I’ve used OpenRent for a few years and it’s always worked well. My flat is a one-bed flat in east London so it’s normally easy to find a few people who are interested as it’s a popular area.
This year I put it up a few weeks ago and because I wasn’t around I had the tenants let in people who wanted to view it. I got quite a few requests for viewings and people went around to see it but no-one said yes. When I went down to the flat I saw that the neighbour had left a mess in the hallway so I think that put people off. For years it’s gone quickly when I’ve put it on OpenRent but not this time.
So I got the neighbour to tidy the corridor and then I read that if the ad has been on OpenRent for more than a week it drops down the listings. So I wanted to remove the ad and pay to put a new one up. I did this and the only way I saw to do that was to say in OpenRent that the flat had been rented and then pay to put a new ad up. So I did that and it didn’t get many requests at all - and the first ad had. I’ve done that again now 2 days ago and it’s the same - I’ve only had 1 request!
It’s gone from being popular and easy to rent to not working. And the fee and flat are both fine.
Price may be too high - compare with others similar in same area
Not sure but I’d try using a different set of photos a different wording/description and a slightly different price in a new ad or amend text/photos and drop slightly in existing ad. Use the next postcode along not the actual when entering as a new listing. So looks different -People seeing same as before maybe assume it’s a duplicate that’s not been taken down or don’t see at all
Existing tenants might not be best people to sell how good it is for you
Firstly, I sympathise with your situation, but you need to face reality… either you CAN self-manage, or you CAN’T & need an agent. Getting your tenant to do the viewings was a mistake.
Secondly, this is not OR fault. If the property is on RM is not renting IT IS at the wrong price. Simples. This is how supply & demand work. At the right price it will rent, or you have to be patient & await interest.
I rented a room in my HMO @ £595 two months ago, but my latest ‘identical’ room is not getting interest, so I may need to adjust price to suit ‘Todays Market’.
Thanks for your advice. I’m really sorry but I didn’t realise at first that this is a public discussion group, thought it was just messaging OpenRent, so I really wouldn’t have said that stuff publicly or written in that tone of voice otherwise. I just deleted my comment, but don’t seem able to delete the post.
You can’t delete entire threads unless you have the right forum status to do so. However, I wouldn’t encourage you to do that as this is a useful thread not just for you (I hope) but also for others who might face similar issues. It’s worth leaving up IMO.
The rental market is very slow in East London. I have discussed with other friends/landlords said same. A few times people had appointments but did not turn up. In so cases people are just looking but not actually wanted to rent so o just don’t understand why they are wasting landlords time as well as theirs.
The rental and sales both markets are not good at the moment.