The Politics of House Viewing

Ann Landers · 20-04-2014 3:17pm

The_Conductor wrote: »

Its quite hit and miss- and really depends on the landlord- from annecdotal evidence it would appear to be more common in areas where there might be a higher than normal student population- as a mechanism for rooting out students aspiring to rent a house and house share.

Its far from unusual though- and becoming more and more popular by the day.

I'd be very reluctant to show bank statements to some randomer property owner and reckon I'd be far from alone here.

No Pants · 20-04-2014 6:04pm

Every so often works asks me for a bank statement or a phone bill as part of my expenses. They get a heavily redacted copy, essentially a black sheet of paper with my name on top and maybe one line item. I would do the same here.

murphaph · 20-04-2014 8:12pm

Ann Landers wrote: »

I'd be very reluctant to show bank statements to some randomer property owner and reckon I'd be far from alone here.

But you'd expect a LL to hand over legal control of his 250k asset to some randomer tenant that he doesn't know either? I don't think tenants realise the huge position of trust they are being given when the tenancy commences.

Ann Landers · 20-04-2014 8:19pm

murphaph wrote: »

But you'd expect a LL to hand over legal control of his 250k asset to some randomer tenant that he doesn't know either? I don't think tenants realise the huge position of trust they are being given when the tenancy commences.

If a tenant falls into arrears on their rent, they can be evicted. As regards the state the property will be kept in, bank statements won't help you with this, landlord references are what you need there. Someone can have a well-paying job and be a total pig.

No Pants · 20-04-2014 8:58pm

murphaph wrote: »

But you'd expect a LL to hand over legal control of his 250k asset to some randomer tenant that he doesn't know either?

You left out the exchange of money bit.

murphaph · 20-04-2014 9:13pm

Ann Landers wrote: »

If a tenant falls into arrears on their rent, they can be evicted.

Spoken like somebody who's never had a tenant default and need evicting. I have (commercial property, residential is even slower for the LL as he has to deal with the inept PRTB first before he can go to court) and I can tell you that it is a long slow and extremely expensive process. My tenant decided he wasn't going to pay and as well as the 14 months lost rent I had a solicitor and barrister to pay. I won't say exactly how much that cost, but it was a very significant amount.

Ann Landers wrote: »

As regards the state the property will be kept in, bank statements won't help you with this, landlord references are what you need there. Someone can have a well-paying job and be a total pig.

A LL could and should use all means available to him to check out the person he is going to allow to become his tenant as once the tenancy commences, the power is almost all in the hands of the tenant. Checking that the prospective tenant has healthy finances is crucial and we have no credit scoring system in Ireland.

As for someone being a pig...well, so long as they are not damaging the property then it's their lifestyle choice to be untidy. So long as they pay the rent and tidy up before they leave, most LLs won't care.

murphaph · 20-04-2014 9:15pm

No Pants wrote: »

You left out the exchange of money bit.

Tenant can stop paying rent and it'll take a year+ to get him out. That lost rent and legal expense will never be recovered in most cases as tenant's usually have no assets which can be easily targeted.

No Pants · 20-04-2014 9:20pm

murphaph wrote: »

Tenant can stop paying rent and it'll take a year+ to get him out. That lost rent and legal expense will never be recovered in most cases as tenant's usually have no assets which can be easily targeted.

And what bit of paper can they or anyone else supply that'll guarantee that won't happen?

Zulu · 20-04-2014 9:23pm

No Pants wrote: »

And what bit of paper can they or anyone else supply that'll guarantee that won't happen?

None, but every little helps. At least if you know they aren't running a massive overdraft there's more chance they will at least be ABLE to pay you. Of course you can't guarantee they will

Ann Landers · 20-04-2014 9:35pm

murphaph wrote: »

Spoken like somebody who's never had a tenant default and need evicting. I have (commercial property, residential is even slower for the LL as he has to deal with the inept PRTB first before he can go to court) and I can tell you that it is a long slow and extremely expensive process. My tenant decided he wasn't going to pay and as well as the 14 months lost rent I had a solicitor and barrister to pay. I won't say exactly how much that cost, but it was a very significant amount.

