The rush to rent is on…
With demand outstripping supply month on month, competition is now fierce if you want to secure your dream home.
According to rightmove
“The imbalance between high tenant demand and low rental stock is supporting asking rent rises and has led to competition between tenants for the rental properties available nearly doubling (+94%) compared to the same period last year.
Total rental demand is up by 32% compared to this time last year, while the number of available rental properties is 51% lower. This has led to available rental properties being snapped up by tenants in just over two weeks (17 days) on average.”
At Dourish and Day our local letting experts are seeing houses being snapped up as quickly as 24 hours after going live to market. Therefore, we’ve put together a handy guide to help you get the home you love as quickly as possible.
Tenant tips – How to secure a rental home in a busy market
- Use property search engines Instant Alerts to get instant, daily or weekly email updates about new available rental properties that have come to market.
- Register with the local agents in person, if possible. Make yourself known, explain your circumstances, introduce your children or your pets if you have them. If you make yourself memorable (in the best possible way) they may contact you before a house even comes to the market.
- Be flexible! Book a viewing as soon as possible when a property you’d like to rent becomes available, giving you the best chance of seeing it first. Contact the agent within 24 hours of the property going live in order to avoid the dreaded ‘waiting list’ scenario.
- Request a video tour if you cannot be personally available at the allocated viewing times. Often landlords will accompany viewings themselves during the week when you may be at work. If you cannot view until 2 weeks on Saturday it is likely the house will have gone.
- Demonstrate to the landlord or letting agent that you will be a good tenant for the home, such as making sure to be on time for a viewing. Landlords understand the value of a good tenant, and want someone who can be reliable and will treat the home well.
- Ask questions about the property, the landlord, the agents so you have all available information. You may need to make a quick decision to say ‘yes’ so try and find out everything you can as soon as you can.
- Be prepared, and make sure to have all documents and details ready in advance so that you can move quickly. These include things like your passport, utility bill or bank statement, details of who to contact for employment and landlord references etc.
- Have your finances in order for the initial monies due, and where possible, be flexible with things like move in date to make your offer even more appealing.
