Liverpool

[Betty LaRue]

I find it hard to believe that Liverpool, the place others here thought you’d easily find a rental, won’t rent to you. I think it stinks and smacks of ageism. Makes me want to give someone a piece of my mind.

In the US, you can get sued for that. There are laws. If one has the money, the agent better have a da**ed believably good made-up excuse for turning someone down based on age, sex, religion or nationality. 

Sorry if I’m offending...but I have a very strong “fairness” gene.

Betty

 

[Ed Rooney]

Of course it's ageism.

 

I just lost out a studio this morning that looked as if it might go through. They told me they wanted the 3 months rent in advance on a three-month lease. I agreed to 2. They said no. If I had agreed to all their demands they would have rejected me by not have accepted my references. Have you ever heard of a rental where you had to pay everything in advance? 

[John Mitchell]

1 hour ago, Ed Rooney said:

Of course it's ageism.

 

I just lost out a studio this morning that looked as if it might go through. They told me they wanted the 3 months rent in advance on a three-month lease. I agreed to 2. They said no. If I had agreed to all their demands they would have rejected me by not have accepted my references. Have you ever heard of a rental where you had to pay everything in advance? 

 

I can remembering sometimes having to pay a "damage deposit" that was refunded when I left, but never rent in advance as you describe. Don't remember ever having to supply references. However, it has been a long time (fortunately) since I had to go apartment-hunting. Hopefully the tide will change for you very soon...

 

[NYCat]

Well.... I know New York City is a special case... but....https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20160510/greenpoint/when-paying-years-rent-upfront-helps-get-you-deal-when-it-wont/

 

I suspect that being a foreigner with no credit history there is going to make landlords cautious...

 

Paulette

 

 

[John Mitchell]

2 hours ago, NYCat said:

Well.... I know New York City is a special case... but....https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20160510/greenpoint/when-paying-years-rent-upfront-helps-get-you-deal-when-it-wont/

 

I suspect that being a foreigner with no credit history there is going to make landlords cautious...

 

Paulette

 

 

 

I found this pretty shocking as well. Mind you, Vancouver isn't far behind NYC these days when it comes to exorbitant rents, especially when you consider that salaries are probably lower here.

Edited August 8, 2019 by John Mitchell

[Thyrsis]

7 hours ago, Ed Rooney said:

Have you ever heard of a rental where you had to pay everything in advance? 

 

Yes, it's quite usual if the tenant is not a UK citizen. We have a property we rent out and our agent asked  ‘non doms’ to pay 6 months upfront. One such tenant turned out to be something of a con man and left before the end of the tenancy without paying the rest of the rent and utility bills. Cost us quite dearly! 

Unfortunately the agent can’t tell the good guys from the bad guys upfront! 

 

Edited August 8, 2019 by Thyrsis

[Ed Rooney]

I see, Ian, and that is an adjustment to my thinking now. Except for a doable way to move a large amount of money, paying six months in advance would be doable. But I can't open a bank account here until I have a residency. Hopefully, I can pay with a credit card. In the meantime, I have all the problems of day-to-day life and hotels to deal with. It's soul-destroying. 

 

Edo

[spacecadet]

1 hour ago, Thyrsis said:

 

Yes, it's quite usual if the tenant is not a UK citizen.

 

Ed is an EU national. They can't ask something of him that they wouldn't ask of a UK citizen.

[CAROL SAUNDERS]

I would have thought one months deposit and one month rent upfront is the norm, having been a landlord/lady this is what was asked for with the deposit being refunded if all was in order at the end of the tenancy.  Having said that we did have someone who offered to pay 6 months rent upfront.  Hoping you get something sorted out soon.  

[NYCat]

My parents owned rental property in California and they depended on the rental income to pay the mortgage, taxes, and other costs. Taking on a new tenant was always a bit of a risk. So anything you can do to make yourself a less risky proposition will presumably help. Once you have had a place for a while and have a credit history and a history of being a "desirable tenant" you'll have more opportunities to choose your ideal place. It has to be very difficult to be new to the country as well as the city. Fingers crossed that you can settle down soon.

 

Paulette

[Ed Rooney]

I've learned a lot in the last few days.

 

This is what my friend in Italy just wrote to me.

 

"In Mexico, you also have to pay 6 months in advance, plus have someone guarantee for you.

Also in Italy - here it's 3 months in advance, Italian or not."

