Paying Rent up to 6 months in advance

We've found a place, and we need to take it before having jobs..  though I have a job offer, it wont be formal or able to be used for proof for another week perhaps..
So we found a place, and the agent was ok with it but did suggest paying a few more months up front.  He suggested 6, but was flexible on making it a bit less if needed.
But whether it is 3-6 months paid of front,  is there any safety checks or steps we should take or be aware of before making such lump sum payment to an estate agent.
They seem established and pretty legit.  Other than that, can you think of any other risks or issued to look out for?    I'm hoping it should be a straightforward low-risk transaction, but you never know...   Has anyone else coming over with/without job and without credit history etc had to prepay a few months upfront in rent, and how did that work out?
Thank you so much!

Yes, ask what happens if the landlord doesn't pay the mortgage and you're evicted before the 6 months is up, or if something else untoward happens like the place burns down etc or otherwise becomes uninhabitable during that time.  Will the agent indemnify you for your loss?

We had to pay 3 months up front on a house we rented in Canterbury. The only problem we had was the moron agent trying to charge us over again for the same period.  PM me if you want to know which company that was, it was a large, nation wide firm.

We were asked to pay the first 3 months in our unit as well.  However, it is a large building and as you say the transaction seemed legit.  It made me a bit nervous to charge it to our credit card while still in the USA over the phone but it did work out just fine.  I think in part it was because this building does rent by automatic payment from your bank account and we could not set it up that way until we got a UK bank.

Best of luck.

Hi Nystacey

Well a while back, i paid a full years rent in advance, this was more of convinience and trust rather than any 'requirement'. I was a student then and was sure i was going to leave in the house for the year, and the landlord and I found it more convinient that way. Because of the trust they even gave me discount because i paid all upfront....any work breakdowns repair required e.g boiler work would be done in matter of days. So if if you like it and are sure you want to live there for at least six months then, yes i would pay for it in advance.

Paying upfront for six months is not the norm, unless you plan to live there for at least six months. Usually, contracts require one months notice before you are free. Also, you would kinda be stuck if you decide to move as the landlord may not cough up the money back, say if you decide to move just a couple of months after moving in- e.g if you had to move cause of a new job...

As an example, i have come across someone who rented a flat for a month and decided to change uni and ended up paying 3 months at the old house (at old uni) and another load for the new house at my uni. He dint want to pay for the 3 months at the old place, but the landlord kind of made him to. ......so the shorter your notice period you would stand to gain if you decide to move later.