Updating post from Reddit.
I find I get enquiries via OpenRent and respond to them but get no response back on many occasions. I understand some OpenRent messages go to junk email folders, depending on the service provider which may be part of the problem.
I suggest a viewing time, which meets their requirements that they may have suggested and ask if it isn't convenient then to let me know a suitable time. I get nothing back.
I follow up with a text message and still get no response. Then send a email and still get no response.
I normally respond within a couple of hours. Sometimes within minutes. If a message was sent late at night I may respond next morning.
The photos and information on the advert show a good well decorated rental suitable for one person or a couple.
I appreciate some people may have found another property or were not really serious about wanting to rent. Or may have realised that the property wasn't for them. I do state no smoking on the advertising which they may not have noticed initially.
Perhaps this is normal.
Does anyone else have this problem or have any suggestions how to improve the situation.
My experience with open rent has been that about 10-20% of respondents do this. When I suggest a viewing time I tell them I need a response within 24hrs or I will give the slot to someone else. I do have property in very high demand areas though, and I price them competitively, so maybe that’s why I get a good level of communication. Sorry you’re not having a great experience.
I previously worked in Lettings and am now a Landlord. The rental market has become so competitive that tenants often apply for nearly every available property in the area. As a result, they tend to respond selectively to messages, having grown accustomed to being ignored by letting agents who are overwhelmed by the sheer volume of inquiries. In my opinion, this trend began after Covid, when demand for rental properties skyrocketed—something that wasn’t the case 7–8 years ago.
There will always be some people where the messages dry up, for the reasons you've suggested. But whenever I've let via OpenRent there have been so many applicants it didn't matter. So I'm wondering if your real problem is you're not getting enough interest in the first place.
For me about 40% of applicants did this. It's because they've found something they like more most likely.
Most recently I got around 18 enquiries in 48 hours and did the viewings on the 3rd day. The flat was let within 2 more days. So it is annoying when people don't follow up but also, eh, not a real problem for my area at least.
I advertised on Openrent, Rightmove and Zoopla recently. I had 26 people contact me through the app. Only three families ended up coming to view.
there's only one answer: price is too high
you might want to disagree because it's well decorated, but not attractive enough for potential tenants to put you on the top of their list
Relatively new to OpenRent and I get maybe 40%+ that either don't respond or dry up after a couple of messages. They tend to be the low-effort one-liners (eg "Please arrange a viewing") and I try to filter them out by asking for more details on employment, background etc. If they can't be bothered then I don't want them anyway.
Rent-to-Rent / Corportate lets & TikTok get rich quicks are another 10 to 15 percent despite the ad making it clear that's not on the table.
The annoying ones are the no-shows for viewings and the people that do a viewing and then ghost you. But I guess that's all part of the package.
>how to improve the situation
I'm fairly comfortable letting the speculative, unmotivated, spammy etc drop away and just focus effort on the qualified tbh.
Yeh my last let generated quite a few od these. They are annoying.
Probably not a lot you can do about it.
I have found tenants very quickly (current one is paying more than the old one and the management agency fee is as low as any landlord can find).
I'd suggest calling instead of messaging or even going to an agency.
I’m not sure about calling, it’s the number one thing that I (and everyone I know) hate. Everything can be done via message/email, people are busy-a potential landlord calling me would really put me off.
I’ve found that when I’ve advertised on OpenRent, serious people get back to me straight away and are keen to view straight away.
Those who don’t reply aren’t serious.
Recently tried to use it. Openrent took ages to reply by then id already viewed other properties who just answer the phone instead of some automated prescreening, and when openrent landlord got back to me they left me some passive aggressive message like I was inconveniencing them for not responding immediately. Like bruh your taking half my salary for no work, chill. So I'd rather just not respond.