A LL could and should use all means available to him to check out the person he is going to allow to become his tenant as once the tenancy commences, the power is almost all in the hands of the tenant. Checking that the prospective tenant has healthy finances is crucial and we have no credit scoring system in Ireland.

It's unfortunate that there is no credit scoring system here, but I still wouldn't be providing bank statements as I suspect a lot of people wouldn't. Nowhere in Dublin that I viewed in the past month before I found my new place asked for them. For people to start offering up that information, the system would need to go through some huge changes, the banking system also. The thought of showing my bank statements to an amateur landlord (of which there are many), makes me shudder.

What if the person who shows you their bank statements isn't your favourite of the bunch and your preferred tenants, based on other information, won't volunteer that information?

murphaph wrote: »

As for someone being a pig...well, so long as they are not damaging the property then it's their lifestyle choice to be untidy. So long as they pay the rent and tidy up before they leave, most LLs won't care.

Actually, someone being filthy can cause a lot of damage to a place! Dirt can build up to the stage that it is difficult to get off ie. if a bath hasn't been cleaned for years. And believe me, I viewed rentals where this has clearly been the case.

There is far amount of risk involved in renting out property, that's why it's the last thing I would ever invest in.

Larry Wildman · 20-04-2014 10:17pm

I have a rental property and I do pretty much everything that's been mentioned here:

- I don't accept rent allowance.

- I've no issue with a tenant claiming rent relief if he/she is still entitled to it.

- I don't allow pets.

- I allocate 15 minute slots and have a chat with the relevant individual(s) after that.

- I look for a landlord's reference and an employer's reference.

- I have a friend do a credit check on the prospective tenant.

- I have a friend do a criminal record check on the prospective tenant.

Surprise surprise I've never had a single issue. Diligence and caution pay off.

Ann Landers · 20-04-2014 10:22pm

Larry Wildman wrote: »

- I have a friend do a credit check on the prospective tenant.

- I have a friend do a criminal record check on the prospective tenant.

This sounds shady...

Larry Wildman · 20-04-2014 10:25pm

Ann Landers wrote: »

This sounds shady...

What's shady about it?

My mate in the bank doesn't give me specifics - He just says "Yep, no issues".

Same with my Garda mate - He just says "All good" or "Avoid".

No Pants · 20-04-2014 10:26pm

Larry Wildman wrote: »

What's shady about it?

My mate in the bank doesn't give me specifics - He just says "Yep, no issues".

Same with my Garda mate - He just says "All good" or "Avoid".

Do you really have to ask? Both are breaking the law.

Larry Wildman · 20-04-2014 11:06pm

No Pants wrote: »

Do you really have to ask? Both are breaking the law.

Which law(s) precisely?

Date Protection?!

Give me a break...this is done all the time by bank staff and Gardai for their own rental properties.

The Guards who we know even check out prospective neighbours for would be purchasers/tenants in our group of friends.

It's hardly corruption most foul!

Stheno · 20-04-2014 11:11pm

Larry Wildman wrote: »

Which law(s) precisely?

Date Protection?!

Give me a break...this is done all the time by bank staff and Gardai for their own rental properties.

The Guards who we know even check out prospective neighbours for would be purchasers/tenants in our group of friends.

It's hardly corruption most foul!

It is a breach of data protection, if found out your friends would face disciplinary proceedings

Larry Wildman · 20-04-2014 11:20pm

Stheno wrote: »

It is a breach of data protection, if found out your friends would face disciplinary proceedings

If I was renting a place, I would have no issue whatsoever with the landlord having a friend of his check my credit history or whether I've a criminal record.

Do you know why?

Because I've nothing to hide.

Ann Landers · 20-04-2014 11:21pm

Larry Wildman wrote: »

If I was renting a place, I would have no issue whatsoever with the landlord having a friend of his check my credit history or whether I've a criminal record.

Do you know why?

Because I've nothing to hide.

That's missing the point.

Larry Wildman · 20-04-2014 11:31pm

Ann Landers wrote: »

That's missing the point.

