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The trials of renting


I must say I never cease to be amused. The property rental agency are now demanding two years of accounts.

I offered to pay the lease period up front in cash, but that's not good enough. It seems if you have a "full-time" (meaning, you could get fired next month anyway) job, then you can be riddled with debt, and it's all fine. If you're self employed, with savings, no debts, and the ability to pay a year's rent up front.. well, no, you're some sort of major "risk".

"We're only looking out for the landlords," they say. Cobblers. Perhaps I should go get a full time job at McDonald's for a couple of weeks while we sort out the paperwork? I'm going to give them a piece of my mind when I go in there next.




September 28, 2005 | Posted by peter | Comments (5)
Comments

It's astounding how little use some letting agents are, especially when you consider how much money they charge.

One letting agent I rented from a long time ago tried to get me to sign an underwriting contract, making my mother legally liable if I couldn't pay my rent. I told him it was never, ever going to happen, and he backed right down. You'd be amazed at how flexible they get when they feel the money going cold... ;-)

Posted by: Kris at September 28, 2005 02:51 PM

Or you could tell them that you've created a revolutionary syndication business at which venture capitalists either have jumped or will be jumping, a business which is capturing the attention of people worldwide and which, in certain circles, is making Peter Cooper a household name. Or you could even ask your users to volunteer a £50 pound guarantee to the agents in the event of something going wrong with your lease. I'm sure many users would come forward. Probably would be difficult to make legally binding but more important, I suspect, would be the show of strength. Good luck!

Posted by: richard at September 29, 2005 07:50 AM

I forgot to add that I'd back you up!

Posted by: richard at September 29, 2005 07:51 AM

Thanks for the encouraging comments :)

I think they're just getting a bit.. how can I put it.. "confused". I'll be rectifying the problem in communications by giving them a visit pretty soon ;-) I could understand all this for a mortgage application, but the rent on this place is tiny!

Posted by: Peter Cooper at September 29, 2005 08:22 AM

I have vague and similar recollections of my first London flatting experience. Not a pretty process at the best of times.

Posted by: richard at September 29, 2005 03:13 PM

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