and damage and smell awful. Tenant list full deposit as just couldnit shift the dog smell.
Had little interest in brighton and of those quality rubbish. I nearly gave up and had 2 agencies quite but last minute I had a successful enquiry.
In London I just could not rent out a wonderful flat so reluctantly used an agency. Rent reduced from £1800 to £1550 then with fees and service charge of £300 a month ( I pay). And £600 mortgage I get about £250 a month!
Can’t wait to sell the lot as fed up of agents and fed up having tenants generally!
If you’re planning to sell, I’d suggest you do it quick before the RRA comes in.
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Yes I know but Market is dead for flats in gated developments where I live. Tried last year and no interest. Not matter of price. Too many on the market. So I am being very careful who I let to, as careful as anyone can be.
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Thats only going to get worse. 90% of landlords dont know just how bad the operating climate is going to get and when they realise, either the easy way or yhe hard way, there will be an even bigger flood of properties onto the market.
Hmm well im sure there’s a lack of awareness of the details for sure. But people have known about the end of s21 coming for a long time now. And tenants arent all going to start moving every two months just because they can. The most costly thing is the new EPC methodology and dates for that have been pushed back to 2030 and the cost cap reduced from 15k to 10k and an exemption added on wall insulation reflecting concerns on damp/mould. Plus the recent tax rises.
90% of LLs may well be unaware but 90% of LLs will carry on with good tenants and will not be affected by it being harder to evict people. The things carrying big fines are mostly things which a rogue LL could have been fined for before. The quality (or not) of tenants will be the same. The pressures driving rents up (not enough new builds etc) will be the same.
And lots of LLs will be grateful when mortgage rates continue to fall.
Many people will also see that the market is flat and choose to stick things out by renting a while longer rather than selling up at the same time as everyone else
The vast majority of of landlords are the so called accidental kind who know very little about tenancy law and mostly just hope for the best. The RRA is very long and detailed and they, and a lot of other landlords and agents are going to make mistakes and face large fines. Even if the Council let’s them off, I believe it will be a wake up call for many and we will see a steady flow of rental properties being sold off.
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Yes, agree, will be messy for a while. An opportunity for agents to charge more fees.
Also EPCs rating vary by assessor. I notice the comments about what we can do to increase ratings, from just putting in insulation in roof to other building activity. Maki g it sound simple. Most landlords I’d say are probably not so hands on and any changes would incur significant costs etc.
@David122 what do you think they are going to face big fines on? It might be a lot as in more than now but it should still be a tiny tiny percentage who get fined just like now
Most of the big fines are just increased amounts for things they would be fined for already.
People who havent paid any attention at all may wrongly try to automatically raise their rent by CPI or may try to get tenants to stay a full 12 months after fixed terms no longer apply, or will try to continue to take payment in advance. Some diy LLs will use old tenancy agreement templates or even try to serve a s21 after 1 may.
But most LLs will know there has been legislation and will rely on using new templates etc from OpenRent or from their letting agency, or when challenged by a tenant will seek advice. It will only ever come to the attention of Councils and be a potential fine if a LL is foolish enough to think they know best and dont check the latest legal position even when tenant queries.
Not saying there wont be a fair few who do make mistakes after new legislation changing stuff applies - but for the vast majority of good LLs who manage and maintain their properties well and have reasonable tenants, the Council is never involved
Hi Stuart, Like which kind of questions?? Hope is ok to ask Thank u
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Just general pre screening questions, in no particular order:
For example.
- Who will be living in the property. 2. Do any of the applicants have any adverse credit, CCJs/IVAs. 3. Can you provide a previous landlord reference. 4. Do you smoke. 5. Do you have any pets. 6. Are you employed/unemployed, 7. What is your income for affordability purposes. 8. Are you able to provide a Guarantor. 9. What is your preferred move in date. 10. Why are you leaving your current property.
Google ‘questions to ask tenants’ and you’ll.find lots of lists of good questions to ask
Comes up regularly on these fora too
Good luck
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