Not really...what misses the point is valuing pinko liberal pseudo "rights" above an individual's right not to have his/her property wrecked by a dodgy tenant.

Stheno · 20-04-2014 11:34pm

Larry Wildman wrote: »

Not really...what misses the point is valuing pinko liberal pseudo "rights" above an individual's right not to have his/her property wrecked by a dodgy tenant.

You and your friends are breaking the law!

The_Morrigan · 20-04-2014 11:34pm

Larry Wildman wrote: »

Not really...what misses the point is valuing pinko liberal pseudo "rights" above an individual's right not to have his/her property wrecked by a dodgy tenant.

Larry the charter here does not allow the encouragement of illegal acts. I'd suggest this conversation ends now.

/Mod.

Daithi_2014 · 21-04-2014 4:45am

Lots of landlords give troublesome tenants good references to make sure some other poor sod takes them off their hands.
But if called afterwards they will be able to tell the truth, when that person is no longer in their property, they have nothing to lose by telling the truth.

On Irish Landlord website they are now recommending getting references from a prospective tenants last 3 landlords. Then at least the previous 2 will be unhindered in what they have to say for definite.

If a person doesnt have 3 previous landlords though, they might find it very difficult now to rent when demand is high. Because they just arent showing enough check-able history.

The_Conductor · 21-04-2014 8:19am

Ann Landers wrote: »

If a tenant falls into arrears on their rent, they can be evicted. As regards the state the property will be kept in, bank statements won't help you with this, landlord references are what you need there. Someone can have a well-paying job and be a total pig.

I've been involved in an eviction in the last few weeks- the original tenants appear to have sublet the property (and those tenants similarly did so). It was a nightmare trying to serve eviction papers- as we had no idea who was in the property. Meanwhile- rent hadn't been paid (by the end- in 22 months), the gas mains had been cut off and the meter removed, as the tenants decided to do an unauthorised bypass of the gas, the rooms were painted with high gloss black paint, the locks had been changed to prevent inspection of the property- and the day after the PRTB finally decided that all the eviction duckies had been lined up neatly and determined in favour, the place had been deliberately flooded and abondoned.

Its cost a little under 13.5k to repair the damage (the unit had to be fully gutted and refurbished- absolutely everything had to be skipped)- and Bord Gais are looking for 6k before they'll put the gas meter back in- and contact details for the tenant who we don't have- as I understand they want to pursue them over their little bit of gas network tampering (which apparently extended to putting in a bypass at the mains outside the property- causing significant damage- and they were damn lucky they didn't kill anyone).

One neighbour has reported as a parting gift, the new exhaust system from his Mercedes commercial van has been expertly removed overnight- and apparently has CCTV footage of it happening, and has handed same to the Gardai, but been told not to expect anything to come from it. I've not seen the footage, nor been asked to view it- and most probably wouldn't be able to identify anyone even if I did.

This was in a nice, private, gated community- which has never experienced anything on this scale before.

Initial eviction notices had been served in 2012, because of lack of payment of rent- alongside antisocial behaviour (the tenants had lots of friends/buddies/relatives - most of them young men hanging around in groups- over drinking and smoking in the communal carpark, where they also held impromtu barbeques, both day and night- causing a lot of unease amongst particularly the elderly residents, but also parents with young children who felt intimidated by them.) The eviction papers were ignored (quelle suprise), and the PRTB process slowly churned its wheels. Towards the end of the process- it was noted that the current tenants- were not those on the papers- and had tenancy rights of their own (why- makes no sense to me)- and effectively the process was wound back almost to the beginning again.

Its only when you've actually had to deal with removing problem tenants- that you can appreciate the cost of time, effort and money- involved in removing them from your property. You have no idea what damage they may leave in their wake- and normally a best case scenario is no structural damage caused (I'm not joking).

The PRTB really are a joke.

No Pants · 21-04-2014 9:03am

Larry Wildman wrote: »

pinko liberal pseudo "rights"

Right...

Santa Cruz · 21-04-2014 9:40am

No Pants wrote: »

Do you really have to ask? Both are breaking the law.

If you suspected that a paedophile was moving in next door to you would you bother gettting a Garda to check or would you be more concerned about breaches of Data Protection?

