Anyone familiar with Reading?

Oh, and I forgot to mention, we ended up with a B&B in Wokingham. My husband's friend offered to drive us as needed to viewings, and she lives nearby.

Very glad to hear that your husband's friend actually viewed the property and the room, that should set your mind at ease!

Sounds like a good plan!

Y'all were right, the 150 pound a week b&b was a horror! We never would've picked it, except that a friend had seen the room in advance and said it was OK! God knows what she was thinking! She's very nice and has been very helpful to us, so we would never ask her "what were you thinking?" It was filthy, unchanged nasty sheets, dirty walls, and so much noise! We stayed one night and fled! I think she must've just had her mind on the low cost, but really, it was so bad I would've rather slept in my car (if we still had our cars that we sold before moving).

I did hire a relocation agent (she's doing a wonderful job, so glad we got her), and we may have found our apartment. The estate agent handling this apartment is checking our references (very belatedly), and we're bouncing around between B&Bs because after we changed we couldn't book anything long enough (and we don't even know how long we need a place). The apartment we found is gorgeous and huge, much nicer than we expected -- and much costlier! I'm in a bit of a worry about it, but my husband is calm, so I'm going to try to just enjoy it (if we ever get in). It's a central location and we're hoping that will make life much easier on us in the end, and it will certainly be the nicest (and most expensive) place I've ever lived. It's been crazy, and the landlord increased his asking price after he accepted our first offer, so it's all a bit hectic and stressful. We don't know now when the referencing will be finished. But hopefully it will be soon.

I'm getting my much-needed Internet fix, because the B&B we're in tonight has wifi! The other one we go back to tomorrow doesn't, but it's a much larger room with it's own kitchenette, which comes in very handy, and it's cheaper.

Wish us luck!

Sorry to hear that the B&B was horrible...but for £150 a week you weren't going to get anymore than a flop house in Reading.

Excellent that you are using a location agent....one thing though, you said the landlord raised the asking price after you made an offer? Sorry to say but that raises a BIG red flag to me.....meaning how is he going to be if something is in need of a repair or anything else, like getting your deposit back. Sounds like he could be a greedy git. Sorry to say but there are a ton of viper landlords over here so be very careful. Read the fine print in the lease to make sure "he" takes care of things that go wrong, also ask the EA what his history as a landlord has been like....have previous tenants had any issues with him, etc (EA's are not the most honest people but I would ask anyway....try to get a read). I soo don't want to sound negative but we had a terrible experience with a LL over here so I am just advocating that you make sure you are going into this with your eyes open and that you are covered....I just smell a rat with the guy after raising the asking price on the rent. 

Best wishes, I am sure you will be happy to get settled.

Excellent that you are using a location agent....one thing though, you said the landlord raised the asking price after you made an offer? Sorry to say but that raises a BIG red flag to me.....meaning how is he going to be if something is in need of a repair or anything else, like getting your deposit back. Sounds like he could be a greedy git.

I know, I'm worried too. That's what I tell my husband, that if they don't do right in the beginning, they won't later on. The estate agent's company actually manages the property, and my relocation agent said she has placed other people in one of their properties and they had no problems. And I agree, I think we may have to kiss our hefty deposit goodbye. Which my husband knows is a possibility, and he still wants to go ahead. From what I've read on this forum, that's not uncommon in the Uk for the landlord/agents to always find an excuse to keep the deposit.

We're sort of over a barrell, and sort of not. Our belongings arrive in the country Feb. 16 and we would like an address by then, but of course we could have stuff stored. And it's hell being without Internet (I'll lose access again in about an hour when I check out of this b&b and go back to the other place). And it's hell moving about. The other B&B could've accommodated us until the 18th if we'd booked it Wednesday. We just booked through Monday because the referencing should be done by then (we hope). And then someone else booked our room, so we'll be out again if the referencing isn't done. All this makes us want to just go ahead and take this place. It's very new, just one year old, and hopefully not much will go wrong with appliances. I am very nervous, though. I worry too much and my husband doesn't worry enough.

I understand how you really need to get settled quickly so maybe its best to look at it as a temporary stay (I hope you are only signing a six month lease), that way you can test the waters with this guy, the apartment, neighbors, location, etc. By the time the lease is close to expiring you will have more knowledge of Reading and may find somewhere else within the area that you would like to live AND if you are only in your current place for six months....you will have a better chance of getting your deposit back. If all goes well and you really like living there you can sign for another term. Everything may be just fine so try to keep that mindset. Its best to start of positive rather than looking for issues and being settled will be a good thing!

Very sorry if I alarmed you but like I said we had so many problems (I was actually physically sick the last go we had because there had been several) that its difficult for me not to be knee jerk about shady landlords so its probably best that I don't give any advise because I can't think logically about landlords.

I'm really concerned that you are bieng ripped off here.....



Vicky