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“We’re not stuck, it’s a choice” say 30% of UK tenants who rent rather than buy

High house prices, the need for a hefty deposit and lack of access to mortgage finance have all undeniably contributed to the creation of ‘Generation Rent’ but not everyone is stuck in the trap – 30% of UK tenants choose to rent rather than buy according to our latest data. Indeed it may well be officially £120 cheaper to own your home today then rent (Halifax, Jan 2012) but bricks and... Read more

Posted by Simon @ Upad on March 19th, 2013 in Tenant Stories

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Ask Upad: My tenant has filled the front garden with junk.

Q: I rent a small unfurnished family home to a couple and their kids in Bristol. The tenants have been with me for several years and have been no problem really. Recently I noticed that they have been gradually filling the small garden with junk. It started with a few chairs and boxes, now the collection includes a grubby old mattress, disintegrating chest of drawers, an old telly and a small... Read more

Posted by Dan @ Upad on October 14th, 2011 in Ask Upad, Tenant Stories, Tips for New Landlords

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Are your lettings agents letting you down on viewings?

Dan works for Upad helping with writing and marketing. He's currently on the hunt for a new flat to rent: I'm one of those dreadful 'Generation Rent' people you read about in the papers. I simply can't afford to get on the property ladder, not in the South East of England anyway, or seriously compromising where I live. It doesn't bother me too much and I actually enjoy renting most of the... Read more

Posted by Dan @ Upad on August 31st, 2011 in Property Management, Property Rental, Tenant Stories, Tips for New Landlords

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£42,000 of tenants’ deposits stolen

A lettings agent has gambled and frittered £42,000 of his tenants’ deposits away on gambling and lap dancing nights. He raided his company’s bank accounts to fund the trips. Moorfoot Estates, the company Brendan Taylor worked for were at the sharp end of his out-of-control habit. Taylor owned the business which went bankrupt during the prime time of his misdemeanours. He continued to run... Read more

Posted by Simon @ Upad on April 27th, 2011 in Legal, Renting a Property, Tenant Stories

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Burgled twice in 12 days

As a tenant one of the worst things that can happen is being burgled. Worse than being burgled, is being burgled twice. The pressing question is how was this ever allowed to happen? To paint the scenario, one weekend when I am away from the house, one of the glass panes on the backdoor is smashed, allowing the burglars entry. They came specifically for one item, which happened to be a new... Read more

Posted by Simon @ Upad on March 24th, 2011 in Renting a Property, Tenant Stories

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Washed up with a bad flatmate?

Flatshares are always a difficult area to negotiate. As a tenant you are moving into a house with people you have only recently met and you don’t have a proper grasp of their character and how "good" they are to live with. Washing up is always a tricky one. Most people do their washing up straight after cooking, or at the very least do it within 12 hours or keep it in their room so they can... Read more

Posted by Simon @ Upad on March 22nd, 2011 in Renting a Property, Tenant Stories

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Tenant nightmare: my rented flat was repossessed

Dave from Eastbourne told us about a recent experience he had with a private landlord: I came back from a year travelling in urgent need of a flat. I found one I liked and quickly agreed terms with the landlord. She seemed honest and decent, I didn’t have a job yet but did have some savings. We agreed that I would pay six month’s rent in advance. She promised me a Tenancy Agreement, but I... Read more

Posted by Dan @ Upad on March 19th, 2011 in Legal, Renting a Property, Tenant Stories

Worried Woman

Tenant nightmares: My landlord was spying on me.

We spoke to Sian, who has been a tenant for many years, and asked her for experiences. “I’d recently split up with a boyfriend and moved out of his flat and had to get a place of my own quickly. I thought I’d lucked out when I found my new flat. It’s was a pretty little flat. Light, airy and in a good area. I really liked it. The landlord was alright. Nothing odd about him. But I... Read more

Posted by Dan @ Upad on November 29th, 2010 in Tenant Stories

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Student View: The problem with lettings agents…

The second year as a university student is the one where you find your own place. Halls are an easy situation as everything is sorted out through the rent payment and there is no hassle. Moving out of halls and into a house or flat means you have to deal with lettings agents. At this stage you are probably a complete novice in the world of lettings and tenancies so it can seem fairly intimidating... Read more

Posted by Simon @ Upad on November 26th, 2010 in Tenant Stories

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Girl with Binoculars

Finding a flatshare

Hi, I’m Simon Knock and I’m in the process of looking for a flatshare. I’m a 22-year-old working as a Marketing Executive here at Upad. I’m currently looking for an abode more suited to a working male than a sofa with cushions made out of super glue. My search has been on the go since the 18th of October and has been fruitless so far but not for the lack of trying. The flatshare world is... Read more

Posted by Simon @ Upad on November 26th, 2010 in Tenant Stories

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Why SpareRoom is the best place to look for a flatshare

Hi, I’m Simon Knock and I’m in the process of looking for a flatshare. The better end (in my humble opinion) of the flat share spectrum is SpareRoom. SpareRoom has two options, the free and the paid and the paid option is well worth the extra money. Why you ask? Well for starters it gives you access to flatshare offers as soon as they appear on the site unlike the free users who have to wait... Read more

Posted by Simon @ Upad on November 25th, 2010 in Tenant Stories

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