No Pants · 21-04-2014 9:44am

Santa Cruz wrote: »

If you suspected that a paedophile was moving in next door to you would you bother gettting a Garda to check or would you be more concerned about breaches of Data Protection?

Why would I suspect that this new neighbour is a pedophile in the first place?

The_Morrigan · 21-04-2014 10:00am

Santa Cruz wrote: »

If you suspected that a paedophile was moving in next door to you would you bother gettting a Garda to check or would you be more concerned about breaches of Data Protection?

Santa Cruz I've already asked for the conversation to cease regarding getting your mates to do Garda and credit checks on the sly.
Cut it out.

/Mod

handlemaster · 21-04-2014 10:55am

TimeToShine wrote: »

I went for a house (as a student, granted) a few years ago and there was about 50 people there. The LL basically said to the room at large (mostly students) that "Sorry I won't be taking any of the students, professionals/families can stay so I can ask them a few questions". We stayed back pretending we were professionals, and there was about 10 others there, all with the deposit in hand willing to pay up. He pretty much brought us one by one into the kitchen for an interview of sorts, expecting references, proof of our profession etc.

Needless to say we didn't get it, and the house was snapped up by the next day. If you can bring references with you or make an effort to look "professional" then do it. It's very judgemental and pretty much discrimination but there's nothing we can do about it.

He dodged a bullet there could have had lying students in this house now !

murphaph · 21-04-2014 1:40pm

People shouldn't be accessing privileged databases like the PULSE (or whatever the Guards use these days) to perform private checks for mates. I understand the landlord here and that he's using what's in his arsenal but it isn't right that the national police force should be engaged in this (further damages what little confidence I've had in them for a long time now) BUT there is nothing against the law about checking someone's social media (and their friends) and running names through google to look for court appearances, judgments against them etc. It's all public domain and should be used....it is by prospective employers HR departments!

Ann Landers · 21-04-2014 2:24pm

The_Conductor wrote: »

I've been involved in an eviction in the last few weeks- the original tenants appear to have sublet the property (and those tenants similarly did so). It was a nightmare trying to serve eviction papers- as we had no idea who was in the property. Meanwhile- rent hadn't been paid (by the end- in 22 months), the gas mains had been cut off and the meter removed, as the tenants decided to do an unauthorised bypass of the gas, the rooms were painted with high gloss black paint, the locks had been changed to prevent inspection of the property- and the day after the PRTB finally decided that all the eviction duckies had been lined up neatly and determined in favour, the place had been deliberately flooded and abondoned.

Its cost a little under 13.5k to repair the damage (the unit had to be fully gutted and refurbished- absolutely everything had to be skipped)- and Bord Gais are looking for 6k before they'll put the gas meter back in- and contact details for the tenant who we don't have- as I understand they want to pursue them over their little bit of gas network tampering (which apparently extended to putting in a bypass at the mains outside the property- causing significant damage- and they were damn lucky they didn't kill anyone).

One neighbour has reported as a parting gift, the new exhaust system from his Mercedes commercial van has been expertly removed overnight- and apparently has CCTV footage of it happening, and has handed same to the Gardai, but been told not to expect anything to come from it. I've not seen the footage, nor been asked to view it- and most probably wouldn't be able to identify anyone even if I did.

This was in a nice, private, gated community- which has never experienced anything on this scale before.

Initial eviction notices had been served in 2012, because of lack of payment of rent- alongside antisocial behaviour (the tenants had lots of friends/buddies/relatives - most of them young men hanging around in groups- over drinking and smoking in the communal carpark, where they also held impromtu barbeques, both day and night- causing a lot of unease amongst particularly the elderly residents, but also parents with young children who felt intimidated by them.) The eviction papers were ignored (quelle suprise), and the PRTB process slowly churned its wheels. Towards the end of the process- it was noted that the current tenants- were not those on the papers- and had tenancy rights of their own (why- makes no sense to me)- and effectively the process was wound back almost to the beginning again.

