Flat hunting in July and August: why it is harder and how to make up for it
Summer is one of the worst times of year to find a rental. If you cannot wait until September, at least play by summer rules.
If you are flat hunting right now and everything feels slower and more expensive than you expected, it is not just you. Summer has a rhythm of its own, and a fairly unkind one for anyone searching.
Why July and August are different
- Plenty of people who would let a place wait until September, so less supply comes onto the market than usual.
- Those who are searching overlap with students and with work relocations, so more people are chasing fewer flats.
- Landlords and agencies go on holiday too: replies take longer and viewings pile up into a handful of days.
What to do if you cannot wait
Have your paperwork ready before you send the first message. Payslip or proof of income, employment contract if you have one, and a quick way to prove who you are. In summer, between two equally suitable people, the flat goes to whoever can show everything the same day.
Reply fast and be specific. A message saying how many of you there are, when you need it and when you can view beats three polite messages. Whoever posted the listing is getting a lot of them, and is skimming.
And if you can wait
September brings considerably more supply and, above all, landlords with time to deal with you. If your situation can hold out a few more weeks, waiting usually works out better than signing in August out of sheer exhaustion.
If you do end up renting in summer, go through the contract as calmly as you would at any other time of year. The August rush is exactly when things get signed without being read.
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