A foul-mouthed TikTok rant has attracted over 260,000 views after a tenant reacted angrily to tips sent to her friend by an unnamed letting agent prior to a viewing.

Harriet.d.h (pictured) told her TikTok foillowers: “Estate agents are out of control, they are absolutely out of control, and we need to do something to stop them.

“My friend received this email today after booking a viewing for a property that apparently we need to put an offer in literally as soon as we see it if we want it, otherwise there’s no chance of us getting it.”

The agent’s first suggestion was offering over the asking price, if possible, to which Harriet responded: “Do you think I would be viewing a flat at this price if I could afford a flat over [it]?”

Renters’ Rights Bill

The agent’s second tip recommended long contract lengths, which went down a little better: “Fine, okay, whatever.” Harriet commented. “These things actually aren’t really going to matter once the Renter’s Rights Bill comes in.”

Another suggestion, about whether she should move in sooner, though, perplexed her: “So do you want me to stick to the move-in date or do you want an earlier one? Because if you wanted an earlier move-in date, why didn’t you just put an earlier move-in date?”

Let me just get this £27,000 that’s sitting in my bank account and give it to you upfront for a rental. Why didn’t I think of that sooner?”

Paying upfront from three to twelve months, however, provoked her strongest reaction: “Let me just get this £27,000 that’s sitting in my bank account and give it to you upfront for a rental. Why didn’t I think of that sooner? Oh my goodness. I’m so glad you gave me these tips and tricks because now I just feel like I’m going to get every flat I’ve ever wanted. F###ing idiots.”

The next suggestion of offering rent increases each year also drew her ire: “Again, where is this money coming from? What the f##k would I offer? A rent increase. Landlords grab it from us already.”

The reaction to the video has generated hundreds of comments from equally frustrated tenants. One respondent said: “If I had £27k I’d get a mortgage.” Another commented: “Who in their right SANE mind would OFFER a rent increase?!?!???” And one more wrote: “Offering over the asking price should be illegal.”

Some blamed agents directly, with one saying: “Estate agents are responsible for all the problems with house prices, price gauging, pitching people against each other – it’s all gangster behaviour.”

Others, though, took a different view, with one commenting: “In defence of the estate agent here, they’re actually doing what many renters wish agents did: giving fair warning about existing interest before a viewing.”

Many of the letting agent behaviours highlighted by the post will soon be banned by the Renters’ Rights Bill including rent in advance, prompting bidding wars and fixed-term tenancies.