Four in ten (41.2%) members of the Association of Letting Agents reported an increase in the number of tenants struggling to meet their rental payments to landlords in the six months to March 2012.
As a result, an increasing number of tenants are attempting to ‘knock down' the price of their rent when negotiating with landlords. Haggling on rents has become most prevalent in the North East of England and the South West, whereas it is least prevalent in London.
Ian Potter, Operations Manager at ARLA, said:
"With unemployment predicted to rise and average rents also increasing in some parts of the country, it seems more and more tenants are finding it impossible to make ends meet. It is likely that the same is happening for landlords, who may find their mortgage rate is rising. At worst, this double whammy may result in landlords defaulting on mortgages and tenants being forced to move out of a property."
Tim Hyatt, ARLA President, said:
"This situation highlights just how important it is for both landlords and tenants to carry out thorough research and, where possible, checks before signing a tenancy agreement. Our research shows that around ten per cent of tenants are asking for references on a potential landlord, but that is a relatively small proportion.
"We would urge anyone about to embark on renting or letting out a property, to consult a professional, licensed ARLA letting agent who will be able to advice on the possible financial viability checks that can be made."
Regional comments
Hertfordshire: ARLA spokesperson Jane Gardner, Lettings Director, Sewell & Gardner said:
"In Hertfordshire we have had a steady rise in rental amounts being asked and achieved over the last 6-8 months. This has had a knock-on effect on rental arrears with more tenants struggling to keep up with the higher rents.
"At the same time, we're seeing the gradual return of the investor landlord to the market. We hope this rental stock increase will level out the asking prices to see a return to a happier 'tenant-landlord' equilibrium."
Buckinghamshire: ARLA spokesperson Claire Lloyd, Managing Director, Claire Lloyd Properties said:
"Rental prices in the Buckinghamshire area have increased slightly over the past 12 months; in fact in more recent months they appear to have levelled out to where they were a year ago. Only very unique, quality properties command higher rents, albeit in some places rents are being over-priced.
"Rental arrears have not been a problem for us and as we qualify applicants well with 85% pass referencing. Investors are coming back slowly but surely, we have a vast amount of new-builds and developments, including a new dairy off the A41 with 600 employees in the area, meaning prospects are good."
Wolverhampton and the Midlands: ARLA spokesperson Sally Lawson, Managing Director, Concentric Lettings said:
"February was the best month we have had for over a decade, which was a big surprise due to the fact it was a short month. This was due to a mixture of a good level of tenant enquiries, high value properties rented and high conversion into lets.
"In regards to landlord instructions however, we have seen a lot more landlords opting for the ‘Let only' or ‘rent collection only' service this month, rather than the fully managed service. We usually get around 25% opt for the let only service of all the take-ons that we have, but this month it was 60%, we are hoping it was a one off, but we will certainly be monitoring the progress over the next month.
Kent: ARLA Spokesperson Robert Feast, Area Lettings Manager, Ward and Partners Residential Lettings said:
"As a general rule in the Kent area, the number of applicants registering with letting agents is at an all time high and this trend looks like it will continue. However, we are finding we can realistically filter only 80 to 85 percent of the applicants into proceedable tenants, which highlights the growing concern regarding tenant suitability due to poor affordability and detrimental credit issues."
Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and North Wales: ARLA Spokesperson Philip Chadwick, Director, Gascoigne Halman said:
"Whilst personally we appear fortunate in that we have very few arrears we are finding an increase in tenants asking what checks we carry out on landlords so that their 'quiet enjoyment' is assured for the duration of the tenancy.
"As regards tenants haggling over rents we have very little of this on 2 and 3 bedroom properties up to £1000 as the demand is so high. On 4 bedroom properties at £1500 plus, there is invariably more negotiation as supply outstrips demand."
Essex: ARLA spokesperson Sarah Holdsworth, Managing Director, Prime Property Management said:
"Although the rental market in Essex appears to be extremely buoyant, with exceptionally high demand and low rental stock, landlords are becoming increasingly reliant on more substantial financial checks on in-coming tenants. There appears to be an increased proportion of tenants who claim benefits choosing to use their housing benefits for things other than rent payments which results in arrears and increased property possessions."
Berkshire and Oxfordshire: ARLA Spokesperson Mary Charsley, Associate Director at APW Management said:
"We are seeing mor
