Found perfect property, viewing in 6 days, concerned it'll be poached (England)

Hey all,

Basically, I am moving in August and is my final piece of the puzzle before I start the adoption process. I have found the perfect property, 3 rooms, large kitchen, grass lawn, and pefect location.

The listing only has 1 picture, but I have done research into past listings and google earth timelines of the property to understand layout, and garden and yard style.

My concern is waiting till next week puts me at risk of loosing this property, and having to settle for something subpar.

My question is, could/should I contact the estate agent and request to pay a holding deposit and start the process before viewing? (I am happy to loose the deposit if there is a glaring issue, and I back out). And if so, what should I say to them?

The rental market isn't great atm, and finding a property that ticks everything and is within budget is like finding a needle in a haystack. It's causing me stress and affecting sleep worrying I'll miss out, but I also don't want to alienate the estate agent.

Thank you,