I'm sorry what?

September 28, 2009 12:05 PM

Found a flat, put down a deposit. Now the landlord wants more money. What can we do?

So we found a flat on Gumtree in London over the weekend for £435. We really liked it and put down a deposit immediately. Today the letting agent has called us and said that the landlord wants more: £450. Do we have any options? Is this kind of activity illegal in any way?

Although they, the letting agent, thinks that £435 is a realistic price, we don't really want to risk finding out if this is true or not by letting them put it back on the market.

Weirdly the letting agent seems to have put the property on their own website for £450, while putting it on Gumtree for £435. Is this practice of advertising properties on Gumtree for a lower price standard? Or is this just a way of suckering people in then jacking up the price?

posted by greytape to home & garden (13 comments total)

This is how geedy & dishonest the landlord is before you've even moved in? The situation is unlikely to improve with age. Personally, I'd see this as a golden opportunity to get my deposit back and run.
posted by selfmedicating at 12:10 PM on September 28 [8 favorites has favorites]

Of course, the alternative way to look at it would be: do you really want to give up a place you "really like" because of a 3.5% rent increase?
posted by Perplexity at 12:14 PM on September 28

There have been a spat of scams recently in London with Gumtree. Are you sure the agency is legit?
posted by brambory at 12:24 PM on September 28

Definitely what selfmedicating said.
posted by zenpop at 12:39 PM on September 28

Thirding selfmedicating. When one of your first contacts with a landlord has you questioning whether what he's doing is illegal, you're not in for good times. He's probably the same way when it comes to maintenance ("Oh, that's fine the way it is.") and infestations. If 435 is a realistic price, it's a realistic price for other apartments in the area, with landlords who aren't bastards.
posted by kingjoeshmoe at 12:42 PM on September 28

The letting agent needs to answer this; if the agent told the landlord they were letting it for £450, but put it up for £435 on gumtree to get a close on a deal, then that's an issue they need to take up with the landlord.

IMO there's nothing here for YOU to do, other than pressure the letting agent to sort it out (in both parties favour), or withdraw your deposit (citing the agents being devious bastids), and find somewhere else.
posted by mahke at 12:57 PM on September 28

Does he want another £450, on top of the original £435? Because that is crazytalk and I would say NO.

Even if he just wants the additional fifteen quid, I'd tell the letting agents to suck it up. If they listed it on Gumtree at £435, then it's £435. Have you signed anything? What did that say?

Letting agents suggest a veneer of respectability to me but they can set the tone. If they are flaky to start with, then good luck getting the boiler fixed on a Bank Holiday.

It does just boil down to how desperate you are to move and how desperate you are for that flat in particular. If you've got the bottle to threaten to walk away and take your money to another agent, do it. Who wants to lose £435 for the quibble of £15 in this economy?
posted by citands at 1:04 PM on September 28

Although in London it can seem hard to find a flat, dont panic and get bullied into something by this sort of behaviour. As others have said, it doesnt bode well either for the agents or the landlords. Frankly, my experience of rental agents in London is that they are total cowboys and you're better off with a private let if you can get one.

Tell the agents you're not prepared to go any higher - chances are they will come back to you and say £435 is OK after all.

If not, then you will find something much nicer in a few weeks anyway. I believe renters have the advantage over landlords in the current market so you will get something you like eventually.
posted by memebake at 1:18 PM on September 28 [1 favorite has favorites]

I would ask to speak to the landlord directly. Find out if he has any knowledge of the flat being advertised for 435.
For all we know, he has been looking for 450 from the start. Unless I am missing something, there is no proof the landlord has asked for more. Sounds like the letting agency either made a mistake, or is being underhanded with a bait and switch.. of sorts.
posted by Frasermoo at 1:22 PM on September 28

Agents won't usually let you speak to the landlord because otherwise you can cut a deal together and cut out the middle-man altogether. That's bad for their business.

Bear in mind the agents are basically attempting to screw either one of you: either the landlord into renting the property for less than he intended, or you into paying more than you intended. As long as you ultimately agree on a figure, the deal gets done and the agents get their cut.

How you proceed is up to you, agents are bastards in general so I don't find it to be a *massive* red flag (although it's possibly worse if they'll be managing the property as well) but by all means don't agree to the rent hike. Bear in mind even if the landlord could rent the flat out for £450 in a couple of weeks time, he'll already have lost hundreds of pounds due to not having a tenant in the meantime. So, there's an incentive to settle now, especially if you have the luxury of not needing to move immediately.
posted by so_necessary at 1:30 PM on September 28

memebake, among others, has it!

The agent's scam, specifically, is to get your deposit money in their hand.

Once that is accomplished, they feel they can push you around on the details. Sadly, this happens with dishonest rental agents on either side of the pond. It was common practice in the first rental agency I worked at in NYC a million years ago.

Press for the listing price or get your money back ASAP.

FWIW, if the agent says that apartment is taken, but they'll show you other apartments in your "price range" ... you probably never had the lease secured, anyway. The letting agent may never have passed on your application or monies to the owner -- they might have taken your check as a way of securing you to a future lease through their firm. Happens all the time. Sorry.

Best.
posted by jbenben at 1:40 PM on September 28

This is either an 'honest' mistake by the letting agent - putting down the wrong price on gumtree - or they basically agreed to a lower price without consulting the landlord first, then the landlord said no. It's crap that they took the money off you before checking with the landlord that the price was okay, and really doesn't reflect well on them as a letting agent.

I'd play hell with them whichever, and ask for your deposit back. The trouble is you can't speak to the landlord so you don't know who's at fault here.

There are loads of rental properties in London anyway and you can definitely go direct to landlords to find somewhere. DM me if you want some tips - I run a website for private landlords :)
posted by cardamine at 5:11 AM on September 29

"Rent auctions" are outright illegal in my jurisdiction - find a tenancy advocacy group or tenants' union or something and check with them.
posted by aeschenkarnos at 3:25 PM on September 29