Best Practices for Submitting a Winning Rental Offer

You've visited several properties and finally found one that makes your heart race—your ideal home! Now comes the crucial step: making an offer. If you're working with letting agents, they'll relay your offer to the property’s landlord. Keep in mind, though, that you might be competing with other potential tenants for the same property. Understanding what landlords typically prioritize can significantly boost your chances of securing the rental.

Offer a Competitive Rent

For most landlords, the rent amount is a key consideration. When multiple tenants are vying for the same property, being prepared to offer at least the asking price can make your proposal more appealing. While some tenants may attempt to negotiate a lower rate, offering the full amount—or even slightly more—can give you a distinct edge.

Consider Paying Rent Upfront

The rental market in London is highly competitive, with some tenants offering to pay several months’ rent in advance to secure a property. If you can afford to do so, it’s a strong move. Paying upfront not only increases the landlord's confidence in your financial reliability but also helps their cash flow. Landlords often face significant expenses like agent commissions and service charges, so a substantial upfront payment can be very attractive.

Be Flexible with Your Move-In Date

Landlords often prefer tenants who can move in quickly, as vacant properties generate no income. By offering to move in sooner rather than later, you can reduce the landlord's "void period," or the time the property remains unoccupied. This can make your offer more enticing, as it directly impacts the landlord’s earnings. Additionally, opting to move in on a weekday rather than the weekend can save the landlord extra costs, as agents and check-in clerks often charge higher fees for weekend work.

Commit to a Longer Lease

While lease length preferences can vary among landlords, many favor tenants who intend to stay long-term—typically at least 12 months. A long-term lease offers several advantages to landlords: They avoid the costs and hassle of re-advertising the property and finding new tenants.They can skip another end-of-tenancy cleaning, which can easily cost around £200.They face fewer administrative tasks, such as key handovers, managing check-ins and check-outs, deposit registrations, and responding to tenant queries.

Overall, a long-term rental agreement helps landlords save on the repeated setup costs associated with short-term tenancies.