I have been asked for a 12 months rent in advance

I have been asked for a 12 months rent in advance

10:20 AM, 14th August 2013, About 11 years ago 36

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I am a student that will be studying in the United Kingdom soon.Overseas Tenant

I really need some advice on whether I should rent the property that I found through a website.

The agent to that property is insisting on 12 months rent in advance and an extra 1 month rent as deposit. They also charge an additional £199 for a background check which I know it is a standard procedure but it usually only costs £150.

I really wanted to know whether it is normal for a tenant to pay an upfront of 12 months and whether the agent is reliable.

I sincerely thank anyone that can provide me any advice.

Jonathan Lim


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Mark Alexander - Founder of Property118

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18:10 PM, 16th August 2013, About 11 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Jonathan Lim" at "16/08/2013 - 18:01":

Good decision Jonathan - far easier to stumble home from the Student Union bar LOL

To steal yet another quote from Mary Latham "students go to the fountain of knowledge to drink"

Good luck with your studies too 😉
.

GP

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18:37 PM, 16th August 2013, About 11 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Mark Alexander" at "16/08/2013 - 18:10":

I agree very wise to go to halls first year part of university is breaking free from some of the bounds and perceptions of each other from back home. Ive seen best of friends before get ripped apart when locked in a house in the second year falling back into lazy bad ways of trying to act and look cool then being and getting kicked out of uni for lack of work and then failing exams. A lose lose for everyone.

Its far easier to also meet a wide variety of friends at university and it almost all happens in the first year. If you go to a house first year some of that chance is diminished as you don't see hundreds of people at hall dinners etc you see the same 1-5 housemates.

Mark Alexander - Founder of Property118

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19:10 PM, 16th August 2013, About 11 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Jonathan Lim" at "16/08/2013 - 18:01":

Hi Jonathan

Purely out of interest, what Country are you in and how did you find out about Property118 please?
.

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17:27 PM, 17th August 2013, About 11 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "andrew townshend" at "15/08/2013 - 19:01":

Talk to the guys who run the yard in Plymouth where I keep my boat - they run student houses and I find them straight to deal with. Andy or Ian. http://www.plymouthshorestore.co.uk/plymouth-boatyard-marina/

andrew townshend

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9:16 AM, 18th August 2013, About 11 years ago

Reply to the comment left by "Jerry Jones" at "17/08/2013 - 17:27":

thank you Jerry, i have made a note of your friends contact details.

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11:42 AM, 20th August 2013, About 11 years ago

Always make sure that you have appropriate receipts and documantation with details when you pay any money so that you are clear what it is for and how you can get it back. Which Tenancy Deposit Protection scheme the deposit will be held in (this should be in your tenancy agreement). As you may not have seen the property, what your rights are for a refund of the 12 months rent in advance, if the property turns out to be very different from what you were expecting.
Some agents charge both landlords and tenants for "background" checks.
Get in touch with the University Students Union or the Student's Welfare officer who will be able ot give you helpful information and advice based on the experiences of other students and their knowledge of the local renting market.
Be cautious about the various sites which claim to tell you who the reliable agents are. Many of them are set up by agents and not independent organisations so you are unlikely to find out if the agent you are with has a bad reputation.
It may sound complicated and it is but there is a lot of help available. Start with the University and the Students Union who have many years of experience of the local market.

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