 

And a British senior told me to offer six-months rent in advance. That's what I plan to do. 

[Betty LaRue]

I’m happy this conversation was reopened. Some useful information has been offered.

Here’s hoping you have a place within the week, Edo.

Betty

[geogphotos]

2 hours ago, Ed Rooney said:

I've learned a lot in the last few days.

 

This is what my friend in Italy just wrote to me.

 

"In Mexico, you also have to pay 6 months in advance, plus have someone guarantee for you.

Also in Italy - here it's 3 months in advance, Italian or not."

 

And a British senior told me to offer six-months rent in advance. That's what I plan to do. 

 

 I had to pay 12 months in advance for my daughter's rent when she went to university. Either that or prove to them that I had an enormous, secure income ( which I don't). She then paid me back every month until it was cleared.

 

Not sure what people do from poor backgrounds with parents that can't pay in advance.  Politicians talk about opening up access to education for all but not much use if you can't get somewhere to live. 

 

Probably not what you want but there are various Homeshare schemes.

Edited August 8, 2019 by geogphotos

[Ed Rooney]

There are homeless people on every block here, Ian. I don’t remember ever seeing any in Oxfordshire in the ‘80s. If we’re going to replace working people with computers and robots there has to be a move towards Socialism. 

 

I just extended my hotel stay by another week. The girl at the front desk worked to get me a good rate. She gets a gold star along with many of the people in this city. 

 

Edo

[MizBrown]

8 hours ago, CAROL SAUNDERS said:

I would have thought one months deposit and one month rent upfront is the norm, having been a landlord/lady this is what was asked for with the deposit being refunded if all was in order at the end of the tenancy.  Having said that we did have someone who offered to pay 6 months rent upfront.  Hoping you get something sorted out soon.  

Where I am, any foreigner renting has to have references or will be renting a place that needs work that the landlord won't be paying for (my first rental here).  Three months in advance is pretty common. 

 

I once paid my second landlord six months in advance.  He needed cash and I'd inherited some money.

 

One scam is offering to pay by (fake) postal money orders for an apartment.  Friend thought she had a deal with a foreign exchange student (for a program that didn't exist according to my university contacts).  She made sure the bank signed off on the money orders being legit, and didn't get stung when they proved not to be.  The con person asked for a return of some part of the advance rent. 

 

Given that sort of thing, being cautious of foreign (not from the city or region) would-be tenants makes sense.  Once you're known in an area and have proper references (one of mine almost caused a Claro telephone contract clerk to stand up and salute), things go a whole lot better.

[John Mitchell]

Interesting discussion. AFAIK, in Vancouver landlords can't ask for rent in advance, only a security deposit no more than 50% of one month's rent. Tenants can of course offer to pay in advance.

 

 

[BobPhoto]

In Jakarta as a foreigner (and local as well) we have to pay the full year in advance... And we get only yearly contract.

[spacecadet]

20 hours ago, MizBrown said:

 

 

Given that sort of thing, being cautious of foreign (not from the city or region) would-be tenants makes sense. 

That's unlawful in the EU.

[John Mitchell]

1 hour ago, spacecadet said:

That's unlawful in the EU.

 

Hmm... I think it would be pretty difficult to make "being cautious" illegal. No?

 

However, outright discrimination on the basis of race, nationality, religion, age, gender, etc. is another matter. In Canada, anyone who thinks he or she is a victim of discrimination usually has some form of legal recourse. No doubt, it's the same in the UK. The problem is that this type of prejudice usually happens in subtle ways.

Edited August 9, 2019 by John Mitchell

[Ed Rooney]

I'm not planning to get caught up in a crusade. 

[John Mitchell]

6 minutes ago, Ed Rooney said:

I'm not planning to get caught up in a crusade. 

 

Don't blame you. The Crusades didn't work out very well if I remember my history correctly.

Edited August 9, 2019 by John Mitchell

[Mr Standfast]

I spy a new profile picture!

[Ed Rooney]

Yes, I’m trying to win the prize for the worst selfie. 

[Ed Rooney]

Stepping to the side of the No.1 problem for a moment, my criteria for a destination have not changed. 

 

Cost

Climate 

Cuisine 

Culture

Walkability 

Stock Subjects

Edited August 9, 2019 by Ed Rooney

[MizBrown]

You seem to like Liverpool despite the hassles.    Best wishes for finding the right place if the city fits you otherwise.  Once you're established there, I suspect you'll have fewer problems.