Just been given notice that my landlord is selling the house we rent....

DAMN!

Only been here a year as well! We were his first tenants.

So we've been looking...and looking...and looking. There's not much to chose from!!!!

Guy from the Estate Agents was round yesterday to measure up for valuing this place. Says quite a few BTL landlords are selling up. He said he can't see prices dropping though, only staying roughly flat for 18 months or so.

Hmmmm....

This is why I think a widespread property crash is not on the cards. I quickly moved before Christmas as my last LL's place got repossessed, there was a lot of property to rent, but not much of it was that great. I've ended up in a huge flat near Colchester station, the flat is nice but few people would be willing to put up with the Felixstowe bound freight trains shaking their bed in the night!!!

Incidentally, the rental shortage problem is even more acute in places like Exeter in Devon - much of the rental property is Victorian and falling apart.

Can you negotiate a reduced rent for the time that it's up for sale? Presumably it could still take a little while for the LL to get it sold, and he may appreciate at least some of his mortgage being covered in that time. Even when he's got an offer in, it still takes time to get everything done - gives you a big longer to find somewhere you like, and him some income. Good luck!

Dr Guid - we moved from Colchester 3 years ago, and still go back - the situation was similar then - but mainly because they were still building the development up the side of the NAR. I'm surprised there is still a shortage of rentals - when they were building them, I presumed it would all be rentals, and the market would be flooded.

I recently discovered that the Turner Rise development (Peto Avenue up to Holden) doesn't officially have a schools catchment area - I wonder if the houses on the other side of the Northern Approach Rd are similarly affected? If so, it would certainly change the demographic of those who choose to live in them, especially with schools demand as it is in the area.

Hi BTD,

Sorry to hear about your rental shortage.

My fiancé and I are thinking of renting in Stevenage and commuting into central London.

I've looked at properties in Stevenage and there are very few within a mile of the station (our chosen area - to allow an easy commute), so this certainly corroborates your comments.

I was wondering if you had any ideas about the best areas in central Stevenage and could suggest some.

Many thanks in advance,

Disillusioned

Well considering that the last property crash was not widespread either, then this is fair.

There is massive humungous crazy oversupply of rental properties in Liverpool, Leeds, Manchester, by comparison, as well as associated commuter towns in the Yorkshire Dales, Peak district etc. For reasonable prices, good condition unfurnished homes can be rented, sub-£600/mnth for reasonable sized good condition family 2/3 bed houses, with a bit of homework and local knowledge. And yet asking buying rices are above £170k. But I don't know what recent distressed auctions from BTLrs are going for, land reg figures don't seem out yet on nethouseprices etc. Suffice to say the majority of houses/flats for sale in 'up and coming' city areas around here show indicators of being repos these days (possessions removal notice, auction date posted etc).

Just an interesting contrast. I definitely believe that the correction will have selective elements, just like last time.

Of course availability in Stevenage etc would surely be connected to the fortunes of the City and local high-tech and financial-support industry. A house price correction WITHOUT a recession may leave this are more untouched in a number of ways.

Stevenage, armpit of the universe, chav central.

Avoid like the plague

Yes great for shopping, night-life etc but that's it, the town has no personality whatsoever

What you don't hear about is the high crime rate (muggings, rapes, fighting, burglary etc etc). Their are a number of really rough areas like St Nicks, Roebuck, the Hyde as for the schools kids don't go their for an education....

I used the cycle track (for exercise - good cycle route) till every underpass became the home of the chav'd hoody who would not think twice about sticking something through your wheels or throwing a bottle as you cycle past.

Try 10 miles north of Stevenage, rents are much much more reasonable & a whole lot quieter.

Last time the market crashed Stevenage was hit hard, full of overstretched numpties.

10 + Years ago they built Chells Manor to attract London folk, then they added Great Ashby & a few more places since.

If you do decide to rent avoid two letting agencies one is not quite a 'haven' the other some say is known as 'the letting company'

Unfortunately at the time of the last crash, the tories plowed £750,000,000 into social housing and a lot of Chells Manor was built as social housing. It took maybe about 5 years before the estates started going downhill.

Avoid St Nicholas and definately avoid near the oval. If I was to move back to Stevenage I would probably look at Great Ashby if i had the money. Maybe Walkern just outside Stevenage or Knebworth.

Even after 40 years at Stevenage I never really knew much about Symonds Green area.

I would also consider the right hand side of six hills way near collenswood.

I don't know about Stevenage, but there are plenty of places for rent near the station in Hitchin. The development where I live always has a few vacant flats as do several others. There are also plenty to buy.