On a daily basis I advice people on their housing situations and the options available to them
Most people are couples living with the in-laws overcrowding a house that really isn't made for 2 couples and the kids
When advising people of their options I must give all information both good and bad
Even now I am still surprised at the amount of people who still immediately disregard the option if private renting
Most say they can't afford it without even taking the time to look into local market prices, the others are scared by media horror stories of rogue landlords terrorising tenants and not allowing them to live in a property as their home
Yes, I admit the upfront money required to rent is a big hurdle, 1st months rent, 6 week deposit and letting agent fees and you are suddenly laying out the wrong side of £3k
And yes, you do have the worry of being asked to leave hanging over your head
BUT on the plus side of private renting you can chose exactly where you wish to live, rent a property within your own budget and if something goes wrong such as the boiler, you pick up the phone and its sorted
There are more and more products coming onto the market to help people to access private rented as a viable long term option
Many local council have renting incentive schemes which will help with the financial burden and pay rent and deposits
If you are employed you can now get a deposit bond for a minimal fee which covers the length of the tenancy for the full amount of the deposit but for as little as £60 up front
Most people still have the general belief that getting a council house is easy and the answer to everything for long term hassle free living
But the reality since the Localism Act 2011 is very different, councils overhauled their allocation policies meaning it is harder to get a property, and once you have a council property you will more than likely be given a 1 yr introductory tenancy, after which you can be quickly evicted if you have breached the terms, if you are not evicted you will probably be issued a flexible tenancy with a maximum term of 5yrs, there are no more life time tenancies and if your children have fled the nest by the time 5 yes is up, councils have every right not to renew your tenancy and downsize you
The security that used to come with a local authority property no longer exists, with this in mind the sensible thing to do would be to streamline the private rental sector to make it more attractive as a first housing option, longer tenancies, more structure to evict if tenants breach the terms and financial incentives for people looking to move and improve their circumstances
Private rented should be the first and best option available for our generation not a tabo that puts the fear of god into people
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