Its only when you've actually had to deal with removing problem tenants- that you can appreciate the cost of time, effort and money- involved in removing them from your property. You have no idea what damage they may leave in their wake- and normally a best case scenario is no structural damage caused (I'm not joking).

The PRTB really are a joke.

Sounds horrible, but also sounds like a rare case. What pre-checks should have been done, do you think, to flag these prospective tenants as troublemakers? References would have been your best bet, I guess?

Ann Landers · 21-04-2014 2:25pm

murphaph wrote: »

People shouldn't be accessing privileged databases like the PULSE (or whatever the Guards use these days) to perform private checks for mates. I understand the landlord here and that he's using what's in his arsenal but it isn't right that the national police force should be engaged in this (further damages what little confidence I've had in them for a long time now) BUT there is nothing against the law about checking someone's social media (and their friends) and running names through google to look for court appearances, judgments against them etc. It's all public domain and should be used....it is by prospective employers HR departments!

Of course not, anything in the public domain is fair game. Totally different from getting people to breach data protection laws for you.

Ann Landers · 21-04-2014 2:34pm

Daithi_2014 wrote: »

Lots of landlords give troublesome tenants good references to make sure some other poor sod takes them off their hands.
But if called afterwards they will be able to tell the truth, when that person is no longer in their property, they have nothing to lose by telling the truth.

On Irish Landlord website they are now recommending getting references from a prospective tenants last 3 landlords. Then at least the previous 2 will be unhindered in what they have to say for definite.

If a person doesnt have 3 previous landlords though, they might find it very difficult now to rent when demand is high. Because they just arent showing enough check-able history.

I don't even think I have contact details for my third to last landlord. I also hate the thought of bothering someone like that who isn't even getting any economic benefit from knowing me anymore. I had to get proof of residence from a former landlord to get a small grant for a postgrad and felt so bad badgering her about it. The second to last, I wouldn't mind as I'd still be fairly fresh in the memory.

Three references is a tad excessive, IMO. Many prospective employers don't even look for that many!

murphaph · 21-04-2014 3:06pm

Ann Landers wrote: »

Sounds horrible, but also sounds like a rare case. What pre-checks should have been done, do you think, to flag these prospective tenants as troublemakers? References would have been your best bet, I guess?

References from previous landlords excluding current landlord and of course, checking the references are genuine!

In Germany it's very common for landlords to request a Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung (certificate of no rental arrears) from the tenant. The previous landlord might issue a healthy fake reference to a problem tenant to get shot of him but he won't issue a certificate of no rental arrears if he's owed money as it effectively states no money is owed.

It would be one extra step landlords in Ireland could introduce themselves, independent of the law mandating it. But landlords (and tenants) in Ireland are a fragmented group, with no real cohesion or common purpose.

The bank statements are part of the overall picture of the prospective tenant. I wouldn't rent to someone on the strength of a healthy bank balance alone and I wouldn't rent to them on the strength of a good previous landlord's reference alone. It's about getting a holistic impression of the prospective tenant.

murphaph · 21-04-2014 3:10pm

Ann Landers wrote: »

Three references is a tad excessive, IMO. Many prospective employers don't even look for that many!

The prospective employer who hires the "wrong" candidate has a MUCH easier time getting rid of them than the prospective landlord who rents to the "wrong" tenant. An employer can generally terminate the employment without reason during the probationary period and that's it. A LL on the other hand can not simply terminate the tenancy and go around and throw the tenant out. Due process takes over a year usually. If you're looking to blame anything...blame the dreadful system that protects rogue tenants so well. If it took 2 weeks to get rid of such people, there'd be far less need for scrutiny by the LL.

Ann Landers · 21-04-2014 3:18pm

A rent arrears cert is a good idea.

The_Conductor · 21-04-2014 3:53pm

Ann Landers wrote: »

Sounds horrible, but also sounds like a rare case. What pre-checks should have been done, do you think, to flag these prospective tenants as troublemakers? References would have been your best bet, I guess?

Its not as rare a case as you'd imagine.
Also from a family member- my sister rented out her apartment in Galway.
Its a fairly large apartment, over 3 floors, with 4 or 5 bedrooms (following a renovation). Her tenants (students) decided to have a barbeque out back, without cognisance of the large gas cylinder nearby (its immediately to the rear of Jury's Hotel, on Bridge Street). Queue- an explosion that caused significant structural damage.

