UK Landlord Forum / Life

Hello, I'm a new landlord (based in Wales) and have had my first enquiry for a viewing come in on OpenRent today (woo!). Maybe I'm reading too much into it but by gut instinct feels a bit... off about it and I'd really appreciate the thoughts of more experienced landlords! It reads the following:

"I would like to rent this property for my Mum and Dad. My dad is late 60s and my mum late 50s. xxxxxxx is their favourite place and they go down there as often as they can. My Dad loves surfing and is nearing his retirement and I want him to be able to enjoy as much time as possible In xxxxxx and having a property down there would make that possible.
I can pay several months upfront if it means I can secure the property for them quickly. It's both their birthdays and anniversary soon so I want to surprise them for that!
Please email me as that's the best way to reach me. If you send me your number I can give you a call at a time that suits both of us
Many thanks,
xxxxxx

The combination of 1. Him paying the rent on his parent's behalf, 2. The offer for money upfront and 3. Attempting to apply time pressure has made me feel unsure about it. I'm still deciding whether to send him an application form for more information or just reject outright for peace of mind. I'd be interested in others' impressions as I'm not sure if I'm reading too much into it!

Also if I were to set up such an arrangement I was thinking the best way might be to have all 3 of them as named contract holders on the occupation contract, and then have him provide a guarantor. And I guess he'd just not actually live there. Does that work?

Cheers

It could be a rich, devoted son wanting to do something amazing for his parents... but I'd be wary too.

Firstly, I would ignore the implied time pressure. It they really want it (and surely the parents would need to see the property first) then it won't matter if the transaction is concluded a little after their birthdays/anniversary.

I'm an ex-landlord now but when I used OpenRent platform I always set it to automatically send out the following response when a prospective tenant makes an enquiry:

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Thank you for your enquiry.

The next steps are:

1. I will arrange a phone call with you to get to know you better and give you the chance to ask questions about the flat. Please send me your phone number if it isn't already in your OpenRent profile.

2. If the call goes well, I will send a Prospective Tenant Information Form for you to complete.

3. I will arrange viewings for people who return a satisfactory Information Form.

4. I will obtain References and conduct Credit Checks prior to renting the property.

Many thanks
--------------


You set the auto-response message in Edit Profile | Advanced Settings | Tenant Pre-Screening Preferences.
Set Default Screening to Off and put the above message in the Tenant Auto-Reply box.



The message clearly sets out my process and expectations.

Time wasters are quickly weeded out in their response to this message, or in the phone call I arrange with them. Only a few good candidates get the Prospective Tenant Information Form. Only if this is satisfactory, do they get a viewing.

It has worked well for me.

During the phone call, I take plenty of notes and then compare them with what people write on the Prospective Tenant Information Form (Step 2).

I had one potential tenant who had forgotten the lie they had told me on the phone. Their story didn't match what they wrote on the Form. They didn't get a viewing.



I would advise that you use the OpenRent messaging system (not via his email) to manually send him the above message. Treat him just like any other prospective tenant. Don't be rushed. If he is genuine, he will stick around. If he is bad and gets scared off, then you will dodged a bullet. Rental demand is high and you will find someone else.


You'll find an outline of my Prospective Tenant Information Form in this reply to someone asking for it a year ago:
https://www.landlordforumproject.co.uk/landlord-advice-help/using-a-tenant's-credit-report-to-weed-out-time-wasters-etc/msg34379/#msg34379

A PDF copy of my form is attached to that post.


Do let us know what happens please.

Thank you for the advice, I really appreciate it! I like the idea of both phoning and sending an application form and cross-referencing them. I'll do as you say and set up a call.

Thanks again

No,for me there is far too much story here.It just sounds like something calculated to make you think "Ah,how sweet". I would tell him that as his parents were going to be the tenants they would have to do the application and pass all the required tests,see what the response is.It was a heartwarming story, talented young budding concert pianist,doting and watchful Dad wanting her to live somewhere "safe" that led to me being landing with a conman wanted by several police forces. I know I am bitter and twisted,but it would be a resounding No from me.

This is your first enquiry.

You don't give any clues as to how long the property has been on the market... is it 6 minutes or 6 weeks?

The answer to that changes the equation.

If the property is in good order and is being offered at a fair price and is listed recently, then surely more enquiries will come in and you don't need to get all giddy about the first one do unnatural things you may not be comfortable with. Don't think no-one wants to rent your property (unless there is evidence that is actually the case)... there are people crying out for reasonably priced homes.

Thanks both. I'm not super comfortable with all that lovely backstory either! He responded to the message suggested by Handyman without sharing his phone number again. Looks like he wants my number instead, which is an additional thing that's off. Advert only went up last week so I'll wait for more enquiries I think...

Quote from: heavykarma on July 21, 2023, 08:24:47 AM
No,for me there is far too much story here.It just sounds like something calculated to make you think "Ah,how sweet". I would tell him that as his parents were going to be the tenants they would have to do the application and pass all the required tests,see what the response is.It was a heartwarming story, talented young budding concert pianist,doting and watchful Dad wanting her to live somewhere "safe" that led to me being landing with a conman wanted by several police forces. I know I am bitter and twisted,but it would be a resounding No from me.

My thoughts agree with yours. In addition as I understand it, a person cannot enter into an AST on behalf of someone else. For a court to treat an AST as valid, the tenant MUST be living there.

Also, payment of all that rent in advance would be a red flag for me. It's as though they want minimum involvement by you for as long as possible while they set about (for example) 'selling' the place or sub-letting it. Or, more likely, they want to use the place as a cannabis farm for as long as possible without you turning up to collect the rent or check up on things. Paying multiple months of rent in advance to discourage a landlord from turning up is, I hear, the modus operandi of the dope farmers.

It would be a hard no from me.