Do we use a rental agency or not?

[Guest Stella and Dave]

Hi Folks

 

We see a lot of house rentals advertised privately in paper, is it wise to use this method of securing a rental or go through an agent?

 

Any experiences or advice?

 

Many thanks

 

stella

[cliffy]

Many landlords use agents as they are away from the state. All the fees they pay the agent are tax deductable and they have someone local to handle problems and emergencies.

Our family have always used local agencies when letting properties. We do not want the hassle of dealing with maintenance problems, mainly, and these are dealt with timely by a good agent.

If you decide to rent privately, you have to deal with the landlord and are reliant on him/her to fix any problems in their own time.

It is more important to find the right property for you and your family, and you would be restricting your choice by excluding agencies.

[Guest steph&neil]

Hi there are lots of good landlords who dont go through agents to keep the rent lower, repairs & maintenance if not done can be a problem but there is a tenancy advice agency in the city that will assist if you have any problems that you cant get resolved.

One thing that shocked us was the quality of rentals - pretty low compared with the uk the standards tend to be lower in high demand areas cause they know they will get someone to rent them! other thing if you go private make sure they lodge the bond & that way you will get your bond back at the end of the lease - with private this should be agreed in advance, (with agencies it is standard to pay the same as 4 weeks rent for $250 & less & 6 weeks for & $250 or more) rent for you both need to agree if anything other than the amount you paid in is being taken off for damages you cause whilst in the property. Also try to get some water use included!

[Guest Team 'W']

hi there be "AWARE" we contacted a company of the rental sites who advertised a holiday rental by way of showing you the beach.we asked to view it [was ignored] so we drove by,thought well its only for two weeks because we couldnt find a long term at that point.

we spoke to her over the phone i asked was it clean and did it have linen,again[ignored]we didnt have a choice so asked for it sat to sat put this in our email to her and got bank details to put money in, did this only to get a text message to go to the city to pick up keys out of a post box on somebodys front.

Not only did we have to go and pick keys up had to take them back again a fornite later.

THEN WAS RIPPED OF BECAUSE THE "COW" PUT FRI TO FRI AND SAID WE HAD LOST THE OWNER $800 so bond was short paid by $86 so if you come across the words in bold at the beginning in a rental leave well ALONE:

[Guest steph&neil]

hi there be "AWARE" we contacted a company of the rental sites who advertised a holiday rental by way of showing you the beach.we asked to view it [was ignored] so we drove by' date='thought well its only for two weeks because we couldnt find a long term at that point.

we spoke to her over the phone i asked was it clean and did it have linen,again[ignored']we didnt have a choice so asked for it sat to sat put this in our email to her and got bank details to put money in, did this only to get a text message to go to the city to pick up keys out of a post box on somebodys front.

Not only did we have to go and pick keys up had to take them back again a fornite later.

THEN WAS RIPPED OF BECAUSE THE "COW" PUT FRI TO FRI AND SAID WE HAD LOST THE OWNER $800 so bond was short paid by $86 so if you come across the words in bold at the beginning in a rental leave well ALONE:

 

Hi we got ripped off when we first arrived as well - advertised as "Beach Baby" on bath street on glenelg ------ was $800 a week for a 1 bed we were told it was a 2 bed but 2 single beds in the dining room which you had to walk through to get to the rest of the house! was a big rip off!! we paid for 2 weeks in advance, & then could get in tiych with the owner (JIM), there are lots of good landlords but always make sure you see the property before parting with money!!! - we stayed in serviced apartments in the city Frankin lovely clean warm tidy!!!

[Guest Team 'W']

hi

when we arrived we stayed in a great place called "Through the looking glass" a two story in aldinga beach we booked it for 4 wks in advance and Di the owner penciled us in for a further week which was much appreciated cos we couldnt get a long term.

The owners were terrific:even said we could stay another night free,nothin was too much trouble.

so if anybody is in need of a holiday rental for whatever reason PM me and i will give her details its these kind of people who make settling in more bareable.