Looking for long term rent

[melvyn m]

Hi All
My wife and I (and old well behaved dog) are looking fo a long term rental from Feb/ March 2013 as we have work starting in Carvoeiro.
I know that most of you enjoy the benefits and rewards of the tourist months.
Which means that we are obviously not looking to pay that kind of rental fee. But consider the fact that some one is taking care of your property 12 months of the year and you, of course are recieving a regular income, 12 months of the year.
As there are only 2 and a dog we are looking for something like a 2 bed. Unless you would like us to sit something bigger!!
If you think that you assist us and us you. please get in touch.
Our e-mail is melvynandjulie@gmail.com and phone numbers are 935945941 / 936425978.
Thanks for taking the time to read this
Melvyn Mole

[matoserrao99]

Hello Mr Mole,
your request really gave me good laugh.

To me the first sign of a good potential tenent is that they kindly recognise the fact that they'd like to pay significantly less than the tourist rate.

An even better sign is that they would in fact like to pay as little as possible.

As regards maintaining the property, its the landlords responsibility, as kind as your offer of 'taking care ' of it is.

Years of experience shows that renters taking care of property doesn't exist, at best they don't cause any damage - at worst !

With a bad tenant - wear and tear can easilly exceed rental income.

I really love the change to the end of your request - a kind offer to allow you to 'sit' something bigger - presumably rent free.

Icing on the cake really is for a potential renter to have a well behaved pet - one who can obviously read and sign the rental agreement where it agrees to all round good behavour, total silence and to clean its own poops up

Good luck

[tricky]

I just thought they were joking!

[Michael Crane]

......
As regards maintaining the property, its the landlords responsibility, as kind as your offer of 'taking care ' of it is.

Years of experience shows that renters taking care of property doesn't exist, at best they don't cause any damage - at worst !

......

If he was still with us, Mike, Chislehurst would tell they do exist - I am living proof of that. For years I carried out a 'survey' of Mike's villa on ADM each winter, collating a range of repairs and maintenance issues which he dealt with each spring. I did similar 'work' for DaveK and pato.

So, perhaps Mr Mole (if he really does exist) is genuine and could maintain the property if given the opportunity. Whether he can or not . . . you'll never know.

[melvyn m]

Dear Cynics and Grumps!
We are actually quite offended by some of your comments.
This is the second time we have posted on this site. And this is the second time that we have recieved at best sarcastic comments, what is wrong with some of you ??
At no stage in the original add did we say that we would not pay rent. Just that we would expect, as a long term tennant, not to pay the tourist rate. From the 'looked after' comment we simply meant that the property would be occupied, rather than being stood empty, although I am handy with a paint brush, and would have no objection to the 'odd job'. Please, do not tar all perspective tennants with the same brush.
As for the dog comments, we are quite capabable of cleaning up after our pet and ensuring that he is well behaved.
And yes, well behaved pets do exist. As do their owners. Yes, all 3 of us are house trained!!
The add is genuine as are we, we tried to add a bit of humour to our add, but it obviously went straight over some peoples heads!
The fact is. We are looking to rent somewhere long term, from February / March 2013.
So , please if you do know of any where or are looking to rent your property long term please contact us
Constructive comments would be appreciated.
Thank You
Melvyn Mole.

[HampshireRich]

You could try sending a PM to shanagarry to check what he is doing with his villa - we know he's left CVO now although not under the best of circumstances but a long term rent may help him out for a while and suit you as well.

Just a suggestion mind you - shanagarry may not be in the best of moods, so apologies if this suggestion goes wrong!

[matoserrao99]

I suppose with a name llike yours - you'd also offer to dig the garden

[EMM]

Putting aside the question of pets and the potential for damage, smells etc it is clear that many of those seeking " discounted " out of season rents do not really understand how many owners view them.
The Algarve can get pretty chilly at times and heating bills ( electricity ) can be considerable, add to this the costs for higher electricty usage, washing machines, lighting and water heating and any margin the owner has in already reduced winter lets is significantly reduced.
There will then be the cost/time/inconvenience of getting it back to its ready for summer let condition.
The end result is that it simply does not pay some owners to offer substantial discounts on their already lower winter prices.

[melvyn m]

Sensible prospective tennants would expect to pay for utilities.
We are not asking for charity. We would not expect owners to sponser our stay!!

An estate agent actually recommended that we use this site, We are aghast at some of your replies
Melvyn Mole

[traveler]

Melvyn, now that he has explained himself, has a fair request. A LT rental is often better for a property than the high use intensive weekly rentals. Due to that, summer/tourist rates should be discounted. Now, the question of what to charge is interesting. IMO, utilities should be covered by the renter, with perhaps the exception of water in the summer months in the case of a garden. Another advantage is security etc. The question is would the renter be willing to pay enough on a monthly basis to offset the lack of flexibility and usage by the owner during the off season. I am thinking that a rate of EUR400 - EUR500/bedroom might do it but then, that rate is often too high for someone to work in CVO (unless it is a retirement job).

Everyone has their own thresholds.

Melvyn, what you do not want to do is go to a property management firm because you will get taken. What is your budget? Be straightforward with your intentions. I have seen many, many problems with requests like yours which is why so many responses were snarky. I do think you have a legitimate request though.

[EMM]

Looking at the response on other sites to similar requests it does look as if 550/600 Euros month for a decent apartment in a good locations is a realistic aim.
But of course you will need to add up to 100 euros month for utilities.
Plus a security bond of 1-3 months rental.
I would also be looking at the local English language papers, the Algarve Resident and Portugal News.

[melvyn m]

Thank you for some positive comments at last!
And I am pleased to read that some one now gets the point!
We obviously have a budget and that can be disscused in a PM if any one is thinking of letting.
Thanks for the avdvice on the newapapers and the agents.
Melvyn

[laserblazer]

I think a lot of people are like us. We went out in the summer at tourist rates and use the place ourselves in the winter. So a long term let is not viable. I have to say, your original post did come across as wanting something for nothing. Hence the tone of some of the responses. Anyway, best of luck with your search.

[shanagarry]

I have communicated with Melvyn and am unable to accommodate his request.

I arranged a long term let recently for a 3 bedroomed property for a couple and had to take into account balancing the high season rental potential with the off season. The clients were happy with the terms - which excluded utilities but included the gardener and poolman. The agreed price was significantly more than the amounts mentioned.

Now that the 'season' has shrunk from the 5 months it used to be to 3 - long term lets (to the right people) are a sensible income generator. By entering into a long term let you have effectively taken yourself out of the higher income short term market - a critical consideration. A further consideration is the legal standing of long term renters in Portugal - it is worth the cost of a lawyer to draw up an agreement - I know of 3 horror stories. A long term rental is a period longer than 364 days (that number is crucial) with a new agreement (not an extension or renewal) being drawn up for any subsequent 364 day term. It is essential that the agreement prevents your property being sub-let by your tenants - more horror stories prevail.

Like the UK, the long term renters I have met do not want furnished accommodation - you then have storage costs to take into account. It will vary but anybody looking for a house as opposed to an apartment will usually have their own furniture. Lastly, there is the periodic inspection - which has to be undertaken by the owner - not a management company - to make sure your property is being looked after in a manner that is acceptable to you. Delegate at your peril.

Our experience with long renters is better than short term - nonetheless you have to be very careful especially if you are an absentee landlord

[EMM]

Definetly get a good lawyer, we know of renters who discovered their property being re rented on holiday rentals !!!!