Another sister (I have 4)- rented to student nurses.
She got the first month's rent, and their deposit.
They never paid another cent.
They left midway through eviction proceedings the following June (as term had ended). She never got a penny back off them- despite all having had parents sign as guarantors for them.

And- another sister- has had 3 instances of non-paying tenants in Smithfield in Dublin. One caused water damage to apartments below by deliberately flooding the place when they deserted it. The other two just left of their own accord, no damage caused (other than not paying rent).

This is from immediate family members. Its not a rare occurrence at all- its actually remarkably common.

The_Conductor · 21-04-2014 3:58pm

Pre-checks?
Nothings seems to work.
Professionals may be unlikely to not pay their rent- but even this happens on occasion.
Students- less said the better. Normally they pay their rent, when parents act as guarantors- but even this is not a given. If they cause trouble- consider getting your property back without major damage, as as good as it gets.
Members of a minority travelling community- most are fine. Sometimes the message that a rental property is for one family- and not for them to randomly share between extended branches of the family- seems to be an alien concept. If they pay the rent, great- if not- you're in for the full legal process, before they vanish overnight.
Random members of the public- gathering as much personal information as possible- where they work, their car registration number etc- and letting them know you have their information- is probably as good as it gets. If a problem occurs with the rent- how good a relationship have you with them- and how long into the tenancy before the issue occurs?

The flipside of the coin- is pretty much all of these people- who are good tenants- will have it in their head, that the landlord is going to screw them out of their deposit.

There is a complete breakdown of trust on both sides- however, the landlord has a lot more to loose than others.........

aaabbbb · 21-04-2014 7:50pm

I still don't get the idea of the whole "landlord reference " its so easy to fake it's pretty much futile.

handlemaster · 21-04-2014 7:54pm

aaabbbb wrote: »

I still don't get the idea of the whole "landlord reference " its so easy to fake it's pretty much futile.

That's why two months rent as deposit should be standard even at that its not enought when the tenant doesn't want to pay the rent.

Daithi_2014 · 21-04-2014 8:19pm

aaabbbb wrote: »

I still don't get the idea of the whole "landlord reference " its so easy to fake it's pretty much futile.

Its not as easy as you think. Most savvy landlords can suss out the fakes while talking to them. Nobody should ever take a written reference as real anyway and should always call and have a good chat about the person.
And good luck faking 3 of them.

Ann Landers · 21-04-2014 10:08pm

handlemaster wrote: »

That's why two months rent as deposit should be standard even at that its not enought when the tenant doesn't want to pay the rent.

I rather the paying for the first and last month's rent thing to paying two months deposit.

FrStone · 21-04-2014 11:19pm

Daithi_2014 wrote: »

Its not as easy as you think. Most savvy landlords can suss out the fakes while talking to them. Nobody should ever take a written reference as real anyway and should always call and have a good chat about the person.
And good luck faking 3 of them.

My company refuses to give out any references when you finish up. It's their policy after somebody took legal action previously after they issued an incorrect reference about somebodies ability. So now they just issue a letter saying Fr Stone worked here as X from Y to Z.

Surely if that is the policy of a company I work for (a major MNC) it would be advisable that Landlords follow the same policy of refusing to write a reference.

The_Morrigan · 21-04-2014 11:28pm

FrStone wrote: »

My company refuses to give out any references when you finish up. It's their policy after somebody took legal action previously after they issued an incorrect reference about somebodies ability. So now they just issue a letter saying Fr Stone worked here as X from Y to Z.

Surely if that is the policy of a company I work for (a major MNC) it would be advisable that Landlords follow the same policy of refusing to write a reference.

Refusal of providing a reference is a red flag. Most multi nationals will just confirm facts like you said...dates of work and positions - no positive or negative language that may imply something or have someone interpret the reference wrong.

A landlord reference should be the same...tenant from x date, no arrears, deposit returned.

