renting a house with bad credit

[wolfblane77]

hi does anyone know any lettings agents that will look favourably on renting a house out to someone with bad credit? i'm in the county durham area and to be honest my credit is abysmal due to a past relationship however i have a salary of £30000 a year. i am having to move house as my current landlady is selling up ,i pay £750 a month rent now and am looking for somewhere for around £450-£500 but keep failing at the credit check.any help greatly appreciated! thank you.

[ChuckFickens]

Can you not get a guarantor?

[wolfblane77]

my sister in law is willing to be guarantor but would they accept this?

[ChuckFickens]

If she passes the credit check then yes.

[ummmm]

Have you tried using a private landlord?

[wolfblane77]

i wouldnt know where to find a private landlord,all the houses in my area up with letting agents. thanx

[ummmm]

My local paper has loads of them.

[milly143]

I have a poor credit rating and when I had to move for the same reason as you this year I informed the letting agent before she did the checks that I probably wouldn't pass them. Some give you the option to pay for a certain period upfront but in my case I was able to show her several months of bank statements that showed all my rent payments had been paid on time every month. It was left to the landlord to decide if he was willing to take the risk of someone with a poor credit rating and thankfully he agreed. Be upfront with the agent and see what they can do.

[wolfblane77]

i have been upfront with the agent i have applied with and am expecting an answer back at some point 2day,i have given him my current landladys details and she has agreed to give me a good reference so fingers xd,thanx everybody.

[ChuckFickens]

Look in the local paper for properties to let and you'll probably find some private ones in the small ads part.

Though there is obviously a added risk with going private that any work you need doing while in the premiss might not get done so easily as with a decent reputable letting agents.

Most letting agents I've dealt with will accept anyone as a guarantor as long as they pass the normal credit checks and sign a binding contract that if you default on your rent they are liable to pay it.

[wolfblane77]

thanx Chuck i will certainly have a look at that option if this falls through,we usually do most of the minor repairs ourselves and don't bother the landlady so we should be ok,thanx again