Rent Now being forced on landlords against their will

[tatemono]

@mod_harry

It is entirely possible to make use of OpenRent without using Rent Now, as many do.

and if a LL such as @Mr_A_H chooses not to use it, does Rent Now appear anywhere on the property listing?

[mod_harry]

As I mentioned in my last comment, we will always include the Rent Now option on every listing page.

If a landlord decides not to use Rent Now, they can instruct their applicant to place a holding deposit or make an application using other means.

[Colin3]

If a tenant is desperate for a place they will just push that button , no matter what your instructions say to the fact. These are chancers, hoping it will get them thru. This just annoys the above landlords That is the problem. Landlords will not like that

[mod_harry]

If that does happen then landlords are completely able to reject the application and recoup any holding deposits themselves.

[tatemono]

Yeah, @Colin3 is spot on. You say we are free to “decide not to use Rent Now” but you still force any LL to have that on their listing which obviously contradicts any desire that the LL might have not to use it.

Your “solution” of completely rejecting an application someone has made in good faith but has been mislead into doing via the wrong method fails to “make renting fairer” because it doesn’t make for a level playing field. Secondly, it doesn’t make it “cheaper for everyone” because it directs applicants into placing holding deposits that the LL doesn’t want them to make. Sure, the holding deposit comes off the main deposit so they’re not out of pocket. But the hassle and inconvenience for LLs who don’t want applicants to use this method has been made very clear in this thread (if not elsewhere previously). It thus costs time and effort to sort out when it goes wrong.

The problem with your suggestion that the LL can “instruct their applicant to place a holding deposit or make an application using other means” is that the placement of a holding deposit likely takes place before any communication has been established between the LL and the applicant.

@mod_harry

Rent Now is the number one way we can keep tenants safe as they move into a new home. It allows us to have complete oversight of funds and treat them in accordance with relevant legislation.

Granted. Not all LLs can be trusted. But if you really want to ensure your mission was accomplished, then why isn’t Rent Now the only method by which tenancies can be created on OR?

[Colin3]

Not all tenants can be trusted either…. IF I were to use Openrent I would put words in the advert such as.. “ if you place a holding deposit WITHOUT my consent ,it will be rejected and I will NOT consider you for this property”

[Tim_Ira]

I did just that. It doesn’t help. Not all TT read the ad. They just look at the pictures, LOL

[Colin3]

Then point it out and reject them

[Colin3]

I want to be in control of everything about my properties .So I place with an agent ,they cut them down to my requirements . I interview all. . Take a few days to think about it. Say to agent “ take this one” Bliss. Costs a bit more . Set against tax. Had great results

[Karl11]

@Colin3

I want to be in control of everything about my properties .So I place with an agent

Me too, so I DON’T place with an agent

[Colin3]

what ever floats your boat . I have a great agent , for listing only. Works for me

[tatemono]

@Karl11

Me too, so I DON’T place with an agent

Karl… any decent LL knows that you manage the agent when you appoint them. You’re still in control. Colin’s just using them to do the donkey work.

[Karen21]

You get the option to reject the deposit . As far as I’m aware this has always been the case . You do not have to accept their application it’s simply a holding deposit to show they are serious and is fully refundable . Now whether that contravenes any laws I don’t know .. I’d be surprised if it did as open rent do seem pretty sharp on landlord regs .

[Tristram]

A sign of the times that are now seemingly unaviodable .

But are they?

The real disgrace is that the Government wishes to now introduce new legislation on 01.05.2026.

Most sadly, it will not be introduced in Law as is, as it, will become legally / immediately disputable unless the Government wish to fill the void in the Private Rental Sector which they are not ever able to provide and to make up the difference, and replace. !!!

All surrounding recommendations are determined as undermined, undermining threats, accusations and unqualified, mis -resprentations and rumours , only.

Tristram

[Karl11]

@Tristram

Most sadly, it will not be introduced in Law as is, as it, will become legally / immediately disputable unless the Government wish to fill the void in the Private Rental Sector which they are not ever able to provide and to make up the difference, and replace. !!!

All surrounding recommendations are determined as undermined, undermining threats, accusations and unqualified, mis -resprentations and rumours , only.

Pardon? (20 Charactors)

[mod_harry]

In line with the original post, you can find our founder’s comments on this matter here:

Unwanted Holding Deposits

Thanks for the feedback all - really appreciated. Furthermore, the message you have to send to tenants when returning their holding deposit has a hard-coded first line which reads like you’re rejecting their whole application. You then have spend half the rest of your message explaining this. Yep - this was built with our most common use case in mind, where a landlord is rejecting an application outright. Where a landlord doesn’t wish to use Rent Now and wants to explain this to tenants, or …

Thanks all for your contribution and feedback.