Zulu · 22-04-2014 8:52am

Ann Landers wrote: »

I rather the paying for the first and last month's rent thing to paying two months deposit.

Of course you would! But it's pretty fu*king useless to the Landlord; that's only security for rent being paid for those months & not any damages, or other missed rent.

Potatoeman · 22-04-2014 10:59am

Ann Landers wrote: »

I don't even think I have contact details for my third to last landlord. I also hate the thought of bothering someone like that who isn't even getting any economic benefit from knowing me anymore. I had to get proof of residence from a former landlord to get a small grant for a postgrad and felt so bad badgering her about it. The second to last, I wouldn't mind as I'd still be fairly fresh in the memory.

Three references is a tad excessive, IMO. Many prospective employers don't even look for that many!

Many landlords wont even given written references as its extera work. They will take a call and do a reference that way. Im in my current place five years, the previous company I leased from has closed due to bankrupcy so I would need to go back over ten years for another reference.

allandanyways · 22-04-2014 1:28pm

Hi all,

Am relatively new to renting - have been living in a house share for the last year and before that with my ex who did all the renting.

I'm going to view a place tonight - the price is right and it seems ok from pictures. It's in a questionable area but that doesn't bother me too much.

My question is (and please excuse the childish enquiry!) that I will be viewing with my friend that I intend on moving with. I don't get paid til Friday.

Are they going to be expecting us to turn up with a deposit on the spot? I just don't have the cash to hand at all at the moment and neither does he.

We're very interested in the apartment but having read this thread, I'm a bit worried now that they'll have no interest in us at all because we won't have a deposit on us when we turn up.

We won't be moving for another month (have to give current LL 4 weeks notice) and it might not necessarily be the place for us so I don't want to just hand over a deposit even if I had it.

Any help welcomed!!

Ann Landers · 22-04-2014 1:41pm

Zulu wrote: »

Of course you would! But it's pretty fu*king useless to the Landlord; that's only security for rent being paid for those months & not any damages, or other missed rent.

With the current system we have in Ireland, no way would I hand over more than one month's deposit. Landlords keeping huge chunks of deposit for ridiculous reasons is still rife, I'm afraid.

matrim · 22-04-2014 1:41pm

allandanyways wrote: »

Hi all,

Am relatively new to renting - have been living in a house share for the last year and before that with my ex who did all the renting.

I'm going to view a place tonight - the price is right and it seems ok from pictures. It's in a questionable area but that doesn't bother me too much.

My question is (and please excuse the childish enquiry!) that I will be viewing with my friend that I intend on moving with. I don't get paid til Friday.

Are they going to be expecting us to turn up with a deposit on the spot? I just don't have the cash to hand at all at the moment and neither does he.

We're very interested in the apartment but having read this thread, I'm a bit worried now that they'll have no interest in us at all because we won't have a deposit on us when we turn up.

We won't be moving for another month (have to give current LL 4 weeks notice) and it might not necessarily be the place for us so I don't want to just hand over a deposit even if I had it.

Any help welcomed!!

Depends on the place. I've been looking for a while too and most places seem to want you to send an email with your details / references and then will decide from everyone interested who they want.

However, I have seen / heard of places that take the deposit on the spot to rent to the first person to say yes

Zulu · 22-04-2014 1:45pm

allandanyways wrote: »

Are they going to be expecting us to turn up with a deposit on the spot? I just don't have the cash to hand at all at the moment and neither does he.

Generally speaking: no you don't need to rick up with the deposit. But if you decide to take it (and they decide to rent to you) you'll need to stump up the deposit fairly quickly afterwards to secure the lease.

As a LL, I only ask for the deposit when we've all come to an agreement.

Zulu · 22-04-2014 1:48pm

Ann Landers wrote: »

Landlords keeping huge chunks of deposit for ridiculous reasons is still rife, I'm afraid.

Has this happened to you personally?

As a tenant, this has never once happened to me. And as a LL I've yet to retain someones deposit (thankfully, & touch wood).

I'm not disputing it happens - I'm just disputing its as "rife" as people are inclined to make out. That said, as a tenant, it's always a niggle at the back of my mind - will they/wont they.

The Politics of House Viewing

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