Well there you are DavidSK,

The proprietor of the company named within your original enquiry has said his piece.

I'm glad he's given you his side of the story. As I said originally, it's for you to make up your own mind who to choose when looking for a reputable sub-letting agent.

I was only giving an example of my experience because you asked and that's what we do on here. Look out for each other.

I didn't even know Tim from the Padpicker was a British Expat????!

Good luck with whomever you choose - Padpicker can be good in many aspects as can other agents.

Steve.

Thanks Steve.

Steve:

I appreciate your civility and glad you appreciate our side of the story. The British Expat website is viewed by many expatriates and one is my bookkeeper from Ireland. She noticed your discussion. I thought it was unfair, especially if we could not share our side of things, but I was pleased the website does not require nor even ask if you are a British Expat to join the website. I am not posing as a British Expat as you suggest.

We are disappointed and upset, if someone leaves us unhappy, but communication is important. In the hundreds of rentals we deal with each year, it is certain some things will fall through the cracks especially if communication is not thorough. We are always available and accessible, even at 10:30PM on Easter night. If you have any thing to discuss, I would expect you would come to me rather than post slanderous inaccurate messages. I am open to discussing this if you wish at (902) 830-7425 and I will be in the office from Tue to Fri this week.

Good luck in your new home,

Tim Nettle

Davidsk:

If you would like me to email you pictures of the house Steve rented, please email me and I would be happy to comply. It was an unfurnished house in Bedford. Once you are at ease with our competence, Tammy Newell can always help you with your rental needs. I understand you have been in contact with her. I trust your impression of her will be nothing but positive. She is extraordinary.

Thank you,

Tim Nettle

Oops, my email is [email protected].

Tim

Hi Tim,

yes, Tammy is very helpful. We are still looking for the right one. $3150 a month is a bit pricy for us. I notice on Kijiji there are a few summer rental (May - August). That kind of rental will probably be perfect for us.

David

Be careful! The majority of people renting from May to Aug 31 in Halifax are university students so the accommodations may not be so nice nor clean. If you are OK with that kind of accommodations, there are some great bargains as they will often rent for less than they pay to subsidize the cost of the apartment until they return in Sept. There may be some nice summer rentals for people going away for the summer, but they are usually expensive since it is peak vacation rental time. Tammy can tell you all this. We have an economical 2 bedroom furnished condo at 1465 Brenton St off Spring Garden. I believe it is still available.

Indeed, some apartments are not as nice or clean as yours. We are thinking to rent a place for a couple weeks and then see the ads when we are there.

It seems to be about $1000 - 1500 more expensive through rental companies. Of course, as a business, you need to add business expenditure and profit.

By the way, what is the disadvantage / risk to rent directly from the owner or the current tenant?

Hi davidSK:

It is long since you sent this question. I'm not sure why I never received it through email, but I do not like to leave loose ends. First time I've been back to Expats site since. I doubt you will see this response, but just in case anyone else is wondering, here is my reply.

To answer your question as to why not rent from owners or tenants in Halifax, I would say it could be good but is usually not. Very often owners and tenants do not know the Residential Tenancies Act of Nova Scotia and have poor judgment of what is fair, clean, or proper. Since they usually only have the 1 rental, they have little to lose if they make mistakes or treat you unfairly. It is not like they have a reputation to uphold or worry about like we do as a business with long term goals in the rental industry. My staff have to answer to me and I to public opinion such as what led to our introduction. This assumes of course that you are a good person and tenant.

On the other hand, if you were not a good person and looking to scam a landlord, the best targets are private rentals with owners and tenants trying to sublet a lease they are tied into. They do not do proper background checks and have little resources from which to chase you if you owe them lots of money. They also won't know protocols for getting you out of the property nor how to speed up your exit for non-payment of rent.

Professional management means you will always know where you stand and know that there is someone to look after your needs. You might have to read the lease to follow some basic communication guidelines, but that is normal in today's business world.

If you get this message DavidSK, I would be curious how you made out in Halifax.

We rent a Martello 2-bedroom flat from http://www.prestigesuites.ca. It was a fantastic experience. I got a deal $2700 for 6 weeks. During the summer time, they had 24 hour air conditioning. The Martello's Gym was great and their roof common area with bbq facility and a little library was great too. It was so convenient. When it rained, we didn't have to go out at all. The cinema was downstairs, and a lot of stops.