Looking to rent

[winner12]

Hi just some advice about renting
Having been through a nightmare and a mountain of debt (long Story got lots of threads on here)I would like to know about renting a property . It seems letting agents charge extortionate fee`s for credit checks setting up the Tenancy agreement etc . My question is what sort of credit check do they do can they see defaults I have no ccj just my defaults from 3 years ago ,what if i paid them the fee`s and then failed the checks dont have anyone to ask to guarantee the Rental so am i stuffed at the first hurdle or can they only see public details .

[wales01man]

Re: Looking to rent

Look in the local papers for private ads many landlords don't ask for references or a credit check my sons have never used a letting agent never paid fees.

[winner12]

Re: Looking to rent

Thanks but got 3 kids in tow and was hoping to feel a bit more secure by taking on a long term let with some legal clout thought the letting agent would be a safer option having no experience with renting.

[wales01man]

Re: Looking to rent

with their landlords its an open let if they pay they stay lucky for them they and landlords trust each other one son has 2 kids in tow so in same position as you

[PlanB]

Re: Looking to rent

It varies from agent to agent but generally speaking almost all will do an external credit check on a prospective tenant. These can differ from a basic bank account (last 3 months' statements) and employer's reference (or an accountant's letter if self-employed) to a full CRA check including all Defaults. It can depend on what the Landlord requests. Here's an example of the options available from one of the most common reference providers:

https://homelet.co.uk/landlords/referencing/products

Is this going to be a sole or joint tenancy? If your credit rating is shot to pieces then you can opt for your flatmate/partner to have the tenancy agreement in their name only if the rent is affordable on one income only so no need to reference you, and you'll be named as the "Permitted Occupier". However that would prevent any claim for Housing Benefit since only tenants who are legally liable for the rent can claim.

Another option is to use the Gumtree website where you can 'advertise' yourself looking for a property. This site is used by Landlords who also want to avoid extortionate letting agents fees and are less picky with the tenants financial credentials.

http://www.gumtree.com/search?q=1+be...-distance=10.0

[enaid]

Re: Looking to rent

Just wondered if you had looked into Social Housing, with 3 children it may just go in your favour but of course depends on your needs

[winner12]

Re: Looking to rent

Thanks walesman and PlanB
Sounds like luck of the draw then

[winner12]

Re: Looking to rent

Hi Enaid
Would not be able to get social housing we are selling up to relocate and on track to getting debt free want to rent for a while and see how we go

[PlanB]

Re: Looking to rent

Sounds like luck of the draw then

I'm a Landlord (well Landlady actually ) and I care more about the tenants' lifestyle than a credit reference. My favourite tenant arrived 2 weeks after being made bankrupt. He was a decent hardworking bloke with a wife and two kids who was unlucky with a business venture when the bank pulled the plug at the beginning of the Credit Crunch. The deal was he would do some DIY on the property in return for me giving him a chance. He's still my tenant five years later.

[enaid]

Re: Looking to rent

If you are selling up to relocate and you are going back to somewhere you have lived before then you have a good chance, to be back with family connections always counts.
Also you can have your house up for sale for 6 months and receive benefits for the 6 months.

[PlanB]

Re: Looking to rent

we are selling up to relocate and on track to getting debt free want to rent for a while

Would the sale of your property give you enough cash to pay the first six months' rent upfront? That would mean no financial reference would be necessary. After the six months you would then go on to monthly rent payments.

[winner12]

Re: Looking to rent

Hi Plan B
You are just the kind of landlady we would be looking for my OH was made redundant last December (merry xmas not)
we have muddled through and he has now landed a well paid job and we need to relocate, so have decided to sell up pay off most of our debts and rent for a while
owning a property is not always the best choice if we were renting now we could of moved on within a month .

[winner12]

Re: Looking to rent

Hi Plan B
Yes we would have enough to pay upfront I did think of that one but assumed they would still credit check

[PlanB]

Re: Looking to rent

Hi Plan B
You are just the kind of landlady we would be looking for my OH was made redundant last December (merry xmas not)
we have muddled through and he has now landed a well paid job and we need to relocate, so have decided to sell up pay off most of our debts and rent for a while .

There are plenty of ethical Landlords out there, it's only the bad ones you get to hear about.

Also letting agents only make money if they secure tenants for a property so they will be on your side and help to *sell* you and your story to the Landlord.

[PlanB]

Re: Looking to rent

Yes we would have enough to pay upfront I did think of that one but assumed they would still credit check

I doubt they'd do a credit check if you're paying six months upfront. The Landlord would bite your hand off at the good news. The credit check is only to ascertain if you can afford the rent, but if you've paid the rent in advance then there's nothing to check. Even if they do then you can simply tell the truth which is you've had a rough financial patch due to your other half's redundancy but now it's business as usual especially if you want a long term let. You're just the kind of tenant I look for