Renters face delays and paperwork challenges

Nearly a third (30%) of tenants searching for a home to rent describe their experience as average or worse, with some labelling it as poor or very poor, a survey reveals.

The research by Dwelly of more than 1,000 tenants found that prolonged timelines is a major issue.

It found that 44% of respondents say it took more than four weeks to secure a tenancy after starting their search.

And 22% said the process lasted between two and four weeks, underscoring the difficulties renters encounter in finding somewhere to live.

PRS has changed

The firm’s Sam Humphreys said: “The rental market landscape has evolved dramatically over the years but despite the many improvements made, many renters continue to find the process of securing a property challenging and for the same reasons they did twenty odd years ago.

“As a result, as many as 30% of renters find the process of finding a rental property average at best, but it’s fair to say that this isn’t due to a lack of care on the side of letting agents.”

He added: “Demand for rental homes has exploded in recent years as soaring house prices have forced many to rent for longer.

“At the same time, the government’s consistent attack on buy to let landlords has reduced the level of stock available and so it’s no surprise that finding a suitable property is the biggest obstacle facing today’s renters.”

Agents are busy

Mr Humphreys continued: “We’ve also seen the level of paperwork and compliance requirements increase, which have put further pressure on letting agents who are already dealing with a high volume of applicants.

“The result of this operation strain is a perception amongst renters that letting agents aren’t on the ball and are poor at communicating, when the reality is they simply don’t have enough hours in the day.”

He adds: “For today’s letting agents, the continued adoption and evolution of technology to help ease operational requirements remains of vital importance, as it not only allows them to operate better as a business, but it drastically improves the customer service levels they can provide to renters and landlords alike.”

Finding a property

The survey by the lettings proptech firm also reveals the primary search obstacle, according to 60% of tenants, is identifying a suitable property.

Once a property is found, the cumbersome application process, including ID checks and referencing, ranks as the second most challenging aspect.

Poor communication from letting agents also emerges as a significant frustration, placing it among the top three grievances.

The survey further reveals that 40% of renters found the process arduous, while only 12% described it as straightforward.