Please explain the rental process?

We've been house-hunting online, but once an estate agent learns that we are in the US, the communications stop!

I've been gleaning bits and pieces through various posts, but still don't have the big picture. (And if there is a thread that I have somehow missed, please direct me to that so I don't waste your time...)

I've read about registering with agents, etc, but I'm not sure what that means...also not sure what we need to get the rental secured....

We are looking to rent a house in Wales, near Hay....this is to be a shorter-term assignment, so we'll be renting for 2-3 years, max. Then, back to the states.

Thanks so much.

I know you mentioned somewhere that it was a corporate move. Can your husband's company do anything about helping you find accommodation?

I didn't bother registering this last time we moved because online search facilities are now so comprehensive. If you do want to register, you just ring up all of the estate agencies in the area that you're interested in and tell them your requirements. In theory they then let you know when something comes up that you might want. But I just used search sites like rightmove, propertyfinder, etc.

I'll be honest and say that in my experience you'll probably have a hard time getting anything secured, particularly if neither of you is here in person. When I first came here we had to have a rent guarantor even though my husband is British because I had nothing in terms of credit history, etc. In theory it should be a matter of applying for a rental you like (which usually includes giving them a non-refundable fee and a holding deposit), having the checks run, giving them the deposit, doing a walk through ("inventory"), and signing the lease.

I'd probably ask someone over here who one of you knows if they'll ask as a guarantor. Either that or try to rent through a private landlord, but to be honest we just moved and I found it very, very difficult to find rentals that weren't through agencies.

ETA: Most leases are either 6 months or 1 year. I've never seen one for more than that. In my cynical opinion this is purely so the agency can milk you for a fee to renew the lease. I managed to talk ours out of 6 months and agree to a year though, so there might be some flexibility....

They'll usually skip a guarantor if you offer six-month-rent upfront, assuming that's realistic as that is a pretty big outlay of cash upfront. That's what we did and didn't have issues with any of the estate agents we worked with.

That was in London though.

I know you mentioned somewhere that it was a corporate move. Can your husband's company do anything about helping you find accommodation?

Good idea. Hire a relocation agent to find you a house.

They'll usually skip a guarantor if you offer six-month-rent upfront, assuming that's realistic as that is a pretty big outlay of cash upfront. That's what we did and didn't have issues with any of the estate agents we worked with.

That was in London though.

Good idea, but I do think that varies greatly from agency to agency. We tried to go that route for our first rental together and they wouldn't go for it.

We're here on a work visa and were able to skip the guarantor and the 6 months upfront with a letter from my husband's company showing he was employed at X salary.  We rented through an agency and signed a year lease.  Some friends signed a 2 year lease and got a decent rent reduction for it, but we didn't want to risk having to eat rent if something happened and we needed to move sooner. 

But as mentioned, I suspect it'll all come down to the particular agency you're dealing with.   

Other friends have had great luck with relocation agents.  I was just too control freakish to not do the legwork myself. 

Thanks -

This is the first international corporate move for the parent company.
Its also (I think) one of the first real relocations for the Welsh company.

They're all trying to figure this out together.

Thanks!

I'd prehaps suggest that the company in Wales find a short lease for you before you come over.

Vicky

Good idea. Hire a relocation agent to find you a house.

those can be really expensive. I do think that you can get a longer lease. I had an idea that our landlord wished we had signed a multi-year lease.

When I came over on my work permit, I spent about three weeks here before work began and that was plenty of time to find and secure a rental.  I just stayed in a b&b during that time (not a great one, but enough for 3 weeks).  It might be worth coming over before work and then you'll also get a chance to explore where you might want to live & see the places.  Many rentals aren't available much more than 1-2 months before your rental date anyway.